Best Massachusetts Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts for 2023

There are 102 colleges and universities in Massachusetts enrolling 465,293 students. Explore the list of top colleges in Massachusetts below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Massachusetts offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 Massachusetts is home to nationally ranked institutions like Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Amherst College and Wellesley College. The highest ranked college in Massachusetts is Harvard University and the top rated public state college is University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Local college options can be explored in Boston, Worcester and Springfield or other cities.


102 results

List of the Best Massachusetts Colleges

Harvard University
H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 31,345enrollment
  • $18,037net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1580SAT range
  • 33-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 11,934enrollment
  • $19,998net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,971enrollment
  • $18,832net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Wellesley College
W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,461enrollment
  • $21,614net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Tufts University
T
Medford, MA

Tufts University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 13,293enrollment
  • $32,720net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Boston College
B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 15,577enrollment
  • $30,192net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1530SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Smith College
S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,924enrollment
  • $28,422net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Boston University
B
Boston, MA

Boston University

Private 4 Year

9 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 36,104enrollment
  • $29,154net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

College of the Holy Cross
H
Worcester, MA

College of the Holy Cross

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,029enrollment
  • $32,061net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Mount Holyoke College
M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,342enrollment
  • $31,165net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1510SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Brandeis University
B
Waltham, MA

Brandeis University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,558enrollment
  • $41,222net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Bentley University
B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,158enrollment
  • $42,759net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1413SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

Babson College
B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,684enrollment
  • $31,559net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Northeastern University
N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 28,167enrollment
  • $37,738net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Simmons University
S
Boston, MA

Simmons University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,984enrollment
  • $29,021net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Massachusetts Amherst
M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 32,045enrollment
  • $22,505net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1460SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Clark University
C
Worcester, MA

Clark University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,350enrollment
  • $30,617net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1218-1403SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Emerson College
E
Boston, MA

Emerson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,900enrollment
  • $47,594net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5