With all of the graduate school options in Massachusetts, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **63** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 63 graduate schools 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.
Starting Salaries
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology tops our 2027 ranking of the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,396. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $113,129. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $13,516 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Harvard University, which ranked #2 this year. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
Out of the 63 graduate schools in Massachusetts in this year's ranking, Boston College landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chestnut Hill, MA. Boston College posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Students from in state pay about $70,702 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,132. Boston College students take on a median of $18,101 in debt.
Out of the 63 graduate schools in Massachusetts in this year's ranking, Boston University landed the #4 spot. Set in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Boston University graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,598. The median student debt is $25,232.
Tufts University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Massachusetts. Set in Medford, MA, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Tufts University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,154. Graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
Babson College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Wellesley, MA, Babson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,152. Graduates go on to earn a median of $106,540 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,000.
Northeastern University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Based in Boston, MA, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $66,162. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,800 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,611.
Bentley University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waltham, MA. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. The median student debt is $25,475.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #9 spot in Massachusetts this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school based in Amherst, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,666. Graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #10 spot in Massachusetts this year. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Worcester, MA. 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.
Simmons College placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Simmons College is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. About 72% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $46,874 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,860. Graduates carry a median of $26,740 in student loans.
Brandeis University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Based in Waltham, MA, Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Brandeis University graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,783 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,653 in student loans.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. About 61% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $40,530 in tuition and fees. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $73,671. Typical student debt is $29,056.
Williams College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Williams College is a private not-for-profit school based in Williamstown, MA. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,560. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,652 early in their careers. The median student debt is $12,615.
Clark University landed the #15 spot in Massachusetts this year. Located in Worcester, MA, Clark University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,257 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans.
Endicott College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Beverly, MA. About 75% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $40,650 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,361. Typical student debt is $25,973.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based 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. Median early-career earnings reach $66,985. Graduates carry a median of $25,574 in student loans.
Mgh Institute Of Health Professions landed the #18 spot in Massachusetts this year. Located in Boston, MA, Mgh Institute Of Health Professions is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $95,932. Median early-career earnings reach $92,927. Mgh Institute Of Health Professions students take on a median of $32,000 in debt.
Northeastern University Global Network came in at #19 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $74,710. Students borrow a median of $26,331 to complete a degree here.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology landed the #20 spot in Massachusetts this year. Based 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. Median early-career earnings reach $72,538. Students borrow a median of $26,887 to complete a degree here.
Massachusetts School Of Professional Psychology came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Massachusetts School Of Professional Psychology is a private not-for-profit school based in Newton, MA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,800. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,454.
Stonehill College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Stonehill College is a private not-for-profit school based in Easton, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,370. Stonehill College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,704. Typical student debt is $25,603.
Merrimack College did well this year, earning the #23 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in North Andover, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,962. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,506. The median student debt is $26,913.
Smith College placed #24 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. Smith College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,436. Typical student debt is $18,941.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Massachusetts. Based in North Dartmouth, MA, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public institution. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. 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. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth students take on a median of $27,106 in debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Schools in Massachusetts
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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).
With all of the graduate school options in Massachusetts, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **63** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
