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Cheapest community colleges in Massachusetts

Community colleges in Massachusetts ranked by published in-state tuition, lowest first. Published tuition is the sticker price; the price you actually pay is typically much lower after federal Pell grants and state aid. Use this list as a starting point, then file the FAFSA to see your real cost.

  1. North Shore Community CollegeDanvers, MA$5,352
  2. Massasoit Community CollegeBrockton, MA$5,376
  3. Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfield, MA$5,810
  4. Bristol Community CollegeFall River, MA$5,832
  5. Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeWellesley Hills, MA$5,856
  6. Springfield Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MA$5,904
  7. Holyoke Community CollegeHolyoke, MA$5,988
  8. Cape Cod Community CollegeWest Barnstable, MA$6,000
  9. Roxbury Community CollegeRoxbury Crossing, MA$6,024
  10. Middlesex Community CollegeBedford, MA$6,048
  11. Mount Wachusett Community CollegeGardner, MA$6,160
  12. Berkshire Community CollegePittsfield, MA$6,164
  13. Bunker Hill Community CollegeBoston, MA$6,168
  14. Quinsigamond Community CollegeWorcester, MA$6,262
  15. Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill, MA$6,732
  16. Urban College of BostonBoston, MA$7,608
  17. Quincy CollegeQuincy, MA$8,938
  18. FINE Mortuary CollegeNorwood, MA$19,450
  19. Laboure College of HealthcareMilton, MA$30,618
  20. Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of NursingMedford, MA$31,038
  21. Bard College at Simon's RockGreat Barrington, MA$68,780

Reading the list

The figures above are the published in-state tuition rates each Massachusetts community college reports to the U.S. Department of Education. These are the rates posted to the institution's tuition schedule before any aid is applied. For most Massachusetts community-college students, federal Pell grants alone cover a substantial share of tuition, and state aid programs in Massachusetts often cover the remainder for residents who qualify. Out-of-state tuition is typically higher; check the individual college profile for both rates.

Tuition alone is not the right comparison for a complete cost picture. The College Scorecard also reports total annual cost of attendance — tuition plus required fees, books, room and board (if applicable), and other expenses — which is the more meaningful number when you are budgeting for a year of school. Each college's full profile lists cost of attendance alongside tuition. For students who can live at home and avoid room-and-board costs, the gap between tuition and cost of attendance shrinks substantially.

If your goal is the lowest possible total cost, the cheapest tuition isn't always the right pick. A slightly more expensive program with a higher transfer rate or stronger articulation agreement with a four-year university may produce a lower total degree cost overall, because lost credit on transfer can erase the savings of a low community-college tuition.