2027 Best Value Philosophy Schools in Massachusetts

[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value philosophy schools.
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2027 Best Value Philosophy Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in philosophy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Philosophy Schools
For return on investment in philosophy, no school beat Harvard University this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy will find it at Williams College, which ranked #2. 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. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $12,615 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of Williams College earn a median of $53,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,615 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Massachusetts Boston one of the best values for philosophy. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $36,581 early in their careers. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned it the #4 place for philosophy. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $25,195. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,666. That is a strong return on a $25,195 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy will find it at Boston University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of Boston University earn a median of $40,377 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University landed the #6 spot for philosophy value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Students borrow a median of $25,611 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $74,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Tufts University placed #7 among the best values for philosophy. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $68,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College earned the #8 position for value in philosophy this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,702. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $18,000. Philosophy graduates of Boston College earn a median of $47,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.