2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in Massachusetts

[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminology students.
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2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminology Schools
Leading the list is Framingham State University, our #1 best value for criminology in Massachusetts. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,920, with out-of-state students paying around $18,000. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,974 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $41,431. That is a strong return on a $25,974 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,535. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Lasell College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,040. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Lasell College earn a median of $88,950 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Assumption College one of the best values for criminology. Set in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,356. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Assumption College generally make around $48,600. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Stonehill College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Students from in state pay about $56,370 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,000. Criminology graduates of Stonehill College earn a median of $40,928 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts placed #6 among the best values for criminology. Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $48,550. Students borrow a median of $26,348 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn a median of $36,824 early in their careers. Set against $26,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.