Cost of Attending College in Massachusetts: Tuition and Living Costs
By Muntasir • Published Feb 08, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • US States & Cities
UMass Amherst charged $17,772 in tuition and fees for in-state students and $40,449 for out-of-state students in 2024-25, with a total cost near $37,100 in-state living on campus. Bridgewater State, a typical state university, charged $11,808 in-state. Community college tuition and fees are now free for eligible Massachusetts residents under MassEducate. Private colleges like Boston University list tuition and fees above $68,000 a year, though average grant aid there topped $61,800.
🎓 UMass Amherst: $17,772 in-state tuition and fees, 2024-25
💵 Bridgewater State University: $11,808 in-state tuition and fees, 2024-25
🏠 Community colleges: tuition and fees free for eligible MA residents
Boston University: $68,102 sticker tuition and fees, only 49% got aid, average grant $61,848
⏱️ UMass Amherst full on-campus cost: about $37,100 in-state, $59,800 out-of-state
Public Flagship: UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst charged $17,772 in tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates and $40,449 for out-of-state undergraduates in the 2024-25 academic year, the most recent figures published in federal IPEDS data . Once you add housing, food, books, and other expenses, the full cost of attendance living on campus reached about $37,122 for in-state students and $59,799 for out-of-state students.
| Cost Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $17,772 | $40,449 |
| Total cost, on campus | $37,122 | $59,799 |
About 89% of full-time first-year students at UMass Amherst received some form of financial aid in 2023-24, with an average institutional grant of $10,208, which brings the real out-of-pocket cost below the sticker price for most students.
State Universities: Bridgewater State as an Example
Massachusetts state universities cost less than UMass. Bridgewater State University, the largest of the nine state universities, charged $11,808 in tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates and $17,948 for out-of-state undergraduates in 2024-25, per IPEDS data . Total on-campus cost of attendance reached $33,100 in-state and $39,240 out-of-state.
| Living Situation | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| On campus | $33,100 | $39,240 |
| Off campus | $33,855 | $39,995 |
| Off campus with family | $18,608 | $24,748 |
86% of Bridgewater State students receive grant or scholarship aid, averaging $10,318, and the average net price for in-state students who receive grant aid runs about $15,646.
Community Colleges: Free Under MassEducate
Before state aid, Bunker Hill Community College in Boston charged $6,168 in tuition and fees for in-state students and $11,112 for out-of-state students in 2024-25, according to IPEDS data . Living off campus and not with family, total cost reached $20,496 in-state.
Those sticker prices matter less than they used to. The MassEducate program now covers full tuition and fees for eligible Massachusetts residents at all 15 public community colleges, plus up to $1,200 toward books and supplies. Living expenses and any remaining costs beyond tuition and fees still fall on the student, so budget for housing, food, and transportation even where tuition itself is free.
Private Nonprofit Colleges: High Sticker Price, Lower Net Price
Private nonprofit colleges in Massachusetts list a far higher sticker price than public campuses. Boston University charged $68,102 in tuition and fees for 2024-25, with a total cost of attendance around $90,207 living on campus, per IPEDS data . Only 49% of full-time beginning undergraduates received aid, but the average grant among those who did reached $61,848, which cuts the real price close to what a state university costs for many families.
Do not rule out a private Massachusetts college on sticker price alone. Run the net price calculator on each college's financial aid site before you compare costs, since list price and what your family actually pays can differ by tens of thousands of dollars.
How to Cut Your Cost
Establish Massachusetts residency before you enroll if you are moving to the state, since in-state tuition at UMass and the state universities costs a fraction of the out-of-state rate. File the FAFSA or MASFA every year and apply for MASSGrant Plus if your household earns under about $100,000. Start at a community college under MassEducate and transfer into UMass or a state university through MassTransfer to cut two years of your total bill to close to zero in tuition and fees. If you live in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont, check whether NEBHE Tuition Break discounts apply to your program before you assume Massachusetts public colleges cost full out-of-state price.