by our College Data Analytics TeamMassachusetts Institute Of Technology ranks #1 of 124 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best 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 $96,680 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, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **124** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 124 colleges across over 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.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology leads the 124 ranked colleges in Massachusetts, followed by Boston College (#2) and Harvard University (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Massachusetts Institute Of Technology this year in Massachusetts. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cambridge, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Early-career graduates earn a median of $113,129. Graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
Boston College came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Massachusetts. Set in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,702. Boston College graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,132. Graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
Out of the 124 colleges in Massachusetts in this year's ranking, Harvard University landed the #3 spot. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. Harvard University posts a six-year graduation rate of 98%. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $95,207. Typical student debt is $16,616.
Out of the 124 colleges in Massachusetts in this year's ranking, Tufts University landed the #4 spot. Set in Medford, MA, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Median early-career earnings reach $68,154. The median student debt is $17,074.
Boston University came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Massachusetts. Boston University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. About 89% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,598. Graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
Babson College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Wellesley, MA, Babson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Babson College graduates 93% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $57,152. Median early-career earnings reach $106,540. Typical student debt is $23,000.
Amherst College landed the #7 spot in Massachusetts this year. Set in Amherst, MA, Amherst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Amherst College graduates 94% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,480. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,271. Graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans.
Northeastern University landed the #8 spot in Massachusetts this year. Located in Boston, MA, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Northeastern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $74,800. Northeastern University students take on a median of $25,611 in debt.
Bentley University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Waltham, MA, Bentley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bentley University posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. In-state tuition and fees run about $61,000. Median early-career earnings reach $76,742. Bentley University students take on a median of $25,475 in debt.
Williams College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Williamstown, MA, Williams College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $68,560. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,652. Williams College students take on a median of $12,615 in debt.
College Of The Holy Cross placed #11 among the best colleges in Massachusetts. Located in Worcester, MA, College Of The Holy Cross is a private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,500. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,478. Typical student debt is $26,387.
Wellesley College landed the #12 spot in Massachusetts this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wellesley, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Students from in state pay about $67,176 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $11,075.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #13 among the best colleges in Massachusetts. Based in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,666. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete a degree here.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #14 among the best colleges in Massachusetts. Located in Worcester, MA, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Worcester Polytechnic Institute posts a six-year graduation rate of 90%. In-state tuition and fees run about $60,765. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $91,834. The median student debt is $26,259.
Olin College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Needham, MA, Olin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,742. Median early-career earnings reach $98,522. Olin College students take on a median of $14,512 in debt.
Brandeis University placed #16 among the best colleges in Massachusetts. Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Waltham, MA. Brandeis University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,783 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,653 in student loans.
Simmons College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Boston, MA, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. Simmons College posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $46,874. Median early-career earnings reach $63,860. The median student debt is $26,740.
Endicott College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Endicott College is a private not-for-profit school based in Beverly, MA. About 75% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,650. Endicott College graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,361. Students borrow a median of $25,973 to complete a degree here.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lowell, MA. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,985. Graduates carry a median of $25,574 in student loans.
Mgh Institute Of Health Professions placed #20 among the best colleges in Massachusetts. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $95,932. Median early-career earnings reach $92,927. Students borrow a median of $32,000 to complete a degree here.
Clark University landed the #21 spot in Massachusetts this year. Located in Worcester, MA, Clark University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $58,467 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $43,257. Graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Boston, MA, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences graduates 61% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,530. Median early-career earnings reach $73,671. Typical student debt is $29,056.
Northeastern University Global Network placed #23 among the best colleges in Massachusetts. Based in Boston, MA, Northeastern University Global Network is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $50,688 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $74,710. The median student debt is $26,331.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Located in Boston, MA, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,884. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,538 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,887.
Stonehill College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Easton, MA, Stonehill College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $56,370. 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.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 124 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.
The ranking above is published 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
