Best New England Colleges

There are 190 colleges and universities in New England enrolling 1,090,743 students. Explore the list of top colleges in New England 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 New England offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 New England is home to nationally ranked institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brown University. The highest ranked college in New England is Harvard University and the top rated public state college is University of Connecticut.

190 Results
Sort:
New England Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

List of the Best New England Colleges

  • Private 4 Year
  • Worcester, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Holy Cross is a highly selective Jesuit liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, political science, and history. The hilltop campus overlooks the city of Worcester.

#19 Best Colleges in New England 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1410
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 18%
  • Net Price $36,014

  • Private 4 Year
  • South Hadley, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Mount Holyoke is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, international relations, and economics. The South Hadley campus is part of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, and UMass Amherst.

#20 Best Colleges in New England 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1380-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 36%
  • Net Price $32,526

  • Private 4 Year
  • Waltham, MA
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Brandeis is a private university known for undergraduate neuroscience, biology, and the social sciences. The suburban campus in Waltham sits just west of Boston.

#21 Best Colleges in New England 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1390-1520
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $43,550

  • Private 4 Year
  • Providence, RI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

RISD is a highly selective private art and design college known for undergraduate fine arts, industrial design, and architecture. The urban Providence campus borders Brown University and offers a dual-degree program with it.

#22 Best Colleges in New England 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1396-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 19%
  • Net Price $43,492

  • Private 4 Year
  • New London, CT
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental studies and international relations. Much of the campus sits within a large arboretum overlooking the Thames River.

#23 Best Colleges in New England 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1350-1500
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 37%
  • Net Price $45,700

  • Public 4 Year
  • Storrs, CT
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UConn is a large public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and engineering. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Storrs.

#24 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1440
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $25,310

  • Private 4 Year
  • Waltham, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Bentley is a private university known for undergraduate business, accounting, and finance. The suburban campus sits in Waltham just west of Boston.

#25 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1430
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 45%
  • Net Price $45,802

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wellesley, MA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 3 application deadline

Babson is a private college known for undergraduate entrepreneurship and business. The suburban campus is in Wellesley near Boston.

#26 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1390-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 17%
  • Net Price $32,019

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Simmons is a private women's university known for undergraduate nursing, social work, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

#27 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $28,691

  • Private 4 Year
  • Providence, RI
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Providence College is a private Dominican Catholic college known for undergraduate business and the liberal arts. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in a Providence neighborhood.

#28 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1250-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 51%
  • Net Price $48,618

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • 4.7 | 6 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Northeastern is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

#29 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1440-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.91
  • Acceptance Rate 5%
  • Net Price $34,207

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fairfield, CT
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Fairfield is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and nursing. The suburban campus is in coastal Connecticut near Long Island Sound.

#30 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 33%
  • Net Price $49,958

  • Private 4 Year
  • Worcester, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Clark is a private university known for undergraduate psychology and geography. The compact urban campus sits in Worcester, west of Boston.

#31 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1288-1460
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $33,865

  • Private 4 Year
  • Norton, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Wheaton is a private liberal arts college known for its interdisciplinary Connections curriculum and frequent dual majors. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small town of Norton southeast of Boston.

#32 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $30,701

  • Public 4 Year
  • Amherst, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UMass Amherst is a large public university known for undergraduate computer science, business, and engineering. Students can cross-register at nearby colleges through the Five College Consortium in the Pioneer Valley.

#33 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1500
  • Avg GPA 3.99
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $22,948

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews

MCPHS is a private university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Longwood Medical Area.

#34 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1416
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $41,506

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hamden, CT
  • 3.8 | 5 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Quinnipiac is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and communications. The suburban campus sits at the base of Sleeping Giant in Hamden.

#35 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $40,632

  • Public 4 Year
  • Burlington, VT
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UVM is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science, natural resources, and nursing. The hillside campus overlooks Lake Champlain in Burlington.

#36 Best Colleges in New England 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1290-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $20,084