Best Education Programs in Massachusetts (2026)
Education programs in Massachusetts prepare students for K-12 teaching, special education, and educational leadership. The schools below are ranked by program strength, certification pass rates (where available), and net price — important for a field where starting salaries are modest.
#1
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Net Price
$41,704/yr
Median Earnings
$103,937
Grad Rate
91%
Education Share
0.9%
#2
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
Net Price
$25,496/yr
Median Earnings
$84,803
Grad Rate
91%
Education Share
1.2%
#3
Boston University
Boston, MA
Net Price
$24,402/yr
Median Earnings
$83,238
Grad Rate
89%
Education Share
1.6%
#4
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
Net Price
$23,367/yr
Median Earnings
$77,644
Grad Rate
94%
Education Share
1.8%
#5
Stonehill College
Easton, MA
Net Price
$33,016/yr
Median Earnings
$77,745
Grad Rate
78%
Education Share
9.5%
#6
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA
Net Price
$35,736/yr
Median Earnings
$77,231
Grad Rate
86%
Education Share
0.8%
#7
Smith College
Northampton, MA
Net Price
$27,579/yr
Median Earnings
$64,027
Grad Rate
89%
Education Share
3.1%
#8
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA
Net Price
$22,383/yr
Median Earnings
$71,631
Grad Rate
83%
Education Share
1.2%
#9
Emmanuel College
Boston, MA
Net Price
$26,706/yr
Median Earnings
$68,245
Grad Rate
67%
Education Share
9.5%
#10
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
Net Price
$26,441/yr
Median Earnings
$58,418
Grad Rate
85%
Education Share
3.4%
#11
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA
Net Price
$29,822/yr
Median Earnings
$67,725
Grad Rate
74%
Education Share
4.1%
#12
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA
Net Price
$37,927/yr
Median Earnings
$75,584
Grad Rate
71%
Education Share
0.2%
#13
Emerson College
Boston, MA
Net Price
$49,180/yr
Median Earnings
$62,832
Grad Rate
78%
Education Share
1.3%
#14
Clark University
Worcester, MA
Net Price
$28,714/yr
Median Earnings
$62,381
Grad Rate
77%
Education Share
2.0%
#15
Endicott College
Beverly, MA
Net Price
$40,654/yr
Median Earnings
$58,336
Grad Rate
76%
Education Share
4.2%
#16
Western New England University
Springfield, MA
Net Price
$27,290/yr
Median Earnings
$73,157
Grad Rate
64%
Education Share
1.2%
#17
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA
Net Price
$16,383/yr
Median Earnings
$57,466
Grad Rate
54%
Education Share
17.0%
#18
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA
Net Price
$17,163/yr
Median Earnings
$64,874
Grad Rate
67%
Education Share
1.1%
#19
Gordon College
Wenham, MA
Net Price
$24,883/yr
Median Earnings
$52,119
Grad Rate
68%
Education Share
8.5%
#20
Worcester State University
Worcester, MA
Net Price
$13,381/yr
Median Earnings
$60,624
Grad Rate
58%
Education Share
6.7%
#21
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
Net Price
$31,152/yr
Median Earnings
$51,173
Grad Rate
60%
Education Share
12.1%
#22
Springfield College
Springfield, MA
Net Price
$30,587/yr
Median Earnings
$48,036
Grad Rate
71%
Education Share
5.9%
#23
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Chicopee, MA
Net Price
$17,545/yr
Median Earnings
$51,540
Grad Rate
66%
Education Share
6.4%
#24
Regis College
Weston, MA
Net Price
$27,477/yr
Median Earnings
$52,873
Grad Rate
71%
Education Share
1.8%
#25
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA
Net Price
$14,271/yr
Median Earnings
$55,383
Grad Rate
51%
Education Share
14.0%
Why a Education degree?
Special Education has 1% unemployment and 98% of districts report difficulty filling roles. Teacher shortages are the most severe in 30+ years.
Common career paths: Elementary Teacher · Special Education Teacher · High School Teacher · School Counselor · Principal/Administrator
Typical starting salary range: $45,000–$65,000
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in Massachusetts
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