Compare 14 General Studies. programs in Massachusetts. Average earnings: $46,678.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, General Studies tells a different story. Across 14 programs, earnings range from $28,598 to $103,135—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's General Studies program leads with graduates earning $103,135, nearly double the $46,678 state average. Bentley University follows at $87,110, proving that program-level evaluation reveals opportunities beyond traditional institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. MIT graduates borrow $14,768 and face just a 2.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income.
Highest program earnings: $103,135
Strong outcomes with 72% acceptance
2.5% payment burden | Excellent
10.8% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $103,135 | 10 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | |
| #2 | Bentley UniversityPrivate | $87,110 | 126 | $25,023 | Excellent | $43,757 | Manageable |
| #3 | Endicott CollegePrivate | $44,540 | 47 | $27,000 | Manageable | $38,259 | High |
| #4 | $43,996 | 30 | $19,500 | Manageable | $17,518 | High | |
| #5 | $43,637 | 45 | $25,000 | Manageable | $20,284 | High | |
| #6 | $43,355 | 156 | $22,457 | Manageable | $18,544 | High | |
| #7 | $42,130 | 95 | $22,763 | Manageable | $26,243 | High | |
| #8 | $41,478 | 25 | $25,000 | Challenging | $22,757 | High | |
| #9 | Bay Path UniversityPrivate | $40,309 | 43 | $24,901 | Challenging | $16,500 | High |
| #10 | Salem State UniversityPublic | $38,122 | 7 | $25,000 | Challenging | $21,128 | High |
| #11 | $36,288 | 105 | $23,704 | Challenging | $18,400 | High | |
| #12 | Lesley UniversityPrivate | $31,898 | 75 | $21,000 | High | $31,465 | High |
| #13 | Dean CollegePrivate | $28,891 | 5 | $25,000 | High | $58,742 | High |
| #14 | Eastern Nazarene CollegePrivate | $28,598 | 14 | $26,000 | High | $22,000 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
