Massachusetts is called the "Cradle of Liberty" for its role in bringing about the American Revolution, but it might as well be called the Cradle of Education.
After all, it was the first state in the U.S. to require towns to establish a local school, it is home to the oldest school of any kind still in operation in North America, and it is home to the oldest college (and women's college) in the country. These historic roots, however, have only aided in bringing excellent online education options as well.
Related: Best Online Schools in Massachusetts
And Massachusetts isn't resting on its laurels. The neighborhood of Kendall Square outside of Boston has been called "the most innovative square mile on the planet" because of the amount and quality of start-ups that have emerged from the area. So it makes sense that in 2016, Bloomberg ranked Massachusetts as the Most Innovative State in America.
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What kind of College in Massachusetts should you attend?
With 121 institutions of higher education, the Commonwealth (as Massachusetts is often referred to) offers an extremely wide array of choices for your college education. You'll have to narrow down your options according to certain criteria that you value the most. How much do you want to spend in tuition? What type of program do you want to attend? Another important step in choosing a college is to consider what kind of location you want to be in: urban, suburban, rural.
Hopefully the list below will help you identify some of the key features that accompany each of these schools in Massachusetts. Another direction you can go, especially if you prioritize flexibility in your education, is to check out the Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts.
How much money can you make with a degree from a College in Massachusetts?
Earning a college degree in Massachusetts is one way to guarantee a solid career and a secure income. Overall, the median income in Massachusetts is a solid $15k higher than the national average. But having an advanced degree just solidifies your chance to be in the top earning bracket.
In fact, our friends over at Payscale.com have figured out that the average person with a bachelor's degree in Massachusetts earns anywhere from $62k to $71k. And folks with a master's degree make an average annual salary of $81k. Those figures can fluctuate plus or minus a few thousand, but the big takeaway is that you'll be earning a comfortable living in Massachusetts after you graduate.
What can you do with a degree from a College in Massachusetts?
An advanced degree can unlock doors for you that you didn't even know were closed. If you already have a sense for what industry or sector you want to go into, then keep right on truckin'! If you're having trouble deciding on a career, though, let us help you!
The Boston Business Journal recently came out with a list of the top 25 most in-demand jobs in Massachusetts. Let that be your guide! You can breathe easy, then, knowing that your degree will lead you straight into a job when you graduate. Here's a look at a few of the jobs from the list:
Information Technology Managers
Industrial Engineers
Teacher Assistants
Retail Managers
What are the Best Colleges in Massachusetts?
So how do you go about picking which college to go to? Well, Massachusetts is unique in that 80 percent of its population lives within the Greater Boston area, which means that many of its colleges are located there as well. There's a reason Boston is called "America's College Town."
Then, take a look at our ranking of the Best Colleges in Massachusetts. We've put together this ranking to help you decide which colleges match your interests, as well as what you and your family can afford. Each school's score comes from a consideration of academic quality, based on a variety of statistics including test scores, diversity, and percent of tenured faculty, as well as a consideration of return on investment. Return on investment is essentially a measure of net cost versus how much money you can expect to make early on in your career. Happy searching!
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