Northampton, Massachusetts Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Northampton, Massachusetts: median public in-state tuition $65,178 (+1082.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $64,027 (+17.7% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 51.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,550 (+32.2% vs U.S.) 2,544 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 2,544 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $65,178 (+1082.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $64,027 (+17.7% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 51.1% (-36.9 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $27,579 (+176.7% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $17,550 (+32.2% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $18,927
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 89.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 94.3%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Northampton serve students across Massachusetts with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 2,544 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $65,178. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Northampton, Massachusetts and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Northampton vs Massachusetts & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton, Massachusetts | $65,178 | $27,579 | $17,550 | 89.0% | 2,544 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $6,732 | $12,244 | $21,882 | 67.0% | 310,977 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Northampton, Massachusetts 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton, Massachusetts | $64,027 | 51.1% | 94.3% | 2.5% | — | 83.9% | 0.27 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $63,760 | 21.4% | 83.9% | 3.6% | — | 82.4% | 0.39 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Massachusetts (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton, Massachusetts | $65,178 | $27,579 | $17,550 | 89.0% | 2,544 | $64,027 | 51.1% |
| Boston | $38,110 | $26,678 | $24,900 | 67.4% | 89,548 | $65,865 | 21.8% |
| Amherst | $58,896 | $23,367 | $22,763 | 83.3% | 26,421 | $71,631 | 43.9% |
| Worcester | $51,356 | $27,048 | $19,500 | 76.9% | 23,114 | $74,895 | 23.3% |
| Cambridge | $57,160 | $31,152 | $17,884 | 77.8% | 13,886 | $101,817 | 64.4% |
| Lowell | $16,966 | $16,001 | $15,849 | 64.8% | 11,500 | $64,874 | 14.8% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, 89.0%, Smith College
Smith College
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, 51.1%, Smith College
Smith College
Most selective college in Northampton, Massachusetts (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, 21.0%, Smith College
Smith College
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, $71,559, Smith College
Smith College
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, $88,067, Smith College
Smith College
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, $45,731, Smith College
Smith College
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, $57,322, Smith College
Smith College
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, $64,027, Smith College
Smith College
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, $141,386, Smith College
Smith College
Most affordable college in Northampton, Massachusetts (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, $27,579, Smith College
Smith College
Top college in Northampton, Massachusetts 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, 94.3%, Smith College
Smith College
In-state tuition: Northampton, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Northampton, Massachusetts median in-state tuition is $65,178, +1082.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Northampton, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Northampton, Massachusetts is $17,550 (+32.2% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $18,927.
Median earnings (10 years out): Northampton, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Northampton, Massachusetts center around $64,027 (+17.7% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Northampton, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 51.1% at the median Northampton, Massachusetts campus (-36.9 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
Northampton, Massachusetts median public in-state tuition is $65,178, about +1082.5% vs the national median. Versus the New England region, tuition is +593.2%.
Median graduate debt is $17,550 (+32.2% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Northampton, Massachusetts are $64,027, about +17.7% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 51.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-36.9 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 94.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 83.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Smith College (51.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Northampton, Massachusetts is 89.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Northampton?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Northampton, Massachusetts with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Northampton?
Median in-state tuition in Northampton is $65,178 and median net price is $27,579. For Massachusetts overall, medians are $6,732 and $12,244; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Northampton?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Northampton is $64,027 vs $63,760 for Massachusetts and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Northampton colleges?
Median completer debt in Northampton is $17,550 vs $21,882 for Massachusetts and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Northampton?
Top campuses on this page include Smith College (graduation) and Smith College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Northampton?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Northampton, Massachusetts, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Massachusetts college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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