Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Framingham State University #533 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,291 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Framingham State University in the 71.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Framingham State University #403 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Framingham State University #533 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Framingham, Massachusetts, Framingham State University enrolls roughly 2,566 undergraduates. Retention stands at 71.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 47.8%, reflecting solid progress toward degree completion. Framingham State University delivers meaningful return on investment for its students. Azimuth ranks Framingham State University #726 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,291 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Framingham State University in the 71.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in Business and related fields supports strong early-career outcomes that compound over time. Access and affordability round out the composite. Framingham State University enrolls 36.9% Pell-eligible students and 32.3% first-generation undergraduates, positioning it as a broad-access public institution. Azimuth ranks Framingham State University in the 56.8 percentile for access and the 63.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For Massachusetts families seeking a public master's university with solid long-term financial outcomes and reasonable cost, Framingham State University offers a reliable pathway to degree completion and career readiness.
Framingham State University's published cost of attendance is $27,413. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $11,934, middle-income families pay around $13,879, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,962. Azimuth ranks Framingham State University #528 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Framingham State's pricing structure reflects a public regional university model with need-based aid distributed across the student body. The relatively modest gap between low-income and higher-income net prices suggests that aid allocation prioritizes access for cost-sensitive families, a common pattern at public institutions with broad enrollment missions. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and Framingham State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,284; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,569, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Framingham State University is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a public university experience in MA. Its program mix leans toward Business, making it a good choice for students whose interests align with those areas. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,569, placing Framingham State University in the 51.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,291 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 71.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 36.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.3% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Framingham State University in the 71.3 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 83.6% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors Business and related fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong earnings trajectory and aid package.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Framingham State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Framingham State University's published cost of attendance is $27,413. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $11,934, middle-income families pay around $13,879, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,962.
Azimuth ranks Framingham State University #528 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Framingham State's pricing structure reflects a public regional university model with need-based aid distributed across the student body. The relatively modest gap between low-income and higher-income net prices suggests that aid allocation prioritizes access for cost-sensitive families, a common pattern at public institutions with broad enrollment missions.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and Framingham State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,284; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,569, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Framingham State University earn median 4-year earnings of $61,569, placing Framingham State University in the 51.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,291 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Framingham State University in the 71.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Framingham State University #726 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Framingham State University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 88 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $53,937, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Business/Commerce, General program graduates 59 students with median 4-year earnings of $62,467, and Criminology delivers median 4-year earnings of $59,857 across 54 graduates.
These outcomes align with Framingham State University's dominant focus on Business, which anchors the institution's long-term financial returns and positions graduates for stable career progression in fields with consistent employer demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15542 ranked) | PA | 97% | $63,435 | #15542 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Stout Similar quality tier (#15531 ranked) | WI | 88% | $58,084 | #15531 | Compare |
University Of Southern Maine Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15546 ranked) | ME | 79% | $49,958 | #15546 | Compare |
Suny College At Geneseo Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15528 ranked) | NY | 66% | $67,316 | #15528 | Compare |
University Of Minnesota-Duluth Similar quality tier (#15527 ranked) | MN | 89% | $62,616 | #15527 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
23 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
22 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
24 graduates
Marketing
20 graduates
Mathematics
10 graduates
Framingham State University's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional public-university identity. Psychology, General is the largest program with 88 graduates, followed by Business/Commerce, General, Criminology, General Studies, and Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 743 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and professional-services fields.
Business/Commerce, General leads with median earnings of $62,467 four years after enrollment, followed by Criminology at $59,857, Biology, General at $59,676, Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other at $59,555, and Food and Nutrition at $59,202. The concentration of Business as 21% of degrees, paired with Social Sciences at 14% and Education at 5%, positions graduates for stable career pathways in accounting, finance, management, and education sectors.
Most of Framingham State University's dominant programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's program concentration in business and education aligns with regional hiring patterns and wage stability in the greater Boston area.
