by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in the New England Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked 265 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 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.
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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Massachusetts Institute Of Technology to be the best graduate school in the New England Region. Set 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. Median early-career earnings reach $113,129. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 265 graduate schools in the New England Region in this year's ranking, Dartmouth College landed the #2 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hanover, NH. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,019. Graduates go on to earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
Boston College came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the New England Region. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. The median student debt is $18,101.
You'll be in good company at Yale University, which ranked #4 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Haven, CT. Yale University posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $14,357.
The strong outcomes at Harvard University earned it the #5 place in the New England Region. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $95,207. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete a degree here.
Brown University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Providence, RI, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $71,312. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Brown University students take on a median of $13,025 in debt.
Tufts University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school based in Medford, MA. Tufts University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,154. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete a degree here.
Babson College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Wellesley, MA, Babson College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,152. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $106,540. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete a degree here.
Boston University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $63,598. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete a degree here.
Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Middletown, CT. Wesleyan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Students from in state pay about $70,042 in tuition and fees. Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,764. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete a degree here.
Bowdoin College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Brunswick, ME, Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Bowdoin College posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,832. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,938. The median student debt is $20,658.
Northeastern University landed the #12 spot in the New England Region this year. Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,800 early in their careers. Northeastern University students take on a median of $25,611 in debt.
Bentley University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in the New England Region. Located in Waltham, MA, Bentley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bentley University graduates 87% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $61,000 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,110 early in their careers. Bentley University students take on a median of $25,476 in debt.
Middlebury College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Middlebury, VT, Middlebury College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $67,600. Middlebury College graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,713. The median student debt is $15,948.
University Of Connecticut ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Storrs, CT, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,784. University Of Connecticut students take on a median of $23,637 in debt.
Amherst College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Amherst College is a private not-for-profit school based in Amherst, MA. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,480. Median early-career earnings reach $59,271. Graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans.
College Of The Holy Cross landed the #17 spot in the New England Region this year. Located in Worcester, MA, College Of The Holy Cross is a private not-for-profit institution. College Of The Holy Cross posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,500. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,478. College Of The Holy Cross students take on a median of $26,387 in debt.
Wellesley College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Wellesley, MA, Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,176. Wellesley College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,902. Graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans.
Fairfield University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Fairfield University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fairfield, CT. Fairfield University graduates 84% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $58,400 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,305. Typical student debt is $26,687.
Williams College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Williams College is a private not-for-profit school based in Williamstown, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,560. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,652 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,615 to complete a degree here.
Trinity College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Hartford, CT, Trinity College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,770. Trinity College graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,927. Graduates carry a median of $23,667 in student loans.
Bates College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Lewiston, ME, Bates College is a private not-for-profit institution. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $66,590. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,933 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,226 to complete a degree here.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Amherst, MA. About 83% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,543. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete a degree here.
Colby College placed #24 among the best graduate schools in the New England Region. Located in Waterville, ME, Colby College is a private not-for-profit institution. Colby College graduates 89% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,600. Colby College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,772. The median student debt is $22,016.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #25 spot in the New England Region this year. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Worcester, MA. About 90% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,765. Median early-career earnings reach $91,834. The median student debt is $26,259.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
