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Most affordable public universities in Massachusetts

14 public universities in Massachusetts report net price data, ranging from $10,859 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $17,665. Massachusetts's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Massachusetts

$17,665

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in Massachusetts

14

The most affordable public universities in Massachusetts, ranked by net price

1

Quincy College

MA

Net price

$10,859

Receive grant aid

49%

2

Worcester State University

MA

Net price

$14,307

Receive grant aid

75%

3

Fitchburg State University

MA

Net price

$15,820

Receive grant aid

84%

4

Net price

$16,230

Receive grant aid

72%

5

Framingham State University

MA

Net price

$16,640

Receive grant aid

80%

6

University of Massachusetts-Boston

MA

Net price

$17,554

Receive grant aid

86%

7

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

MA

Net price

$17,624

Receive grant aid

79%

8

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

MA

Net price

$17,705

Receive grant aid

99%

9

Westfield State University

MA

Net price

$17,723

Receive grant aid

81%

10

Salem State University

MA

Net price

$19,324

Receive grant aid

98%

11

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

MA

Net price

$20,696

Receive grant aid

96%

12

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

MA

Net price

$20,759

Receive grant aid

66%

13

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

MA

Net price

$22,954

Receive grant aid

75%

14

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

MA

Net price

$24,159

Receive grant aid

79%

What makes a school affordable here

In Massachusetts, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Quincy College, the most affordable on this list, 49% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Massachusetts, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →