2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Massachusetts
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong chemistry education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 50 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for chemistry students.
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2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chemistry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Chemistry Schools
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for chemistry in Massachusetts. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Williams College one of the best values for chemistry. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $12,000. Chemistry graduates of Williams College earn a median of $40,840 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Amherst College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in chemistry, landing the #3 spot this year. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $59,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at Bridgewater State University, which ranked #4. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,734, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $55,376 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $13,516. Chemistry graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $96,201 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #6 for value in chemistry this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #7 spot for chemistry value this year. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $66,985. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #8 among the best values for chemistry. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Wellesley College came in at #9 for value in chemistry 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. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $48,902. That is a strong return on a $11,075 median debt. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
Smith College placed #10 among the best values for chemistry. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,178. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of Smith College earn a median of $40,436 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Boston University earned the #11 position for value in chemistry this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of Boston University earn a median of $39,157 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Mount Holyoke College earned the #12 position for value in chemistry this year. Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. Students from in state pay about $67,018 in tuition and fees. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $22,041 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Mount Holyoke College generally make around $35,038. Set against $22,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University landed the #13 spot for chemistry value this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $62,511. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Brandeis University placed #14 among the best values for chemistry. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $25,484. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $46,641. Set against $25,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brandeis University admits about 40% of applicants.
Tufts University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $17,074. Chemistry graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
College Of The Holy Cross came in at #16 for value in chemistry this year. College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Students from in state pay about $64,500 in tuition and fees. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from College Of The Holy Cross generally make around $47,313. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. College Of The Holy Cross admits about 18% of applicants.
Boston College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,702. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $66,132. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
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Notes and References
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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
