by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Massachusetts, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **32** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 32 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Harvard University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Massachusetts. Located in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $95,207. The median student debt is $16,616.
The strong outcomes at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned it the #2 place in Massachusetts. Set in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $113,129. Graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Boston University one of the top graduate schools in Massachusetts. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,102. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,232.
The strong outcomes at Boston College earned it the #4 place in Massachusetts. Set in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Boston College posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,702. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,132. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete a degree here.
Tufts University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Massachusetts. This private not-for-profit school is set in Medford, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Median early-career earnings reach $68,154. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete a degree here.
Northeastern University landed the #6 spot in Massachusetts this year. Located in Boston, MA, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $74,800. Northeastern University students take on a median of $25,611 in debt.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Worcester, MA. About 90% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $60,765. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates report median early-career earnings of $91,834. Graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
Mgh Institute Of Health Professions ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Boston, MA, Mgh Institute Of Health Professions is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $95,932. Graduates go on to earn a median of $92,927 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $32,000 to complete a degree here.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #9 in this year's ranking. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school based in Amherst, MA. University Of Massachusetts Amherst posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,666. The median student debt is $25,195.
Brandeis University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Waltham, MA, Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,080. Brandeis University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,783. The median student debt is $25,653.
Simmons College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Simmons College is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. About 72% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,874. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,860 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,740 to complete a degree here.
Suffolk University landed the #12 spot in Massachusetts this year. Located in Boston, MA, Suffolk University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $47,550. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,261. The median student debt is $26,670.
Northeastern University Global Network ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located 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.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. University Of Massachusetts Lowell posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,985. Students borrow a median of $25,574 to complete a degree here.
Endicott College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Beverly, MA, Endicott College is a private not-for-profit institution. Endicott College graduates 75% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,650. Median early-career earnings reach $55,361. The median student debt is $25,973.
University Of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester landed the #16 spot in Massachusetts this year. Set in Worcester, MA, University Of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester is a public institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $89,425 early in their careers.
Massachusetts School Of Professional Psychology did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Newton, MA. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,800. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,454.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Boston, MA, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,530. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $73,671. Graduates carry a median of $29,056 in student loans.
Western New England University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Western New England University is a private not-for-profit school based in Springfield, MA. Western New England University graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,820. Median early-career earnings reach $64,056. Typical student debt is $25,520.
Regis College landed the #20 spot in Massachusetts this year. Regis College is a private not-for-profit school based in Weston, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,680. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,483 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,441 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. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Students from in state pay about $58,467 in tuition and fees. Clark University graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,257. Clark University students take on a median of $26,153 in debt.
Smith College placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Based in Northampton, MA, Smith College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,436. Smith College students take on a median of $18,941 in debt.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Boston, MA, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution. University Of Massachusetts Boston posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $52,885. Graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in North Dartmouth, MA. About 52% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,669. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth students take on a median of $27,106 in debt.
Lesley University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Cambridge, MA, Lesley University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $34,256 in tuition and fees. Lesley University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,287. Students borrow a median of $24,818 to complete a degree here.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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.
