New England Colleges: Costs & Outcomes (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for New England shows: median public in-state tuition $22,490 (+308.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $61,317 (+12.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 21.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S.) 810,359 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 306 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 810,359 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $22,490 (+308.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $61,317 (+12.9% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 21.0% (-67.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $23,367 (+134.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $20,000. Debt rank: #2 nationally of 2 (lower debt = better rank)
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 64.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 82.0%
- Student debt rank: #2 nationally of 2 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data aggregates College Scorecard campus data across New England (Census region)—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and top institutions—vs U.S. benchmarks.
New England vs national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England (region) | $22,490 | $23,367 | $20,000 | 64.0% | 810,359 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: New England vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $61,317 | 21.0% | 82.0% | 3.5% | — | 82.0% | 0.39 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
States in New England
Member states in this Census region (by enrollment).
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $22,490 | $23,367 | $20,000 | 64.0% | 810,359 | $61,317 | 21.0% |
| Massachusetts | $6,732 | $12,244 | $21,974 | 66.7% | 311,375 | $63,494 | 21.8% |
| New Hampshire | $7,200 | $15,621 | $18,525 | 57.4% | 201,244 | $55,836 | 13.2% |
| Connecticut | $13,928 | $16,798 | $12,541 | 64.9% | 152,356 | $64,209 | 28.2% |
| Rhode Island | N/A | N/A | $13,000 | 66.5% | 62,567 | $70,004 | 22.6% |
| Maine | $8,888 | $8,205 | $19,328 | 57.6% | 55,272 | $48,653 | 15.0% |
| Vermont | N/A | N/A | $20,951 | 62.4% | 28,653 | $59,852 | 32.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in New England
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 97 | $63,163 | 28.9% | 83.4% | 2.9% | — | 83.2% |
| Public | 39 | $58,562 | 13.2% | 77.8% | 4.4% | — | 79.6% |
Top 10 colleges in New England by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 97.6%, Harvard University
Harvard University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 96.4%, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 95.7%, Yale University
Yale University
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 95.7%, Brown University
Brown University
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 95.5%, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 95.3%, Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
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Rank 7, Graduation Rate, 93.9%, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 8, Graduation Rate, 93.6%, Williams College
Williams College
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Rank 9, Graduation Rate, 93.5%, Tufts University
Tufts University
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Rank 10, Graduation Rate, 93.1%, Babson College
Babson College
Top 10 colleges in New England by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 79.1%, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 73.2%, Yale University
Yale University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 69.6%, Wellesley College
Wellesley College
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 69.1%, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 65.9%, Brown University
Brown University
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 64.7%, Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 64.6%, Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 64.4%, Harvard University
Harvard University
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 59.3%, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 57.6%, Post University
Post University
Top 10 most selective colleges in New England (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 3.6%, Harvard University
Harvard University
-
Rank 2, Admission Rate, 3.9%, Yale University
Yale University
-
Rank 3, Admission Rate, 4.5%, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 5.2%, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 5.4%, Brown University
Brown University
-
Rank 6, Admission Rate, 5.4%, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 7, Admission Rate, 7.1%, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 8, Admission Rate, 7.1%, Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
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Rank 9, Admission Rate, 8.2%, Williams College
Williams College
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Rank 10, Admission Rate, 9.0%, Amherst College
Amherst College
Top 10 colleges in New England by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $154,492, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $152,251, Harvard University
Harvard University
-
Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $151,065, Brown University
Brown University
-
Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $133,293, Yale University
Yale University
-
Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $132,919, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $115,587, Northeastern University Professional Programs
Northeastern University Professional Programs
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Rank 7, Entry-Level Earnings, $115,587, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 8, Entry-Level Earnings, $110,814, Williams College
Williams College
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Rank 9, Entry-Level Earnings, $110,512, Tufts University
Tufts University
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Rank 10, Entry-Level Earnings, $109,455, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Top 10 colleges in New England by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $230,876, Harvard University
Harvard University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $225,141, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $214,479, Brown University
Brown University
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $209,574, Williams College
Williams College
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $201,702, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $188,157, Yale University
Yale University
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Rank 7, Early-Career Earnings, $177,213, Wellesley College
Wellesley College
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Rank 8, Early-Career Earnings, $163,708, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 9, Early-Career Earnings, $163,708, Northeastern University Professional Programs
Northeastern University Professional Programs
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Rank 10, Early-Career Earnings, $156,343, Tufts University
Tufts University
Top 10 colleges in New England by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $131,633, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $99,572, Harvard University
Harvard University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $93,944, Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $91,354, Babson College
Babson College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $86,679, Bentley University
Bentley University
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $85,717, Boston College
Boston College
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $85,038, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $82,541, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $81,765, Yale University
Yale University
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $80,424, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Top 10 colleges in New England by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $135,278, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $108,480, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $102,857, Bentley University
Bentley University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $102,507, Babson College
Babson College
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $101,095, Harvard University
Harvard University
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $100,553, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $99,847, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $97,905, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $94,821, Yale University
Yale University
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $89,620, Boston College
Boston College
Top 10 colleges in New England by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $143,372, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $125,557, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $123,938, Babson College
Babson College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $120,959, Bentley University
Bentley University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $103,937, Boston College
Boston College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $103,470, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $101,817, Harvard University
Harvard University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $100,533, Yale University
Yale University
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $97,434, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $93,487, Brown University
Brown University
Top 10 colleges in New England by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $583,998, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $510,566, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $420,194, Harvard University
Harvard University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $345,632, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $338,881, Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $333,572, Babson College
Babson College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $324,532, Williams College
Williams College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $323,999, Yale University
Yale University
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $323,236, Bentley University
Bentley University
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $322,678, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Top 10 most affordable colleges in New England (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $7,482, University of Maine at Fort Kent
University of Maine at Fort Kent
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Rank 2, Net Price, $9,992, University of New Hampshire at Manchester
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
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Rank 3, Net Price, $7,035, University of Maine at Presque Isle
University of Maine at Presque Isle
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Rank 4, Net Price, $9,478, Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $10,864, University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online
University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online
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Rank 6, Net Price, $13,381, Worcester State University
Worcester State University
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Rank 7, Net Price, $21,582, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
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Rank 8, Net Price, $13,807, University of Connecticut-Avery Point
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
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Rank 9, Net Price, $10,924, University of Maine at Augusta
University of Maine at Augusta
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Rank 10, Net Price, $10,875, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Top 10 colleges in New England by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 100.0%, Charter Oak State College
Charter Oak State College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 100.0%, Cambridge College
Cambridge College
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 99.1%, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 98.8%, Brown University
Brown University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 98.8%, Yale University
Yale University
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 98.4%, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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Rank 7, First-Year Retention, 98.3%, Harvard University
Harvard University
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Rank 8, First-Year Retention, 97.3%, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 9, First-Year Retention, 96.9%, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 10, First-Year Retention, 96.9%, Williams College
Williams College
In-state tuition: New England vs benchmarks
Sticker price
New England median in-state tuition is $22,490, +308.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: New England vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in New England is $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $20,000. Rank: #2 nationally of 2 (lower debt = better rank).
Median earnings (10 years out): New England vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in New England center around $61,317 (+12.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: New England vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 21.0% at the median New England campus (-67.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
New England median public in-state tuition is $22,490, about +308.0% vs the national median.
Median graduate debt is $20,000 (+48.9% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #2 nationally of 2 (lower debt = better rank) (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in New England are $61,317, about +12.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 21.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-67.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 82.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 82.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Massachusetts Institute of Technology (79.1%), Yale University (73.2%), Wellesley College (69.6%), Dartmouth College (69.1%), Brown University (65.9%), Rhode Island School of Design (64.7%), Berklee College of Music (64.6%), Harvard University (64.4%), Amherst College (59.3%), Post University (57.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within New England, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $63,163 (97 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $58,562 (39 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in New England is 64.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in the New England region?
EDsmart Data analysis: the New England regional profile aggregates 306 campuses and about 810,359 reported enrollment across member states.
What does college cost in the New England region?
EDsmart Data analysis: regional median in-state tuition is $22,490 and median net price is $23,367 (+308.0% vs U.S. tuition median). National medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in the New England region?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings across New England campuses is $61,317 vs $54,323 nationally.
What is typical student debt in the New England region?
EDsmart Data analysis: regional median completer debt is $20,000 vs $13,432 nationally.
Which states are in the New England region?
EDsmart Data analysis: member states in this Census region include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
How many public vs. private colleges are in the New England region?
EDsmart Data analysis: among reporting campuses: 39 public, 97 private nonprofit, and 0 private for-profit.
What are the top colleges in the New England region?
EDsmart Data analysis: standouts in regional Top 10 lists include Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in the New England region?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 306 campuses in the New England region, 57 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Albertus Magnus College, University of Bridgeport, and Cortiva Institute; 30 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (24), Interdenominational (2), Baptist (1).
Sources & related
- All college profiles
- All regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON