With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in the New England Region ranking.
After analyzing 110 schools in the New England Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best bachelor's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. While bachelor's degree recipients from schools in the New England Region earn an average starting salary of $42,403, those from the top 25 school on this list made an average of $50,276.
Starting Salary ( 39608 to 58697 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their bachelor's degree.
When attending a school in the New England Region , bachelor's degree students accumulate an average of $25,944 in student debt before graduation.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your bachelor's degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the New England Region
Our 2024 rankings named Massachusetts Institute of Technology the best school in the New England Region in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,249 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from MIT go into careers with an average salary of $79,258 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $11,534 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $627 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in the New England Region list means Harvard University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,618 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Harvard make an average of $63,686 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $17,458 in student loans.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Yale University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the New England Region. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 1,431 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $56,209 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,712 in student loans.
Out of the 110 bachelor’s degree schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Dartmouth College landed the #4 spot on the list. Hanover, New Hampshire is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,384 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,174 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,241 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $626.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Brown University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the New England Region. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,987 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Brown make an average of $49,153 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,013 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $507 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Bentley University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1,123 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $62,161 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,454 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $529.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,143 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from WPI make an average of $63,992 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,944 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $532 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #8, Tufts University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Tufts is located in Medford, Massachusetts and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,829 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Tufts go into careers with an average salary of $43,562 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $16,825 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $704 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Boston University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 4,788 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,262 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,217 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $630 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Boston College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,208 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Boston College is $53,149 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $17,653 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $639 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Northeastern University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. Northeastern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 4,358 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,651 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,247 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $462.
Bowdoin College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. Bowdoin College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Brunswick, Maine that handed out 619 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,246 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $18,749 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $450 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #13, Amherst College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and it awarded 468 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $51,744 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $13,130.
With a ranking of #14, Williams College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Williams College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Williamstown, Massachusetts that handed out 678 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Williams is $51,114 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $12,737 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #15, University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region list. UMass Amherst is a large public school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 6,844 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UMass Amherst make an average of $41,845 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,207 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $288 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Brandeis University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #16. Brandeis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Waltham, Massachusetts that handed out 1,396 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis make an average of $42,809 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,259 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $731.
Middlebury College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. Located in Middlebury, Vermont, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 756 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury is $40,205 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $16,593.
University of Connecticut landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. University of Connecticut is a large public school located in Storrs, Connecticut that handed out 5,991 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UCONN make an average of $43,726 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,269. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $416.
Colby College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Waterville, Maine, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 711 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Colby make an average of $45,726 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $20,235 after getting their degree.
Wellesley College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #20. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and it awarded 739 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley go into careers with an average salary of $46,135 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $10,663 in student loans.
Bryant University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Bryant is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Smithfield, Rhode Island. It awarded 884 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,318 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,466 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $757 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Providence College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #22. Providence is located in Providence, Rhode Island and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,173 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,995 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,896 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $680 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Trinity College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Hartford, Connecticut, and it awarded 646 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,806 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $22,603.
With a ranking of #24, Emerson College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1,005 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Emerson make an average of $34,649 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,993 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $882 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Fairfield University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Fairfield, Connecticut, and it awarded 1,066 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield U is $49,312 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,665 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $598.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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