by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Massachusetts, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **19** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 19 graduate schools 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than Massachusetts Institute Of Technology this year in Massachusetts. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $113,129. The median student debt is $13,516.
Out of the 19 graduate schools in Massachusetts in this year's ranking, Harvard University landed the #2 spot. Located in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $95,207. The median student debt is $16,616.
The strong outcomes at Tufts University earned it the #3 place in Massachusetts. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school based in Medford, MA. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,154. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 19 graduate schools in Massachusetts in this year's ranking, Boston College landed the #4 spot. Located in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,702. Boston College graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,132. Graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
A rank of #5 makes Boston University one of the top graduate schools in Massachusetts. Boston University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,102. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,598. Boston University students take on a median of $25,232 in debt.
Northeastern University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,800 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,611.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #7 spot in Massachusetts this year. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Worcester, MA. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $60,765 in tuition and fees. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates report median early-career earnings of $91,834. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete a degree here.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,234.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. About 61% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,530. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $73,671. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences students take on a median of $29,056 in debt.
Brandeis University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waltham, MA. About 86% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,080. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,783 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,653.
Mgh Institute Of Health Professions placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Set in Boston, MA, Mgh Institute Of Health Professions is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $95,932 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $92,927. The median student debt is $32,000.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lowell, MA. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Median early-career earnings reach $66,985. University Of Massachusetts Lowell students take on a median of $25,574 in debt.
Northeastern University Global Network came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Boston, MA, Northeastern University Global Network is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,688. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $78,054. Typical student debt is $27,055.
Simmons College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,874. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,860. Simmons College students take on a median of $26,740 in debt.
Western New England University placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Located in Springfield, MA, Western New England University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish 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 did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Weston, MA, Regis College is a private not-for-profit institution. Regis College posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,680. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,483. Typical student debt is $27,441.
University Of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Worcester, MA, University Of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester is a public institution. Median early-career earnings reach $89,425.
Clark University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Worcester, MA, Clark University is a private not-for-profit institution. Clark University posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,257 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,153.
Endicott College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Endicott College is a private not-for-profit school based in Beverly, MA. Endicott College posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,650. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,361. Graduates carry a median of $25,973 in student loans.
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #20 spot in Massachusetts this year. This public school is set in Boston, MA. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates 49% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Median early-career earnings reach $52,885. University Of Massachusetts Boston students take on a median of $26,236 in debt.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in North Dartmouth, MA, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,669. Graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans.
Lesley University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Cambridge, MA, Lesley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lesley University posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,256. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,287. The median student debt is $24,818.
The New England Conservatory Of Music ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Boston, MA, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $60,750. Median early-career earnings reach $24,499. The New England Conservatory Of Music students take on a median of $26,991 in debt.
Cambridge College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. Cambridge College posts a six-year graduation rate of 12%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,378. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,883. Graduates carry a median of $29,776 in student loans.
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in South Hamilton, MA. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,332.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
