TOP 10 Cheap Universities In Massachusetts

Looking for cheap universities in Massachusetts? There is good news and bad news.

The bad news is that Massachusetts is not home to the cheapest colleges compared to other areas in the United States.

However, the good news is that among the 30 colleges in the small city, some small private liberal arts colleges and public universities have affordable tuition fees of around $10,000 per academic year.

Worcester State University is popularly known for its inclusiveness and affordability in Massachusetts, but there are many other options.

List of the best Universities in Massachusetts

The good thing about a few of the cheap universities in Massachusetts is that they offer academic programs that prepare students for in-demand industries in the United States, such as renewable energy, manufacturing, information technology, finance, and defense.

FastLagos have put together this list of the best affordable colleges in Massachusetts for bachelor’s degrees to save you the hassle of surfing the net for hours.

1. Massachusetts Maritime Academy
2. Fitchburg State University
3. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
4. Framingham State University
5. Salem State University
6. Boston Baptist College
7. Worcester State University
8. Westfield State University
9. Framingham State University
10. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

1. Massachusetts Maritime Academy

• Tuition fees: $9,728 and $26,106 for In-State Tuition and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy Admission Requirement Page
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy Tuition Details Page

It sometimes comes as a surprise that the Massachusetts Maritime Academy is one of the most affordable colleges in Massachusetts given its top-vale quality education. Many students consider this college to be the best yet most affordable.

The downside is that the educational value is streamlined into just bachelor’s programs in maritime, plus related fields of graduate programs and professional studies that are also inexpensive.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy has existed since 1891 and has graduated engineering and deck officers for the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Students in Massachuset with a tight budget and looking to obtain a degree in marine safety and environmental protection, energy systems engineering, facilities engineering, marine transportation, marine engineering, emergency management, and international maritime business can consider this institution.

2. Fitchburg State University

• Tuition fees: $10,354and $16,434 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Fitchburg State University Admission Requirement Page
• Fitchburg State University Tuition Details Page

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, Fitchburg State University is among the most affordable colleges in Massachusetts, which explains why it enrolls around 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students every session.

Otherwise known as F.S.U., the university operates 16 academic departments with over 30 inexpensive undergraduate degrees and 22 graduate programs.

The good part about this college is that they prioritize the highest societal, professional, and academic standards despite the low tuition rates.

Most students who apply at F.S.U. Apply for a degree in business, nursing, cinematography, video production, and the liberal arts and humanities. If you are interested in studying exercise physiology, criminal justice, biology, and psychology, you can also turn to Fitchburg.

The school embraces small classes and a personalized approach to train students across all faculties and expose them to endless learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom.

3. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

• Tuition fees: $11,890 and $20,835 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Admission Requirement Page
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Tuition Details Page

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, Massachusetts, United States. It is one of the prominent options for anyone looking for a very affordable university in the area.

The renowned College of Liberal Arts has been offering affordable degrees in Massachusetts since 1894 and started as a hub to educate teachers. Now, the college offers over 80 inexpensive academic programs that cover 50 areas of study at the undergraduate level.

Suppose you are willing to pay between $10k to $19k per academic year to pursue a degree in careers like arts, technology, the sciences, athletic training, business, or education. In that case, the MCLA is another top choice in Massachusetts.

Another good thing about the college is that they offer intramural sports, leadership conferences, peer advisors, student government, and other resources to students to improve their social lives.

4. Framingham State University

• Tuition fees: $10,520 and $16,600 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Framingham State University Admission Requirement Page
• Framingham State University Tuition Details Page

Framingham State University is the best-value accredited university in Massachusetts, with a decent tuition fee range for both in-state and out-of-state education expenses.

It is surprising to realize that their graduation rate is a little above 50 percent when they seem to tick all the boxes for a university that every student on a budget in Massachusetts would want to attend. Though the school has been operating since 1839, they offer 39 affordable undergraduate majors, over 30 master’s degrees, and several certificate programs.

Due to its reasonable tuition cost, most of the majors in this university include business, psychology, sociology, the liberal arts and humanities and criminology, and a few other majors that launch you to thriving industries in the United States.

Suppose you are looking for a cheap university in Massachusetts that offers a major in apparel and textile science and food, nutrition, and wellness studies. In that case, this is also a great option.

Meanwhile, the university offers much more outside campus, including the institution’s state-of-the-art dormitories and science laboratories, an art gallery, and a planetarium.

5. Salem State University

• Tuition fees: $10,642 and $17,082 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Salem State University Admission Requirement Page
• Salem State University Tuition Details Page

Salem State University is another famous affordable university in Massachusettes and renowned for its best-value education quality.

Every year, the school welcomes more than 7,500 undergraduate and 1,600 graduate students from 59 countries worldwide.

It is a good eye for international students, especially since they potentially receive financial aid.

The Salem State University comprises six academic entities: Bertolon School of Business, the School of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Studies, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services.

In S.S.U., some of the standard majors that are inexpensive include business, nursing, criminal justice, education, psychology, and biomedical science.

6. Boston Baptist College

• Tuition fees: $19,600 and $19,600 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Boston Baptist College Admission Requirement Page
• Boston Baptist College Tuition Details Page

Located in Boston, Boston Baptist college is among the famous institutions Machusuettes residents consider in terms of affordability. It is a green sign that the school has a 78 percent acceptance rate.

The college is the only institution dedicated to Biblical Christian education in Boston and offers a single four-year degree – a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies (B.B.S.).

In other words, it may be a very affordable university, but it does not suit a broad demographic of students pursuing a degree.

The quiet residential neighborhood of Hyde Park, where the school is located, provides serenity.

7. Worcester State University

• Tuition fees: $$23,154 and $/$29,234 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Boston Baptist College Admission Requirement Page
• Boston Baptist College Tuition Details Page

It would take an hour’s drive from Worcester State University to two of Massachusetts’s monumental locations – Boston and Providence, Rhode Island.

Worcester is an affordable and reasonable university comprising eight other colleges through which it admits over 35,000 students.

Aside from the inexpensive tuition cost, the university scores 4.5 out of 5 stars on the Campus Pride Index, which places it in an excellent position to assess institutional commitment to LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs, and practices.

Another good thing about this university is its vibrant campus life and serene environment, which I would love to describe as a sneaky good college town.

8. Westfield State University

• Tuition fees: $22,278 and $28,358 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Westfield State University Admission Requirement Page
• Westfield State University Tuition Details Page

 Westfield State University has an incredibly high acceptance rate. Despite the affordable tuition fees, enrolling in the institution doesn’t take much herculean task.

Westfield stands out among other cheap universities in Massachusetts, the country’s first public, coeducational teaching college. Established in 1839, the university used to be in Barre, Massachusetts, but has now expanded by 256 acres in Westfield and would take a three-hour drive from New York City.

The university presently offers 33 majors and permits students to participate in intramural sports, over 70 different clubs and organizations, and perform community service.

9. Framingham State University

• Tuition fees: $24,300 and $30,380 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Framingham State University Admission Requirement Page
• Framingham State University Tuition Details Page

Framingham State University used to be a women’s-only college, at least for the first 125 years after its establishment, but later developed to all-inclusive in 1964.

The school was Massachusetts’ first public regular school that trained teachers. Aside from the low tuition cost, the school is admired for its diversity – it enrolls people of a different races, tribes, colors, gender, etc.

10. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

• Tuition fees: $23,219 and $32,164 for In-State and Out-of-State Tuition, respectively
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Admission Requirement Page
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Tuition Details Page

Located in North Adams, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts appears to be the college with the highest tuition rate on this list. Yet, its cost is affordable compared with most other schools in the city.

While it has a high acceptance rate of 88 percent, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has an intimate 105-acre campus and tight-knit community with an average class size of 18 students.

The student-to-faculty ratio at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 12:1

The fascinating thing about the college is the small city where it is located – North Adams, home to MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) and Mount Greylock, the tallest mountain in the state.

What is the Acceptance Rate Into Cheap Universities in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is home to some prestigious universities, including Havard. Indeed, the small city does not have many cheap universities, but the few ones there have high acceptance rates, especially for international students.

If you reside in Massachusetts, it would be better to attend college within the state since they have lower tuition rates. Attending college is not a peanut investment, so many in-state students can cut down on costs; the above universities are great options without letting go of the quality of education.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to admit that considering just the tuition fee of these schools is not the only way to tell that they are affordable.

For example, some expensive private colleges in Massachusetts are more affordable than some seemingly cheap colleges after you have factored in the financial aid involved in the former.

In other words, identifying the most inexpensive universities in Massachusetts goes beyond looking at the sticker price.

When you visit the tuition details page of your preferred university among the options listed above, you may be lucky to see that they have a net price calculator on their website that allows you to estimate the college expense and the odds of acceptance.

So, it is not enough to know the tuition fee of seemingly cheap universities in Massachusetts. You also want to be aware of its net price, which includes possible financial aid, grants, or particular government intervention –especially for international students.

Final thoughts

Not all cities in the United States favor students on a tight budget for a bachelor’s degree. Luckily, Massachusetts is one of the cities you can turn to for finding the least expensive in-state colleges.

Again, now that you know the affordable cost of tuition in these schools, it is recommended to probe into the typical financial aid package, the average net price paid, and the quality of education you receive for your tuition cost.

After this research, you may find out that the school whose tuition fee piqued your interest due to affordability is poor in value due to the inability to award competitive financial aid.

However, rankings, as expressed in this article, are an excellent starting point to determine what universities you should consider in Massachusetts if you are on a tight budget.