Inside Massachusetts’ $2.7 Billion Taxpayer-Funded Higher Education System

Massachusetts has about 100 degree-granting colleges and universities, 29 of which Massachusetts taxpayers fund with $2.7 billion annually. The 29 taxpayer-funded schools include five University of Massachusetts campuses, nine state universities, and 15 community colleges.

Breaking Down the 29 Taxpayer-Funded Institutions

According to the Massachusetts Department of Education, "There are six comprehensive state universities: Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University, and Worcester State University."

There are also "three specialized colleges-Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy."

Massachusetts Taxpayers Foot The Bill For Dozens Of Colleges And Universities

The five campuses of the University of Massachusetts system consist of UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, and the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester.

Get our free mobile app

The 15 community colleges in Massachusetts include Bristol (Fall River/New Bedford), Berkshire (Pittsfield), Bunker Hill (Boston), Cape Cod (West Barnstable), Greenfield, Holyoke, Massachusetts Bay (Wellesley Hills), Massasoit (Brockton/Canton), Middlesex (Bedford/Lowell), Mount Wachusett (Gardner), North Shore (Danvers), Northern Essex (Haverhill), Quinsigamond (Worcester), Roxbury, and Springfield Technical.

The $2.7 billion it costs to operate the taxpayer-funded schools comes directly from state tax appropriations and local government support.

Massachusetts Taxpayers Foot The Bill For Dozens Of Colleges And Universities

The Mission of Public Higher Education in Massachusetts

The DOE says, "The system exists to provide accessible, affordable, relevant, and rigorous programs that adapt to meet changing individual and societal needs for education and employment."

"Community colleges have a special responsibility for workforce development and, through partnerships with business and industry, provide job training, retraining, certification, and skills improvement," according to the DOE.

Private Excellence Alongside Public Education

U.S News & World Report says, "There are dozens of renowned private universities and liberal arts colleges including Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)."

The publication includes several on its 2026 Best Colleges in Massachusetts list.