Alternative schools allow students to direct their own education and take courses in the evenings, on weekends, and online. Here, you can find out more about the two alternative schools in Massachusetts by looking at data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Alternative Schools in Massachusetts Near Large Cities
One of the alternative schools in Massachusetts is located in Amherst, a city of over 37,000 people. The other is in Great Barrington, a small town in rural Berkshire County. As you make your college decision, you may want to consider which community better fits your lifestyle.
- Hampshire College (Amherst)
- Bard College at Simon's Rock (Great Barrington)
Largest Alternative Schools in Massachusetts
Both alternative schools in Massachusetts are small colleges with only undergraduate students. You will likely get personalized academic attention at both of these schools, but one is significantly smaller than the other, which can impact the campus environment. Take a look at the student population sizes of both schools.
- Hampshire College (472 students)
- Bard College at Simon's Rock (328 students)
Lowest Net Price
College affordability is a major concern for many aspiring students, including those seeking an alternative education. To determine whether it is financially feasible for you to attend a school, you can consider net price, a statistic that the NCES calculates by subtracting the average financial aid award from the total cost of attendance for a full-time undergraduate student. As of the 2020-2021 school year, the two alternative schools in Massachusetts had similar net prices.
- Hampshire College ($30,168 per year)
- Bard College at Simon's Rock ($37,869 per year)
Highest Graduation Rate
The graduation rate at an alternative school can offer insight into the academic quality of the institution. When reporting graduation rates, the NCES looks at the percentage of full-time undergraduate students who finished their degrees within 150% of the expected completion time. Based on data from students who began their studies in 2013, both of the alternative schools in Massachusetts had graduation rates of over sixty percent.
- Bard College at Simon's Rock (70%)
- Hampshire College (62%)
In summary, students in Massachusetts who want to attend an alternative school can enroll in either Hampshire College or Bard College at Simon's Rock.
