Best History Degrees in Massachusetts by ROI

Colleges in Massachusetts ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Massachusetts

23

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$189,906

Across Massachusetts programs

Average Annual Cost

$56,550

Cost of attendance

# College 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 Amherst College

Grad rate: 92.7%

+$506,000 $84,030 $83,650 N/A Full ROI →
2 Harvard University

Grad rate: 97.5%

+$18,318 $60,343 $82,842 $12,721 Full ROI →
3 College of the Holy Cross

Grad rate: 90.3%

-$24,090 $57,920 $76,510 $27,000 Full ROI →
4 Stonehill College

Grad rate: 79.9%

-$50,928 $53,136 $68,412 N/A Full ROI →
5 Salem State University

Grad rate: 55.2%

-$129,910 $42,850 $27,615 $27,000 Full ROI →
6 Suffolk University

Grad rate: 60.1%

-$132,408 $47,944 $62,822 N/A Full ROI →
7 University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Grad rate: 70.6%

-$140,661 $42,508 $29,521 $24,250 Full ROI →
8 University of Massachusetts-Boston

Grad rate: 51.1%

-$141,715 $42,532 $29,698 $24,862 Full ROI →
9 University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

Grad rate: 51.8%

-$145,318 $42,757 $31,677 $25,000 Full ROI →
10 Worcester State University

Grad rate: 57.1%

-$156,067 $40,175 $21,586 $24,610 Full ROI →
11 Bridgewater State University

Grad rate: 55.3%

-$170,606 $40,325 $25,164 $27,000 Full ROI →
12 University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Grad rate: 83.1%

-$181,388 $41,144 $33,389 $22,750 Full ROI →
13 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Grad rate: 52.6%

-$182,780 $38,402 $27,705 N/A Full ROI →
14 Smith College

Grad rate: 89.1%

-$185,826 $50,418 $82,134 $19,000 Full ROI →
15 Brandeis University

Grad rate: 86.7%

-$259,419 $47,023 $82,123 $23,250 Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)

A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.

Find Best History Degrees by State

Browse History programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.