by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mathematics](/majors/mathematics-and-statistics/mathematics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools to find the best return on investment for mathematics students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mathematics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Williams College, our #1 best value for mathematics in Massachusetts. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,560. Students borrow a median of $13,807 to complete the mathematics program here. Early-career mathematics graduates make about $55,193. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mathematics will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for mathematics graduates is $16,616. Mathematics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Amherst College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value mathematics schools. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,480. Typical student debt for mathematics graduates is $14,745. Mathematics graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $78,500 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Massachusetts Institute Of Technology one of the best values for mathematics. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Mathematics graduates carry a median of $10,003 in student loans. Early-career mathematics graduates make about $109,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #5 makes Bridgewater State University one of the best values for mathematics. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,734, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Typical student debt for mathematics graduates is $27,000. Mathematics graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $48,457 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #6 spot for mathematics value this year. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Students borrow a median of $25,539 to complete the mathematics program here. Early-career mathematics graduates make about $48,641. That is a strong return on a $25,539 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #7 spot for mathematics value this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mathematics graduates is $26,236. Mathematics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College landed the #8 spot for mathematics value this year. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,176. Mathematics graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans. Early-career mathematics graduates make about $48,902. Set against $11,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #9 among the best values for mathematics. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the mathematics program here. Early-career mathematics graduates make about $42,682. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Boston University placed #10 among the best values for mathematics. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the mathematics program here. Soon after graduation, mathematics degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $64,604. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Smith College placed #11 among the best values for mathematics. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. Mathematics graduates carry a median of $18,181 in student loans. Early-career mathematics graduates make about $40,436. Set against $18,181 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Northeastern University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value mathematics schools. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete the mathematics program here. Mathematics graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $76,392 early in their careers. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Lesley University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value mathematics schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,256 in tuition and fees. Mathematics graduates carry a median of $24,818 in student loans. Early-career mathematics graduates make about $48,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lesley University admits about 97% of applicants.
Tufts University placed #14 among the best values for mathematics. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Typical student debt for mathematics graduates is $17,750. Mathematics graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $110,512 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Holy Cross earned the #15 position for value in mathematics this year. Located in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,500. Mathematics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Mathematics graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of $61,761 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 18%.
Boston College placed #16 among the best values for mathematics. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,702. Mathematics graduates carry a median of $18,025 in student loans. Mathematics graduates of Boston College earn a median of $74,144 early in their careers. Set against $18,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #17 for value in mathematics this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,765 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the mathematics program here. Early-career mathematics graduates make about $91,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits about 60% of applicants.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
