A state’s employment options and industries often have a strong effect on the education you can find there. After all, those states with heavy mining must also produce mining experts and engineers. Those with a focus on green energy must produce wind and solar engineers and technicians who can service these sectors.
In 2021, employment in Massachusetts stayed fairly stable. Beginning in August 2021, the revised employment number included 3,758.9 million in the workforce. The state unemployment rate tracked along with the national rate, starting with a high of 5.5% in August 2021 and dipping to 4.8% in January 2022.
Employment in Massachusetts’ many industries, of course, varies. The 12-month percentage change in mining and logging, for instance, was notable for its drop in employment, as was leisure and hospitality. However, by the end of the year, employment had rebounded in both these industries.
How many college students are enrolled in Massachusetts colleges and universities? For the most recent year, Massachusetts colleges and universities enrolled 478,706 students. This included 143,442 graduate students and 335,264 undergraduate students.
How many college students are enrolled in online and hybrid courses?
Around 233,500 students were solely online learners during this same time period. A smaller number (125,825) students have enrolled in either online courses or degree programs but also attended in-person courses in the 2021-2022 academic year.
For bachelor’s degree programs, 258,292 students took at least some online courses; for students earning graduate degrees, 100,998 students enrolled in at least one graduate course offered via distance learning.
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What is the cost of tuition in Massachusetts?
On average, Massachusetts students pay $8,800 for their tuition, while out-of-state students pay around $17,000 for their tuition. The cost of attendance in 2022 was $27,682 for residents of Massachusetts earning an undergraduate degree, and for non-residents it was $35,925. These numbers include tuition, books, supplies, room and board for students living on-campus, and other living expenses and fees. Graduate students pay around $35,250 for in-state tuition and fees and out-of-state graduate students pay $38,450.
Our School Rankings Methodology
Why are college and university rankings so important? The main reason is that they help students and their families make one of the most important decisions of their lives. While much of the decision-making process for prospective students is subjective, there should be enough data that college and university ranking organizations can focus on facts and provide objective information to students and their families. This allows them to use rankings to add weight to their subjective decisions and another layer to the process that can help them get the education they need and desire.
The data used for our rankings includes retention rates, graduation rates, tuition costs, admission rates, and even graduating salaries for specific degree programs and careers when those numbers are available.
Resources used include government sites with comprehensive data regarding specific colleges, degree programs, and financial information; information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) which has information on job opportunities within certain occupations and industries, and private job search sites that can provide information that is a current snapshot of pay rates.
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What are the Best Online Community College & Associate Programs in Massachusetts?
Prospective students in Massachusetts who want to earn an associate degree have the choice of on-campus degree programs, online universities, or online programs. After completing a degree at one of these institutions, they will be able to use their online degree to find an entry-level job or continue their education at a four-year university.
The highest-rated community colleges in the state will offer a wide selection of associate degrees and may also have strong partnerships or transfer programs with four-year schools. Additionally, we consider tuition rates in our rankings because it is important to most students that their education be affordable.
Middlesex Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 2,106
Graduation Rate 21%
Net Price $3,708
Grads Salary $43,500
Quinsigamond Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 6,942
Graduation Rate 22%
Net Price $7,126
Grads Salary $39,400
Greenfield Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 1,761
Graduation Rate 28%
Net Price $9,027
Grads Salary $38,400
Mount Wachusett Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 3,674
Graduation Rate 26%
Net Price $8,096
Grads Salary $35,800
Massachusetts Bay Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 3,762
Graduation Rate 20%
Net Price $9,042
Grads Salary $44,100
Bristol Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 6,256
Graduation Rate 19%
Net Price $6,314
Grads Salary $36,300
Bunker Hill Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 9,924
Graduation Rate 15%
Net Price $8,218
Grads Salary $44,100
Northern Essex Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 4,932
Graduation Rate 17%
Net Price $7,240
Grads Salary $37,200
Holyoke Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 4,209
Graduation Rate 23%
Net Price $8,212
Grads Salary $34,200
Massasoit Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Student Population 5,665
Graduation Rate 19%
Net Price $8,730
Grads Salary $37,200
What are the Best Online Universities & College Programs in Massachusetts?
One reason distance education is becoming so popular is the rising cost of tuition and student loan debt. Students are seeking an affordable education, with or without financial aid. Online degree programs do not always take residency into account, allowing some students to attend schools that are outside of their state but not spend the extra money on gas, food plans, living arrangements, and increased costs for on-campus learning for students who are not residents.
In addition, online universities generally offer asynchronous courses. These are courses allowing students to work on their courses at times that are most convenient for them, especially if they have work and family responsibilities.
