Best Colleges in Massachusetts

88
Universities
21
Community Colleges
109
Total Institutions

Explore 109 colleges and universities in Massachusetts, ranked by the Repit College Score. Our ratings evaluate graduation rates, affordability, resources, and student experience.

#1
A

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • 11,920 students
Private Non-Profit
96%
Grad Rate
#2
A

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • 30,386 students
Private Non-Profit
97%
Grad Rate
#3
A

Boston University

Boston, MA • 36,624 students
Private Non-Profit
90%
Grad Rate
#4
A

Tufts University

Medford, MA • 13,274 students
Private Non-Profit
93%
Grad Rate
#5
A

Williams College

Williamstown, MA • 2,168 students
Private Non-Profit
97%
Grad Rate
#6
B+

Amherst College

Amherst, MA • 1,910 students
Private Non-Profit
93%
Grad Rate
#7
B+

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • 15,280 students
Private Non-Profit
91%
Grad Rate
#8
B+

Northeastern University

Boston, MA • 31,159 students
Private Non-Profit
90%
Grad Rate
#9
B+

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA • 2,418 students
Private Non-Profit
91%
Grad Rate
#10
B+

Smith College

Northampton, MA • 2,830 students
Private Non-Profit
90%
Grad Rate
#11
B+

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA • 3,035 students
Private Non-Profit
90%
Grad Rate
#12
B+

Babson College

Wellesley, MA • 3,943 students
Private Non-Profit
92%
Grad Rate
#13
B+

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA • 31,810 students
Public
83%
Grad Rate
$23k
Net Price
#14
B+

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Needham, MA • 402 students
Private Non-Profit
92%
Grad Rate
#15
B

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • 5,302 students
Private Non-Profit
86%
Grad Rate
#16
B

Bentley University

Waltham, MA • 5,264 students
Private Non-Profit
88%
Grad Rate
#17
B

Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, MA • 2,330 students
Private Non-Profit
85%
Grad Rate
#18
B

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA • 7,353 students
Private Non-Profit
88%
Grad Rate
#19
B

Clark University

Worcester, MA • 4,124 students
Private Non-Profit
77%
Grad Rate
#20
B

Emerson College

Boston, MA • 5,670 students
Private Non-Profit
79%
Grad Rate
#21
B

The New England Conservatory of Music

Boston, MA • 784 students
Private Non-Profit
78%
Grad Rate
#22
B

Berklee College of Music

Boston, MA • 8,448 students
Private Non-Profit
66%
Grad Rate
#23
B

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Lowell, MA • 16,770 students
Public
70%
Grad Rate
$18k
Net Price
7%
Off-Campus
#24
C+

Sattler College

Boston, MA • 58 students
Private Non-Profit
#25
C+

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Boston, MA • 15,810 students
Public
51%
Grad Rate
$18k
Net Price
10%
Off-Campus
#26
C+

Simmons University

Boston, MA • 5,053 students
Private Non-Profit
71%
Grad Rate
#27
C+

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA • 6,296 students
Public
53%
Grad Rate
$16k
Net Price
21%
Off-Campus
#28
C+

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Buzzards Bay, MA • 1,362 students
Public
79%
Grad Rate
$21k
Net Price
#29
C+

Stonehill College

Easton, MA • 2,584 students
Private Non-Profit
81%
Grad Rate
#30
C+

Worcester State University

Worcester, MA • 5,611 students
Public
56%
Grad Rate
$14k
Net Price
8%
Off-Campus
#31
C+

Gordon College

Wenham, MA • 1,610 students
Private Non-Profit
68%
Grad Rate
#32
C+

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Boston, MA • 1,986 students
Public
69%
Grad Rate
$24k
Net Price
18%
Off-Campus
#33
C+

Merrimack College

North Andover, MA • 5,688 students
Private Non-Profit
72%
Grad Rate
#34
C+

Salem State University

Salem, MA • 6,239 students
Public
55%
Grad Rate
$19k
Net Price
27%
Off-Campus
#35
C+

Hult International Business School

Cambridge, MA • 2,003 students
Private Non-Profit
66%
Grad Rate
#36
C+

Boston Baptist College

Boston, MA • 33 students
Private Non-Profit
44%
Grad Rate
#37
C+

Springfield College

Springfield, MA • 2,785 students
Private Non-Profit
68%
Grad Rate
#38
C+

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA • 9,550 students
Public
55%
Grad Rate
$16k
Net Price
#39
C+

Framingham State University

Framingham, MA • 4,028 students
Public
50%
Grad Rate
$17k
Net Price
#40
C+

Westfield State University

Westfield, MA • 4,555 students
Public
55%
Grad Rate
$18k
Net Price
#41
C+

Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Norton, MA • 1,778 students
Private Non-Profit
76%
Grad Rate
#42
C+

Northeastern University Professional Programs

Boston, MA • 7,471 students
Private Non-Profit
#43
C+

Assumption University

Worcester, MA • 2,046 students
Private Non-Profit
75%
Grad Rate
#44
C+

Endicott College

Beverly, MA • 4,254 students
Private Non-Profit
75%
Grad Rate
#45
C+

MCPHS University

Boston, MA • 6,321 students
Private Non-Profit
63%
Grad Rate
#46
C+

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, MA • 7,759 students
Public
49%
Grad Rate
$21k
Net Price
7%
Off-Campus
#47
C+

Emmanuel College

Boston, MA • 2,059 students
Private Non-Profit
66%
Grad Rate
#48
C+

Saint John's Seminary

Brighton, MA • 120 students
Private Non-Profit
#49
C+

Suffolk University

Boston, MA • 6,697 students
Private Non-Profit
60%
Grad Rate
#50
C+

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Boston, MA • 4,018 students
Private Non-Profit
69%
Grad Rate
#51
C

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, MA • 2,643 students
Private Non-Profit
57%
Grad Rate
#52
C

Hampshire College

Amherst, MA • 717 students
Private Non-Profit
57%
Grad Rate
#53
C

Lesley University

Cambridge, MA • 3,134 students
Private Non-Profit
62%
Grad Rate
#54
C

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams, MA • 933 students
Public
49%
Grad Rate
$18k
Net Price
#55
C

Northpoint Bible College

Haverhill, MA • 128 students
Private Non-Profit
51%
Grad Rate
#56
C

Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Brookline, MA • 199 students
Private Non-Profit
44%
Grad Rate
#57
C

Montserrat College of Art

Beverly, MA • 276 students
Private Non-Profit
62%
Grad Rate
#58
C

College of Our Lady of the Elms

Chicopee, MA • 1,332 students
Private Non-Profit
65%
Grad Rate
#59
C

Quincy College

Quincy, MA • 2,603 students
Public
17%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
24%
Off-Campus
#60
C

Regis College

Weston, MA • 2,842 students
Private Non-Profit
69%
Grad Rate
#61
C

Western New England University

Springfield, MA • 3,574 students
Private Non-Profit
64%
Grad Rate
#62
C

Laboure College of Healthcare

Milton, MA • 717 students
Private Non-Profit
#63
C

Eastern Nazarene College

Quincy, MA • 458 students
Private Non-Profit
35%
Grad Rate
#64
C

Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology

Boston, MA • 592 students
Private Non-Profit
47%
Grad Rate
#65
C

William James College

Newton, MA • 951 students
Private Non-Profit
#66
C

Nichols College

Dudley, MA • 1,354 students
Private Non-Profit
64%
Grad Rate
#67
C

Pope St John XXIII National Seminary

Weston, MA • 42 students
Private Non-Profit
#68
C

Lasell University

Newton, MA • 1,527 students
Private Non-Profit
53%
Grad Rate
#69
C

Bard College at Simon's Rock

Great Barrington, MA • 312 students
Private Non-Profit
54%
Grad Rate
#70
C

Dean College

Franklin, MA • 1,151 students
Private Non-Profit
43%
Grad Rate
#71
C

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

South Hamilton, MA • 1,373 students
Private Non-Profit
#72
C

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Worcester, MA • 1,394 students
Public
#73
C

Curry College

Milton, MA • 1,994 students
Private Non-Profit
48%
Grad Rate
#74
C

Longy School of Music of Bard College

Cambridge, MA • 318 students
Private Non-Profit
44%
Grad Rate
#75
C

New England Law-Boston

Boston, MA • 1,083 students
Private Non-Profit
#76
C

Conway School of Landscape Design

Northampton, MA • 18 students
Private Non-Profit
#77
C

MGH Institute of Health Professions

Boston, MA • 1,484 students
Private Non-Profit
#78
C

American International College

Springfield, MA • 2,142 students
Private Non-Profit
42%
Grad Rate
#79
C

Anna Maria College

Paxton, MA • 1,332 students
Private Non-Profit
40%
Grad Rate
#80
C

Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc

Brookline, MA • 169 students
Private Non-Profit
#81
C

Springfield College-Regional, Online, and Continuing Education

Springfield, MA • 421 students
Private Non-Profit
#82
C

Massachusetts School of Law

Andover, MA • 284 students
Private Non-Profit
#83
D

New England College of Optometry

Boston, MA • 529 students
Private Non-Profit
#84
D

University of Massachusetts-Central Office

Boston, MA
Public
#85
D

Boston Architectural College

Boston, MA • 787 students
Private Non-Profit
38%
Grad Rate
#86
D

Cambridge College

Boston, MA • 1,952 students
Private Non-Profit
13%
Grad Rate
#87
D

Fisher College

Boston, MA • 1,501 students
Private Non-Profit
28%
Grad Rate
#88
D

Hebrew College

Newton, MA • 177 students
Private Non-Profit
#1
C+

North Bennet Street School

Boston, MA • 151 students
Private Non-Profit
96%
Grad Rate
#2
C

National Aviation Academy of New England

Concord, MA • 210 students
Private For-Profit
84%
Grad Rate
#3
C

Massasoit Community College

Brockton, MA • 5,029 students
Public
24%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#4
C

Middlesex Community College

Bedford, MA • 8,280 students
Public
23%
Grad Rate
$3k
Net Price
#5
C

Cape Cod Community College

West Barnstable, MA • 2,604 students
Public
22%
Grad Rate
$9k
Net Price
#6
C

Quinsigamond Community College

Worcester, MA • 6,930 students
Public
21%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#7
C

Bristol Community College

Fall River, MA • 6,096 students
Public
21%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
#8
C

Bunker Hill Community College

Boston, MA • 8,545 students
Public
19%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#9
C

Holyoke Community College

Holyoke, MA • 3,706 students
Public
32%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#10
C

Mount Wachusett Community College

Gardner, MA • 3,204 students
Public
29%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#11
C

Berkshire Community College

Pittsfield, MA • 1,572 students
Public
23%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#12
C

Greenfield Community College

Greenfield, MA • 1,544 students
Public
22%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#13
C

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Wellesley Hills, MA • 3,973 students
Public
16%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#14
C

North Shore Community College

Danvers, MA • 4,833 students
Public
18%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#15
C

Northern Essex Community College

Haverhill, MA • 4,510 students
Public
19%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
#16
C

Roxbury Community College

Roxbury Crossing, MA • 1,631 students
Public
10%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
#17
C

Springfield Technical Community College

Springfield, MA • 4,561 students
Public
27%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#18
D

Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing

Medford, MA • 195 students
Private Non-Profit
#19
D

FINE Mortuary College

Norwood, MA • 176 students
Private For-Profit
50%
Grad Rate
#20
D

Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing

Brockton, MA • 152 students
Private Non-Profit
0%
Grad Rate
#21
D

Urban College of Boston

Boston, MA • 728 students
Private Non-Profit
0%
Grad Rate

Cities with Multiple Colleges

Wellesley 2 colleges
Waltham 2 colleges
Amherst 3 colleges
Cambridge 5 colleges
Medford 2 colleges
Northampton 2 colleges
Worcester 7 colleges
Boston 26 colleges
Beverly 2 colleges
Weston 2 colleges
Quincy 2 colleges
Haverhill 2 colleges
Springfield 5 colleges
Milton 2 colleges
Brookline 2 colleges
Newton 3 colleges
Brockton 2 colleges

About College Rankings in Massachusetts

The Repit College Score ranks 109 colleges and universities in Massachusetts based on outcomes (graduation rates, retention), affordability (net cost, financial aid), resources (class sizes, faculty ratios), and student experience (campus life, housing options).

4-Year Universities (88): Bachelor's degree-granting institutions including public universities, private colleges, and research institutions.

2-Year Colleges (21): Community colleges and technical schools offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Massachusetts

How many colleges are in Massachusetts?

There are 109 accredited colleges and universities in Massachusetts tracked by Repit, including 88 4-year institutions and 21 community colleges. Each school is rated using our proprietary scoring system that evaluates outcomes, affordability, and resources.

How does Repit rate colleges?

Repit rates colleges on a 100-point scale across five categories: Outcomes (graduation and retention rates), Affordability (net cost and financial aid), Resources (class sizes and selectivity), Experience (campus life and learning format), and Prestige (reputation and recognition). Each factor is weighted and combined into an overall score and letter grade.

Should I attend a public or private college in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has both public and private institutions. Public schools often offer lower tuition for state residents, while private schools may provide more financial aid. Compare net prices and outcomes using Repit's detailed college profiles to find the best value for your situation.

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: September 2026 | Methodology