Best College ROI in Ma 2026
70 colleges in Ma analyzed for return on investment. Wellesley College leads with a ROI Score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ma has 70 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 14 public institutions and 56 private ones. Across the 70 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $83K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
96% of Ma colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Wellesley College (median $95K on Computer Software and Media Applications).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ma
Wellesley College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ma's ROI rankings on its Computer Software and Media Applications program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $15K in median debt.
Boston College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Science. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Brandeis University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $17K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ma
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellesley College(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $15K | $95K | A (99) |
| 2 | Boston College(private) | Computer Science | $16K | $95K | A (98) |
| 3 | Brandeis University(private) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 4 | Mount Holyoke College(private) | Computer Science | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 5 | Tufts University(private) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 6 | Amherst College(private) | Mathematics | $19K | $78K | A (96) |
| 7 | Bard College at Simon's Rock(private) | Mathematics | $19K | $78K | A (96) |
| 8 | Boston University(private) | Computer Science | $19K | $95K | A (96) |
| 9 | Bridgewater State University(public) | Mathematics | $19K | $78K | A (96) |
| 10 | College of the Holy Cross(private) | Mathematics | $19K | $78K | A (96) |
| 11 | Fisher College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $19K | $95K | A (96) |
| 12 | Hampshire College(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 13 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 14 | Northeastern University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 15 | Smith College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 16 | Wentworth Institute of Technology(private) | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 17 | Western New England University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 18 | Williams College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 19 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 20 | Worcester State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
College debt and earnings data for Ma is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wellesley College has the best ROI in Ma with a score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Software and Media Applications, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $15K in median debt.
Across 70 Ma colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $83K.
Wellesley College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Software and Media Applications). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ma has 70 colleges in our database (14 public, 56 private). Of the 70 with reportable ROI, 96% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).