Massachusetts Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score

Below is a list of the 28 private colleges in Massachusetts with the highest ACT Score for incoming freshmen. Harvard University leads the list with an average ACT Score of 35. Alternatively, check out the SAT version of these rankings.

The ACT is a standardized test used by colleges to evaluate applicants. It is not a guarantee of success in college, but it is a strong indicator of academic potential.

List of Massachusetts Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
College	Average ACT Score
Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	35
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts	35
Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts	34
Boston College Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	34
Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts	34
Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts	34
Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts	34
Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts	34
Boston University Boston, Massachusetts	33
Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, Massachusetts	33
Smith College Northampton, Massachusetts	33
Babson College Wellesley, Massachusetts	32
Brandeis University Waltham, Massachusetts	32
Clark University Worcester, Massachusetts	31
Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Norton, Massachusetts	31
Emerson College Boston, Massachusetts	30
Simmons University Boston, Massachusetts	30
Bentley University Waltham, Massachusetts	29

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This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: March 15, 2026

Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.