Best Economics Colleges in Massachusetts2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Economics program in Massachusetts means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 39 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Harvard University leads on selectivity (3% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Massachusetts's Economics programs, the typical in-state price is $50,435 and the average graduation rate is 79%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $38,857 within one year of completing their degree.
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Get My Free Application Review →2026 Rankings: Economics Programs in Massachusetts
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Private | Perfect· 60 | 5% | 96% | $4,621 | $109,923 | 3:1 | 38 | 4,571 |
| 2 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | Perfect· 56 | 3% | 97% | $2,167 | $103,993 | 7:1 | 66 | 7,755 |
| 3 | Williams CollegePrivate | Elite· 50 | 10% | 97% | $-123 | $80,888 | 6:1 | 31 | 2,060 |
| 4 | Amherst CollegePrivate | Elite· 48 | 10% | 93% | $6,112 | $90,568 | 7:1 | 36 | 1,907 |
| 5 | Boston CollegePrivate | Excellent· 47 | 16% | 91% | $12,554 | $72,099 | 13:1 | 47 | 9,865 |
| 6 | Worcester Polytechnic InstitutePrivate | Excellent· 46 | 59% | 88% | $29,195 | $85,022 | 13:1 | 38 | 5,344 |
| 7 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 46 | 10% | 93% | $14,963 | $75,125 | 10:1 | 62 | 6,804 |
| 8 | Bentley UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 48% | 88% | $25,331 | $71,978 | 12:1 | 43 | 4,288 |
| 9 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 6% | 90% | $10,482 | $70,531 | 16:1 | 72 | 15,719 |
| 10 | Wellesley CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 14% | 91% | $15,511 | $86,367 | 7:1 | 42 | 2,318 |
| 11 | Smith CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 20% | 90% | $12,149 | $71,559 | 8:1 | 44 | 2,501 |
| 12 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 44 | 35% | 86% | $17,974 | $57,299 | 11:1 | 34 | 3,663 |
| 13 | Boston UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 43 | 11% | 90% | $13,639 | $55,733 | 10:1 | 78 | 17,850 |
| 14 | Mount Holyoke CollegePrivate | Excellent· 43 | 38% | 85% | $21,565 | $32,877 | 9:1 | 42 | 2,198 |
| 15 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstPublic | Excellent· 42 | 58% | 83% | $16,738 | $52,309 | 18:1 | 81 | 23,694 |
| 16 | College of the Holy CrossPrivate | Great· 41 | 21% | 90% | $20,722 | $69,288 | 9:1 | 42 | 3,015 |
| 17 | Clark UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 42% | 77% | $20,719 | $34,023 | 9:1 | 40 | 2,336 |
| 18 | Stonehill CollegePrivate | Great· 40 | 73% | 81% | $21,229 | $53,303 | 12:1 | 45 | 2,477 |
| 19 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | Great· 38 | 66% | 71% | $22,473 | $56,491 | 9:1 | 52 | 1,750 |
| 20 | Gordon CollegePrivate | Strong· 37 | 59% | 68% | $23,051 | $37,667 | 11:1 | 43 | 1,247 |
| 21 | Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Private | Strong· 37 | 71% | 76% | $25,454 | $33,840 | 12:1 | 38 | 1,744 |
| 22 | Framingham State UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 85% | 50% | $15,863 | $43,743 | 11:1 | 37 | 2,556 |
| 23 | Assumption UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 87% | 75% | $25,004 | $58,954 | 11:1 | 57 | 1,664 |
| 24 | Westfield State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 81% | 55% | $16,154 | $41,085 | 15:1 | 32 | 3,481 |
| 25 | University of Massachusetts-LowellPublic | Strong· 34 | 85% | 70% | $15,576 | $41,910 | 17:1 | 48 | 11,632 |
| 26 | Fitchburg State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 90% | 53% | $15,224 | $50,473 | 11:1 | 36 | 2,825 |
| 27 | Western New England UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 83% | 64% | $27,102 | $53,402 | 12:1 | 50 | 2,508 |
| 28 | Merrimack CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 74% | 72% | $32,926 | $47,761 | 14:1 | 59 | 4,043 |
| 29 | Emmanuel CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 81% | 66% | $29,300 | $51,698 | 13:1 | 41 | 1,874 |
| 30 | Hampshire CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 70% | 57% | $22,586 | $20,377 | 13:1 | 63 | 716 |