Cheapest Social Sciences Colleges in Massachusetts

Harvard's need-based aid drops Social Sciences costs to just $16,816, creating the state's cheapest option despite a $59,076 sticker price. The $23,050 gap between Harvard's net cost and Boston College's $39,866 reflects how financial aid transforms access to elite education. Massachusetts social science graduates enter a job market where government agencies, nonprofits, and Boston's healthcare sector actively recruit for policy analysis and research roles.

Programs

$16,816 – $39,866

Net Price Range

$52,107

Avg. Program Earnings

69.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

9 Social Sciences, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	$16,816	$59,076	97.3%	3.2%
2	Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts	$18,246	$67,280	93.4%	7.3%
3	University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, Massachusetts	$18,282	$15,496	51.1%	80.8%
4	Westfield State University Westfield, Massachusetts	$18,561	$11,882	54.9%	81.5%
5	American International College Springfield, Massachusetts	$25,299	$42,970	42.3%	89.4%
6	Assumption University Worcester, Massachusetts	$28,853	$49,414	74.6%	82.3%
7	Suffolk University Boston, Massachusetts	$30,031	$45,380	59.8%	86.8%
8	Lesley University Cambridge, Massachusetts	$31,805	$32,780	61.7%	86.2%
9	Boston College Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	$39,866	$67,680	91.0%	16.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Harvard become the most affordable option for Social Sciences students?

Harvard's generous need-based financial aid reduces costs to $16,816 for qualifying families, making it cheaper than public options like UMass Boston at $18,282. The university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, turning a $59,076 sticker price into the state's lowest net cost for Social Sciences programs.

What explains the wide graduation rate differences among affordable programs?

Harvard graduates 97.3% of Social Sciences students while American International College graduates just 42.3%, despite both appearing on the affordable list. Selectivity plays a major role, with Harvard accepting only 3.24% of applicants compared to American International's 89.36% acceptance rate.

Does choosing a public university guarantee lower costs for Social Sciences majors?

Not necessarily in Massachusetts, where Harvard's net price of $16,816 beats both UMass Boston at $18,282 and Westfield State at $18,561. Private college financial aid can make elite institutions more affordable than state schools for students from lower-income families.

More Social Sciences, General Rankings

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All Social Sciences, General Programs Best Colleges in Massachusetts Best Social Sciences, General in Massachusetts

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.