Massachusetts College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

Tuition trends by school type and level for Massachusetts colleges

There are 85 four-year colleges and universities in Massachusetts—15 public institutions and 70 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $13,268, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $25,271. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 3.75% and out-of-state costs changed by 2.63%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 39.17% (in-state) and 29.77% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $48,506 in 2025. That is a 5.14% change from last year and 38.46% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $14,717, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $20,469. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 2.67% and out-of-state costs changed by 2.59%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 43.86% (in-state) and 35.34% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $33,269 in 2025. That is a 1.33% change from last year and 24.45% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by 5.14% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 3.75% (lower by 1.39 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by 2.63% (lower by 2.51 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 38.46%, compared with public in-state 39.17% (higher by 0.71 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 29.77% (lower by 8.70 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 1.33% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by 2.67% (higher by 1.34 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by 2.59% (higher by 1.26 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by 24.45%, compared with public graduate in-state 43.86% (higher by 19.41 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 35.34% (higher by 10.89 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $33,175 (public in-state), $45,178 (public out-of-state), and $68,413 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 4.57%, 3.72%, and 5.14%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 37.40% (public in-state), 32.54% (public out-of-state), and 37.81% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $31,068 (public in-state), $43,071 (public out-of-state), and $66,306 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by 4.43%, 3.57%, and 5.09%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 38.52% (public in-state), 33.06% (public out-of-state), and 38.35% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of Massachusetts Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in Massachusetts from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in Massachusetts and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)

For Massachusetts public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $13,268 which has increased by 39.17% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $25,271 which has risen by 29.77%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.98% while last year increase rate was 2.63%.

Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Massachusetts Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
In-State Costs	$10,058	$10,656	$11,054	$11,619	$11,927	$12,149	$12,185	$12,491	$12,788	$13,268
Year-to-Year Rates	5.50%	5.95%	3.74%	5.10%	2.65%	1.86%	0.30%	2.51%	2.38%	3.75%
Cumulative Rates	5.50%	11.77%	15.96%	21.87%	25.11%	27.43%	27.81%	31.03%	34.14%	39.17%
Out-of-State Costs	$20,277	$21,348	$22,052	$22,839	$23,361	$23,652	$23,689	$24,160	$24,623	$25,271
Year-to-Year Rates	4.12%	5.28%	3.30%	3.57%	2.28%	1.25%	0.15%	1.99%	1.92%	2.63%
Cumulative Rates	4.12%	9.62%	13.24%	17.28%	19.96%	21.46%	21.64%	24.06%	26.44%	29.77%

For private schools in Massachusetts state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $48,506 which has increased by 38.46% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 3.85% while last year increase rate was 5.14%.

Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Massachusetts Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
Tuition & Fees	$35,995	$37,618	$39,049	$40,360	$41,359	$41,707	$42,769	$44,923	$46,134	$48,506
Year-to-Year Rates	2.75%	4.51%	3.80%	3.36%	2.47%	0.84%	2.55%	5.04%	2.69%	5.14%
Cumulative Rates	2.75%	7.38%	11.47%	15.21%	18.06%	19.06%	22.09%	28.24%	31.69%	38.46%

The average graduate school tuition & fees of Massachusetts public schools are $14,717 which has increased by 43.86% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $20,469 which has risen by 35.34%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 3.53% while last year increase rate was 2.59%.

Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Massachusetts Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
In-State Costs	$10,719	$12,078	$12,495	$12,882	$13,486	$13,726	$13,975	$14,054	$14,335	$14,717
Year-to-Year Rates	4.78%	12.68%	3.45%	3.10%	4.69%	1.78%	1.81%	0.56%	2.00%	2.67%
Cumulative Rates	4.78%	18.06%	22.14%	25.93%	31.83%	34.18%	36.61%	37.38%	40.12%	43.86%
Out-of-State Costs	$15,841	$17,560	$18,153	$18,255	$18,933	$19,260	$19,554	$19,750	$19,952	$20,469
Year-to-Year Rates	4.74%	10.85%	3.38%	0.56%	3.72%	1.73%	1.53%	1.00%	1.02%	2.59%
Cumulative Rates	4.74%	16.11%	20.03%	20.70%	25.19%	27.35%	29.29%	30.59%	31.92%	35.34%

For private graduate schools in Massachusetts state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $33,269 which has increased by 24.45% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.44506% while last year increase rate was 1.33%.

Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Massachusetts Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
Tuition & Fees	$27,214	$28,598	$29,492	$29,716	$30,468	$31,235	$31,500	$32,195	$32,833	$33,269
Year-to-Year Rates	1.80%	5.09%	3.13%	0.76%	2.53%	2.52%	0.85%	2.21%	1.98%	1.33%
Cumulative Rates	1.80%	6.98%	10.32%	11.16%	13.97%	16.84%	17.83%	20.43%	22.82%	24.45%

You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at Massachusetts college cost trends.

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