There are 151 colleges in Massachusetts - 42 public and 109 private schools. At Massachusetts colleges, over the past decade, the Cost of Attendance (COA)—covering tuition, fees, textbooks, room and board, and living expenses—has sharply increased, making higher education less affordable for many students and families.
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at Massachusetts colleges:
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type | 10-Year Increase (2016-2025) | 2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Public, In-State | 19.54% (from $11,098 to $13,267) | $13,267 |
| Public, Out-of-State | 13.51% (from $22,263 to $25,271) | $25,271 |
| Private Colleges | 39.15% (from $34,961 to $48,647) | $48,647 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 13.51%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 21.56% over the same period.
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 20.86% when living on campus and 21.57% when living off campus at Massachusetts Colleges.
In private Massachusetts Colleges, the COA has increase by 36.59% (on-campus) and 37.75% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $46,333 when a student lives on campus and $44,226 when living off campus at Massachusetts Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for Massachusetts Colleges over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $27,172 | $38,337 | $51,035 | $25,214 | $36,379 | $49,077 |
| 2016-17 | $28,053 3.24% | $39,570 3.22% | $53,138 4.12% | $25,874 2.62% | $37,391 2.78% | $50,959 3.83% |
| 2017-18 | $29,105 3.75% | $40,950 3.49% | $55,133 3.75% | $26,706 3.22% | $38,551 3.10% | $52,734 3.48% |
| 2018-19 | $29,699 2.04% | $41,784 2.04% | $57,299 3.93% | $27,211 1.89% | $39,296 1.93% | $54,811 3.94% |
| 2019-20 | $30,403 2.37% | $42,716 2.23% | $58,952 2.88% | $28,248 3.81% | $40,561 3.22% | $56,797 3.62% |
| 2020-21 | $30,891 1.61% | $43,281 1.32% | $59,935 1.67% | $28,603 1.26% | $40,993 1.07% | $57,647 1.50% |
| 2021-22 | $31,354 1.50% | $43,742 1.07% | $61,364 2.38% | $29,074 1.65% | $41,462 1.14% | $59,084 2.49% |
| 2022-23 | $32,309 3.05% | $44,875 2.59% | $66,069 7.67% | $29,999 3.18% | $42,565 2.66% | $63,759 7.91% |
| 2023-24 | $33,347 3.21% | $44,759 -0.26% | $69,242 4.80% | $31,349 4.50% | $42,761 0.46% | $67,244 5.47% |
| 2024-25 | $34,329 2.94% | $46,333 3.52% | $69,709 0.67% | $32,222 2.78% | $44,226 3.43% | $67,602 0.53% |
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for Massachusetts Colleges is $20,744 for Massachusetts residents and $32,823 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $50,079.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $19,825 for Massachusetts residents and $25,585 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $34,317.
The tuition & fees has increased 13.51% for undergraduate programs and 21.56% for graduate programs at Massachusetts Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $11,098 | $22,263 | $34,961 | $11,729 | $17,119 | $26,235 |
| 2016-17 | $11,458 3.24% | $22,975 3.20% | $36,543 4.53% | $12,560 7.09% | $18,042 5.39% | $27,194 3.66% |
| 2017-18 | $11,877 3.66% | $23,722 3.25% | $37,905 3.73% | $12,720 1.27% | $18,378 1.86% | $27,970 2.85% |
| 2018-19 | $12,010 1.12% | $24,095 1.57% | $39,610 4.50% | $13,153 3.40% | $18,525 0.80% | $28,945 3.49% |
| 2019-20 | $12,330 2.66% | $24,643 2.27% | $40,879 3.20% | $13,810 5.00% | $19,257 3.95% | $30,090 3.96% |
| 2020-21 | $12,547 1.76% | $24,937 1.19% | $41,591 1.74% | $14,062 1.82% | $19,596 1.76% | $30,821 2.43% |
| 2021-22 | $12,571 0.19% | $24,959 0.09% | $42,581 2.38% | $14,321 1.84% | $19,900 1.55% | $31,271 1.46% |
| 2022-23 | $12,887 2.51% | $25,453 1.98% | $46,647 9.55% | $16,687 16.52% | $20,089 0.95% | $33,215 6.22% |
| 2023-24 | $13,192 2.37% | $24,604 -3.34% | $49,087 5.23% | $16,815 0.77% | $20,283 0.97% | $32,773 -1.33% |
| 2024-25 | $13,267 0.57% | $25,271 2.71% | $48,647 -0.90% | $15,057 -10.45% | $20,810 2.60% | $33,456 2.08% |
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,155 for Massachusetts Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,070 |
| 2016-17 | $1,056 -1.31% |
| 2017-18 | $1,069 1.23% |
| 2018-19 | $1,079 0.94% |
| 2019-20 | $1,091 1.11% |
| 2020-21 | $1,117 2.38% |
| 2021-22 | $1,109 -0.72% |
| 2022-23 | $1,130 1.89% |
| 2023-24 | $1,144 1.24% |
| 2024-25 | $1,155 0.96% |
For Massachusetts Colleges, the living have increased 30.14% when a student lives on campus facilities and 34.51% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $15,004 | $15,368 |
| 2016-17 | $15,539 4.22% | $15,829 3.76% |
| 2017-18 | $16,159 4.21% | $16,459 3.05% |
| 2018-19 | $16,610 2.49% | $16,826 3.04% |
| 2019-20 | $16,982 2.11% | $17,213 5.34% |
| 2020-21 | $17,227 1.94% | $17,471 1.13% |
| 2021-22 | $17,674 2.88% | $17,891 3.76% |
| 2022-23 | $18,292 3.57% | $18,513 4.00% |
| 2023-24 | $19,011 4.92% | $19,276 7.86% |
| 2024-25 | $19,907 4.86% | $20,165 4.92% |