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Explore Massachusetts Colleges

Colleges in Massachusetts

Explore 79 colleges and universities in Massachusetts, including 14 public institutions and 65 private schools. Compare tuition costs, acceptance rates, and find your perfect fit.

79

Total Colleges

14

Public

65

Private

Massachusetts at a Glance

Avg Acceptance Rate

5414%

Average acceptance rate for Massachusetts colleges

Avg Net Price

$27,611.443

After financial aid

Avg In-State Tuition

$36,971.372

For public universities

Top Ranked School

#1

Harvard University

Explore Massachusetts by Region

Massachusetts is a diverse state with distinct college regions. Explore schools by area to find the campus environment that fits your lifestyle.

Massachusetts Colleges Directory

Browse 79 colleges in Massachusetts, sorted by ranking and selectivity.

The history of Harvard University
#1 National Universities
Harvard University

Cambridge, MAPrivate

4%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$73,849/yr

SAT RANGE

1510-1580

GRADUATION RATE

97%

"Harvard University beckons as America's oldest intellectual powerhouse, where you'll chase groundbreaking ideas alongside the world's sharpest minds in a relentless pursuit of excellence."

The grand neoclassical architecture of MIT building showcasing its historic significance.
#1 Computer Science
5%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$77,870/yr

SAT RANGE

1520-1580

GRADUATION RATE

97%

"The playground where tomorrow's inventors hack reality, one all-nighter at a time."

Davis Center - Leers Weinzapfel Associates
#1 Liberal Arts
Williams College

Williamstown, MAPrivate

8%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$78,710/yr

SAT RANGE

1490-1570

GRADUATION RATE

94%

"In the shadow of the Berkshires, Williams wraps you in Oxford-style tutorials and mountain adventures, forging deep thinkers who hike as fiercely as they debate."

Visiting | Amherst College
#3 Liberal Arts
Amherst College

Amherst, MAPrivate

9%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$81,890/yr

SAT RANGE

1490-1580

GRADUATION RATE

94%

"At Amherst, you craft your own intellectual path in an intimate liberal arts haven powered by the Five College Consortium, where self-starters thrive amid collaborative quirkiness."

Gasson Hall - Wikipedia
#5 Psychology
Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate

16%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$81,866/yr

SAT RANGE

1440-1540

GRADUATION RATE

92%

"You'll tackle Jesuit-fueled challenges on a hilltop campus minutes from Boston's heartbeat, emerging as a service-driven leader amid fierce competition."

Campaign for BU: Campus Transformed | Bostonia | Boston University
#7 Communications
Boston University

Boston, MAPrivate

11%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$80,070/yr

SAT RANGE

1420-1530

GRADUATION RATE

88%

"Boston University's sprawling urban heartbeat thrusts you into Boston's professional whirlwind, blending gritty city ambition with surprising academic intimacy."

Wellesley College (2026) – Best of TikTok, Instagram & Reddit Travel Guide
#8 Liberal Arts
Wellesley College

Wellesley, MAPrivate

14%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$82,608/yr

SAT RANGE

1460-1560

GRADUATION RATE

92%

"Wellesley shapes fiercely intelligent women into global leaders on a lakeside campus where collaboration trumps competition, just minutes from Boston."

Arthur M. Blank Center, Babson College, 231 Forest Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA.
#10 Business
Babson College

Wellesley, MAPrivate

17%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$76,494/yr

SAT RANGE

1390-1530

GRADUATION RATE

93%

"Babson College is located in Wellesley, MA."

Tufts Will Be Tuition-Free for U.S. Families Earning Less Than $150,000 |  Association of American Universities (AAU)
#12 Economics
Tufts University

Medford, MAPrivate

11%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$82,392/yr

SAT RANGE

1470-1560

GRADUATION RATE

94%

"Tufts delivers Ivy-caliber academics with a jumbo-sized heart for global citizenship, right in Boston's backyard."

Visit Campus | Undergraduate Admissions
#20 Business
Northeastern University

Boston, MAPrivate

5%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$78,680/yr

SAT RANGE

1440-1540

GRADUATION RATE

90%

"Boston's co-op pioneer, where students spend half their college career in paid professional jobs."

Smith College Employee Calls Cops On Black Student
#24 Liberal Arts
Smith College

Northampton, MAPrivate

21%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$81,080/yr

SAT RANGE

1420-1540

GRADUATION RATE

91%

"All-women's liberal arts powerhouse fostering bold thinkers in artsy Northampton, Massachusetts."

Brandeis University is closed today and tomorrow in observance of July 4.  Stay safe, and have fun, Brandeisians. 📸 Gaelen Morse/Staff photographer  **** Image description: Aerial of campus. **** #July4
#26 Biology
Brandeis University

Waltham, MAPrivate

41%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$80,308/yr

SAT RANGE

1390-1520

GRADUATION RATE

88%

"Brandeis invites activist-minded intellectuals to dive into social justice and rigorous science on a leafy suburban campus just outside Boston."

UMass Amherst rises in best public university ranking - masslive.com
#30 Mathematics
60%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$32,314/yr

SAT RANGE

1310-1500

GRADUATION RATE

82%

"Massachusetts' flagship public powerhouse delivers Big Ten-scale energy and research muscle in a leafy college town, perfect if you crave spirited crowds without Ivy League tuition."

College of the Holy Cross - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
#32 Liberal Arts
College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MAPrivate

18%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$57,600/yr

SAT RANGE

1240-1410

GRADUATION RATE

93%

"Holy Cross turns Jesuit rigor into a gritty, spirited liberal arts crucible where you'll debate philosophy by day and cheer football frenzy by night in unpretentious Worcester."

Admission & Financial Aid | Mount Holyoke College
#36 Liberal Arts
Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, MAPrivate

36%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$77,964/yr

SAT RANGE

1380-1530

GRADUATION RATE

84%

"Nestled in Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley, Mount Holyoke empowers fiercely independent women through rigorous academics and unbreakable sisterhood in America's oldest women's college."

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - CollegeAdvisor
#40 Computer Science
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MAPrivate

60%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$73,906/yr

SAT RANGE

1330-1490

GRADUATION RATE

89%

"At WPI, you dive straight into real-world projects that turn theory into rockets and robots, skipping the lecture hall drudgery."

Boston, MA
#64 Computer Science
Berklee College of Music

Boston, MAPrivate

44%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$66,390/yr

SAT RANGE

1110-1310

GRADUATION RATE

58%

"Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA."

Academics - Wheaton College Massachusetts
#66 Liberal Arts
68%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$75,950/yr

SAT RANGE

1220-1390

GRADUATION RATE

73%

"Tree-shaded liberal arts college where students craft their own majors amid an arboretum campus once dedicated to women's education."

Bentley College Library
#66 Business
Bentley University

Waltham, MAPrivate

45%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$76,640/yr

SAT RANGE

1280-1430

GRADUATION RATE

89%

"Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA."

Stonehill: Top 8% among 4-Year Colleges Nationally for ROI | Stonehill  College
#70 Liberal Arts
Stonehill College

Easton, MAPrivate

66%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$66,432/yr

SAT RANGE

1190-1350

GRADUATION RATE

86%

"A welcoming Catholic liberal arts college where Holy Cross values meet suburban Boston access, perfect for students craving community and purpose."

University of Massachusetts Lowell - America East Academic Consortium
#81 Public Universities
83%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$30,622/yr

SAT RANGE

1180-1370

GRADUATION RATE

63%

"A dynamic public university in Lowell, MA, blending hands-on tech and engineering with a gritty, industrial-city spirit."

Social Media | UMass Dartmouth
#89 Nursing
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, MAPublic

91%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$31,732/yr

SAT RANGE

1050-1270

GRADUATION RATE

59%

"A coastal gem blending practical education with a tight-knit community in North Dartmouth."

Hampshire College – ISEP Study Abroad
#112 Liberal Arts
Hampshire College

Amherst, MAPrivate

75%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$68,642/yr

SAT RANGE

1150-1360

GRADUATION RATE

65%

"The tiny Massachusetts college where students scrap traditional majors and grades to craft their own paths amid a consortium of peers."

The Quad | Gordon College Athletics
#113 Liberal Arts
Gordon College

Wenham, MAPrivate

69%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$40,210/yr

SAT RANGE

1130-1355

GRADUATION RATE

78%

"Christian liberal arts haven nestled by Wenham Lake, where faith shapes every lecture and lakeside trail."

File:Olin Center Sunset.JPG
#115 National Universities
25%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$78,090/yr

SAT RANGE

1493-1558

GRADUATION RATE

96%

"Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is located in Needham, MA."

Emmanuel College Summer Camp (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
#125 Liberal Arts
Emmanuel College

Boston, MAPrivate

76%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$62,728/yr

SAT RANGE

1170-1340

GRADUATION RATE

75%

"Cozy Catholic liberal arts college in Boston's Fenway, freshly co-ed after a century serving women."

Design Incubation Colloquium 3.0: MCLA – Design Incubation
#130 Public Universities
90%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$16,368/yr

SAT RANGE

1010-1190

GRADUATION RATE

70%

"Massachusetts' only public liberal arts college amid the Berkshires' contemporary art revival."

Horace Mann Hall - Framingham State University - DSC00379
#143 Best Value
Framingham State University

Framingham, MAPublic

84%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$15,170/yr

SAT RANGE

1100-1280

GRADUATION RATE

59%

"Framingham State University is located in Framingham, MA."

Contact us | Clark University
#163 National Universities
Clark University

Worcester, MAPrivate

40%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$64,500/yr

SAT RANGE

1288-1460

GRADUATION RATE

78%

"Discover the birthplace of American psychology in Worcester's gritty heartbeat, where curious minds tackle global issues at a small research powerhouse."

Percival Hall
#166 Public Universities
Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MAPublic

87%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$16,424/yr

SAT RANGE

1060-1230

GRADUATION RATE

58%

"Fitchburg State University is located in Fitchburg, MA."

University of Massachusetts Boston - Dr. J Keith and Angela Motley  Residence Hall and Dining Commons | Elkus Manfredi Architects
#179 Public Universities
84%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$32,462/yr

SAT RANGE

1070-1290

GRADUATION RATE

55%

"A harbor-front haven in Boston where public university value meets urban grit and opportunity."

Boyden Hall, Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MAPublic

88%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$15,365/yr

SAT RANGE

1060-1263

GRADUATION RATE

62%

"Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA."

Shaughnessy
Worcester State University

Worcester, MAPublic

88%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$14,640/yr

SAT RANGE

1026-1283

GRADUATION RATE

61%

"Worcester State University is located in Worcester, MA."

New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall Building, exterior evening, Fall 2022. Showing the intersection of Gainsborough Street and Huntington Avenue, Boston MA. Photo by Andrew Hurlbut/NEC. © New England Conservatory
41%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$74,220/yr

SAT RANGE

1230-1440

GRADUATION RATE

76%

"The New England Conservatory of Music is located in Boston, MA."

Simmons University (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
Simmons University

Boston, MAPrivate

70%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$60,678/yr

SAT RANGE

1220-1390

GRADUATION RATE

76%

"All-women's undergrad hub in Boston training nurses, social workers, and communicators steps from hospitals and Fenway Park."

Emerson College, Boston MA
Emerson College

Boston, MAPrivate

51%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$72,472/yr

SAT RANGE

1270-1420

GRADUATION RATE

80%

"Emerson College is located in Boston, MA."

Housing and Residence Life at Springfield College | We advance
Springfield College

Springfield, MAPrivate

72%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$57,112/yr

SAT RANGE

1080-1330

GRADUATION RATE

78%

"Birthplace of basketball, where humanics philosophy shapes hands-on experts in health sciences and physical education."

Boston Law Fair - Suffolk University
Suffolk University

Boston, MAPrivate

82%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$64,986/yr

SAT RANGE

1090-1300

GRADUATION RATE

65%

"Urban Boston hub born from evening law classes, fueling careers in business, government, and law."

Drone Photos Fall 2023-42
91%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$57,515/yr

SAT RANGE

1110-1320

GRADUATION RATE

73%

"Wentworth Institute of Technology is located in Boston, MA."

About Western New England University | Springfield, MA
Western New England University

Springfield, MAPrivate

83%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$57,320/yr

SAT RANGE

1090-1300

GRADUATION RATE

66%

"Springfield's practical powerhouse blending business acumen, engineering grit, and health sciences training on a compact campus."

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Living Learning Center
MCPHS University

Boston, MAPrivate

85%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$58,016/yr

SAT RANGE

1160-1416

GRADUATION RATE

68%

"MCPHS University is located in Boston, MA."

Reach Your Goals | Lesley University
Lesley University

Cambridge, MAPrivate

97%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$50,434/yr

SAT RANGE

1050-1250

GRADUATION RATE

62%

"Lesley University blends creativity and social impact in the heart of Cambridge’s innovative hub."

GardnerHallENC
Eastern Nazarene College

Quincy, MAPrivate

64%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$38,080/yr

SAT RANGE

883-1180

GRADUATION RATE

46%

"Eastern Nazarene College is located in Quincy, MA."

Nichols College, Dudley, MA
Nichols College

Dudley, MAPrivate

81%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$52,950/yr

SAT RANGE

1028-1236

GRADUATION RATE

65%

"Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA."

Leary Hall, Bay Path University, Longmeadow MA
Bay Path University

Longmeadow, MAPrivate

85%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$49,363/yr

SAT RANGE

1010-1210

GRADUATION RATE

61%

"Bay Path University is located in Longmeadow, MA."

College hall 3
Endicott College

Beverly, MAPrivate

71%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$55,032/yr

SAT RANGE

1193-1340

GRADUATION RATE

79%

"Endicott College is located in Beverly, MA."

Berchmans Hall, Elms College, Chicopee MA
College of Our Lady of the Elms

Chicopee, MAPrivate

85%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$54,340/yr

SAT RANGE

1150-1320

GRADUATION RATE

70%

"College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, MA."

Apply to American International College
American International College

Springfield, MAPrivate

100%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$57,300/yr

SAT RANGE

920-1090

GRADUATION RATE

57%

"A small, supportive college in Springfield, MA, where personal growth and hands-on learning shape future leaders in health and education."

East Hall, Lasell College, Auburndale MA
Lasell University

Newton, MAPrivate

81%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$55,020/yr

SAT RANGE

1030-1158

GRADUATION RATE

69%

"Lasell University is located in Newton, MA."

Madonna Hall at Anna Maria College, Paxton, Massachusetts
Anna Maria College

Paxton, MAPrivate

50%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$56,302/yr

SAT RANGE

950-1150

GRADUATION RATE

58%

"Anna Maria College is located in Paxton, MA."

Showing top 50 of 79 colleges in Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts Colleges

Massachusetts has 79 colleges and universities. This includes 14 public institutions and 65 private institutions. The state offers a diverse range of educational opportunities from community colleges to major research universities.

Harvard University is the highest-ranked university in Massachusetts, ranked #1 nationally. The state is home to several prestigious institutions offering world-class education across various fields.

The average tuition at Massachusetts colleges varies by institution type. For public universities, the average in-state tuition is $36,971 per year. Out-of-state students pay an average of $39,055. After financial aid, the average net price is $27,611.

The average acceptance rate for colleges in Massachusetts is 54%. However, acceptance rates vary significantly by institution, with some highly selective universities accepting less than 10% of applicants while others maintain open enrollment policies.

To qualify for in-state tuition at Massachusetts public universities, you typically need to establish residency for at least 12 months before enrolling. Requirements usually include living in the state, having a Massachusetts driver's license, registering to vote in the state, and demonstrating intent to remain. Specific requirements vary by institution, so check with your chosen school's admissions office.

Massachusetts is located in the Northeast region of the United States. Home to the Ivy League and some of America's oldest universities, the Northeast offers a rich academic tradition with diverse urban and rural campuses.

Massachusetts offers a range of affordable college options. The average net price after financial aid is $27,611. Public universities in Massachusetts provide particularly strong value for in-state residents, with lower tuition rates and access to state financial aid programs.