2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 23 schools in Massachusetts to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Bunker Hill Community College the best school in Massachusetts for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Massachusetts who attend BHCC full time pay an average of $5,280 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,224. On average, associate degree students take out $11,991 in loans while pursuing their degree.
BHCC is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Bay Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MassBay Community College is $5,376. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,320. On average, associate degree students take out $10,712 in loans while pursuing their degree.
MassBay Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Bay State College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list.
The average tuition and fees at Bay State College is $29,500. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,855 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Bay State College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massasoit Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list.
In-state students pay an average of $5,160 in tuition and fees if they attend Massasoit Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,104. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,132 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Massasoit Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent associate degree programs at North Shore Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Massachusetts.
Students from Massachusetts who attend North Shore Community College full time pay an average of $5,352 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,920. Associate Degree recipients from North Shore Community College accumulate an average of $15,244 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at North Shore Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Mount Wachusett Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MWCC is $5,668. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,588. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,274 in student loans.
MWCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
Middlesex Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list.
In-state students pay an average of $6,048 in tuition and fees if they attend Middlesex Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,120. On average, associate degree students take out $13,346 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Middlesex Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Fisher College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking.
The average tuition and fees at Fisher College is $33,500. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $18,751 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Fisher College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 69% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Roxbury Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $5,784 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Roxbury Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,088. Associate Degree recipients from Roxbury Community College accumulate an average of $11,778 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Roxbury Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
Northern Essex Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NECC is $5,544. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,328. Associate Degree recipients from NECC accumulate an average of $15,610 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NECC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Springfield Technical Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $5,520 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend STCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,728. On average, associate degree students take out $11,475 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at STCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 93% took at least some of their classes online.
Bristol Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list.
In-state students pay an average of $5,208 in tuition and fees if they attend Bristol full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,152. Associate Degree recipients from Bristol accumulate an average of $11,401 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Bristol. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Cape Cod Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cape Cod Community College is $5,352. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,296. Associate Degree recipients from Cape Cod Community College accumulate an average of $12,980 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Cape Cod Community College. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #14, Quincy College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average tuition and fees at Quincy College is $7,176. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $18,537 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Quincy College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 96% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Greenfield Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list.
Students from Massachusetts who attend Greenfield Community College full time pay an average of $5,642 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,762. Associate Degree recipients from Greenfield Community College accumulate an average of $13,255 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Greenfield Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 90% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Massachusetts - Lowell did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list.
Students from Massachusetts who attend UMass Lowell full time pay an average of $15,698 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $33,624. On average, associate degree students take out $28,170 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UMass Lowell does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, Berkshire Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at BCC is $5,492. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,108. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,839 in student loans.
Online courses are available at BCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 73% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Quinsigamond Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Quinsigamond Community College is $5,830. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,774. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,343 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Quinsigamond Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 35% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #19, University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UMass Amherst is $16,439. Out-of-state students pay an average of $36,964. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,505 in student loans.
UMass Amherst does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Holyoke Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #20 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Holyoke Community College is $5,378. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,322. Associate Degree recipients from Holyoke Community College accumulate an average of $12,288 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Holyoke Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Cambridge College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Cambridge College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bay Path University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
If you are interested in distance education, Bay Path is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
With a ranking of #23, Dean College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average tuition and fees at Dean College is $42,346. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Dean College accumulate an average of $15,188 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Dean College is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 23 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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