by our College Data Analytics TeamBoston College ranks #1 of 71 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Massachusetts ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 85% six-year graduation rate and $95,177 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Massachusetts, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **71** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 71 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Boston College leads the 71 ranked colleges in Massachusetts, followed by Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (#2) and Harvard University (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Boston College tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges in Massachusetts. Based in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,702. Median early-career earnings reach $66,132. Graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned it the #2 place in Massachusetts. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Early-career graduates earn a median of $113,129. Typical student debt is $13,516.
The strong outcomes at Harvard University earned it the #3 place in Massachusetts. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $95,207. Harvard University students take on a median of $16,616 in debt.
Tufts University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Massachusetts. Set in Medford, MA, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $68,154. Graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
Babson College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Massachusetts. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wellesley, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. In-state tuition and fees run about $57,152. Babson College graduates report median early-career earnings of $106,540. Graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
Boston University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Boston University posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Boston University graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,598. Boston University students take on a median of $25,232 in debt.
Northeastern University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Boston, MA, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northeastern University graduates 90% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Northeastern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $74,800. Northeastern University students take on a median of $25,611 in debt.
Amherst College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Amherst College is a private not-for-profit school based in Amherst, MA. Amherst College posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,480. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,271 early in their careers. The median student debt is $15,398.
Bentley University landed the #9 spot in Massachusetts this year. Set in Waltham, MA, Bentley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bentley University posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,742 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,475 to complete a degree here.
Williams College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Williamstown, MA. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,652. Students borrow a median of $12,615 to complete a degree here.
College Of The Holy Cross ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Worcester, MA. College Of The Holy Cross posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. In-state tuition and fees average $64,500. Median early-career earnings reach $51,478. Typical student debt is $26,387.
Wellesley College landed the #12 spot in Massachusetts this year. Based in Wellesley, MA, Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit institution. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Median early-career earnings reach $48,902. Wellesley College students take on a median of $11,075 in debt.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #13 among the best colleges in Massachusetts. Located in Worcester, MA, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates 90% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $60,765 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $91,834. Graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,666. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete a degree here.
Olin College landed the #15 spot in Massachusetts this year. Olin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Needham, MA. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $63,742 in tuition and fees. Olin College graduates report median early-career earnings of $98,522. Typical student debt is $14,512.
Brandeis University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Waltham, MA, Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,080. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,783. Students borrow a median of $25,653 to complete a degree here.
Emerson College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. About 77% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $57,056 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $40,654. The median student debt is $24,813.
Endicott College placed #18 among the best colleges in Massachusetts. Located in Beverly, MA, Endicott College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,361 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,973 in student loans.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #19 spot in Massachusetts this year. Set in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,985 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,574 to complete a degree here.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,884. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,538 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,887 to complete a degree here.
Simmons College landed the #21 spot in Massachusetts this year. Simmons College is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $46,874. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,860 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,740.
Stonehill College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Stonehill College is a private not-for-profit school based in Easton, MA. About 76% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $56,370 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,704 early in their careers. Stonehill College students take on a median of $25,603 in debt.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Boston, MA, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,530. Early-career graduates earn a median of $73,671. Graduates carry a median of $29,056 in student loans.
Northeastern University Global Network landed the #24 spot in Massachusetts this year. Set in Boston, MA, Northeastern University Global Network is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,688. Median early-career earnings reach $74,710. The median student debt is $26,331.
Smith College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Northampton, MA, Smith College is a private not-for-profit institution. Smith College graduates 89% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Median early-career earnings reach $40,436. The median student debt is $18,941.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 71 in Massachusetts. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
