Best Community Colleges in Massachusetts
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were a total of 16 public two-year colleges in Massachusetts offering associate degrees and certificates in 2020. The 15 schools in the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC) serve about 136,200 students every year, representing 49% of the whole undergraduate population in the state’s public higher education system.
Community colleges in Massachusetts offer students a relatively affordable pathway to enter the workforce quickly or transfer to a four-year institution. Massachusetts’s community colleges have also partnered up with more than 3,600 organizations and businesses across the state to provide students with workforce development courses and skills improvement programs.
Best Community Colleges in Massachusetts
Cape Cod Community College
- West Barnstable, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,990
- Out-of-state$13,170
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate53%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,336
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
Middlesex Community College
- Bedford, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$576
- Out-of-state$5,520
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate57%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled7,770
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment58%
- AccreditationYes
Bristol Community College
- Fall River, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$576
- Out-of-state$5,520
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate59%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled5,822
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment81%
- AccreditationYes
Bunker Hill Community College
- Boston, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$576
- Out-of-state$5,520
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate89%
- Students Enrolled8,439
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment82%
- AccreditationYes
North Shore Community College
- Danvers, MA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$600
- Out-of-state$6,168
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate53%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled4,391
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment47%
- AccreditationYes
Holyoke Community College
- Holyoke, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,280
- Out-of-state$10,224
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate59%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled3,550
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
Greenfield Community College
- Greenfield, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$624
- Out-of-state$6,744
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate60%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,419
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
Mount Wachusett Community College
- Gardner, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$600
- Out-of-state$5,520
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate53%
- Acceptance Rate99%
- Students Enrolled2,868
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
Quinsigamond Community College
- Worcester, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$720
- Out-of-state$6,900
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate55%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled6,481
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment45%
- AccreditationYes
Massasoit Community College
- Brockton, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$576
- Out-of-state$5,520
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate56%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled4,810
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment74%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2021. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
Featured Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Why Study in Massachusetts?
Educational Opportunities
The community colleges in Massachusetts offer two-year associate degree programs as well as alternative educational pathways. The Commonwealth Commitment Program provides students with the opportunity to enroll at a community college then transfer to a four-year university at a reduced cost.
Furthermore, MACC partnered up with the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership (MACP) to create the “Be Mass Competitive” workforce training initiative, whereby students receive customized training and career-placement education.
Economy
In the 2020 edition of the U.S. News and World Report’s list of best states in the country, Massachusetts ranked fifth in the economic outlook category. It ranked first for business environment and third for employment.
According to the state’s Department of Unemployment Assistance, jobs across all industries are projected to grow nearly 3% between 2018 and 2028. Massachusetts is also a hub for tech and biotech jobs, attracting more potential entrepreneurs to establish their businesses in the state.
Cost of Living
Massachusetts is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. CNBC lists Massachusetts as the fifth most expensive state in the country, just behind Hawaii, New York, California, and Oregon. Almost all living expenses are more costly in Massachusetts, including housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation.
However, wages are faster growing in Massachusetts than in other states. CNBC reports that the average salary in Massachusetts grew almost 45% between 2010 and 2020. Massachusetts ranked fourth among states where salaries have grown most over the past decade.
Cultural and Community Offerings
In addition to Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and the Boston Marathon, there are tons of cultural and community offerings in the Bay State. Tourists and residents alike regularly visit the state’s world-renowned cultural centers such as the Museum of African American History, the Isabella Gardner Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
Visitors to the state can walk Boston’s heritage trails, including the Freedom Trail, the Black Heritage Trail. There are also plenty of guided tours, like the Second Saturday Walking Tour of Florence Abolition Era Sites.
Climate
There are four distinct seasons in Massachusetts. July is generally the hottest month of the year, and January, the coldest. Massachusetts also receives an average of 47 inches of snow per year, making it one of the snowiest states in the country.
Winters can get very cold and snowy in the state of Massachusetts, while summers are increasingly hot. The best times of the year to participate in outdoor recreational activities like hiking and kayaking are late spring, summer, and early fall.
Top Degree Programs in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Employment Outlook
According to the state’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Massachusetts had an unemployment rate of about 5% in September 2021. In 2020, the U.S. News and World Report ranked Massachusetts third overall in terms of employment.
Following the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the unemployment rate in Massachusetts skyrocketed to over 16%, according to WBUR, but the Bay State is steadily recovering. Layoffs have been slowing down in 2021. The state has gained nearly 160,000 new jobs since December 2020 according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
5 Massachusetts Jobs in Demand
First-line Supervisors of Construction and Extraction Workers
- Annual Median Salary in Massachusetts (May 2020): $91,140
- Job Outlook in Massachusetts (2018-2028): 4%
The steady increase in new buildings, roads, and additional infrastructure should provide more jobs in the construction and extraction industry. This field offers entry-level roles in constructing, repairing, inspecting, and installing building frameworks, and operating construction equipment.
Social and Community Service Managers
- Annual Median Salary in Massachusetts (May 2020): $67,310
- Job Outlook in Massachusetts (2018-2028): 5%
Earning an associate degree and other postsecondary certificates can help graduates secure support roles in the community and social service industry. This field covers the areas of drug abuse and rehabilitation counseling, mental health treatment, school and career counseling, marriage and family therapy, and community health.
Community Health Workers
- Annual Median Salary in Massachusetts (May 2020): $43,800
- Job Outlook in Massachusetts (2018-2028): 4%
Almost every community college in Massachusetts offers associate degrees and specialized training programs in the field of healthcare. Students aiming for a career in healthcare support can assume a variety of occupations such as personal care aides, nursing assistants, occupational therapy assistants, dental assistants, and psychiatric aides.
Educational Instruction and Library Workers
Students who want to work in schools and libraries can do so by enrolling in a two-year associate degree program in education or a similar field. Many graduates with associate degrees in these areas can apply for roles as teaching assistants and English as a Second Language instructors or tutors. Others go on to become library assistants and technicians.
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
Technology is prevalent in every business sector. As such, computer and mathematical occupations have also increased. Completing an associate degree or a specialized training program in mathematics or information technology can help graduates land roles in computer user and network support, network and computer systems, and software development.
Popular Career Paths in Massachusetts
Frequently Asked Questions About Community Colleges in Massachusetts
Community colleges are worth it. Compared to most four-year institutions, community colleges offer students fast, less expensive pathways to lucrative careers. For students who are not able to afford the tuition of a four-year university, or for professionals looking to change careers, enrolling in a community college can be a good option.
Community colleges generally have more flexible admission requirements and smaller class sizes than four-year institutions. Affordable online community colleges can help students to earn a degree from anywhere on their own timeframe.
Explore More College Resources
Transferring From Community College to University
Many community college students plan to transfer to a four-year college, but few succeed. Closing the transfer gap is critical to closing opportunity gaps.
by Anne Dennon
Updated April 29, 2022