Best Massachusetts Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts for 2025

There are 103 colleges and universities in Massachusetts enrolling 464,036 students. Explore the list of top colleges in Massachusetts below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Massachusetts offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 Massachusetts is home to nationally ranked institutions like Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Williams College and Amherst College. The highest ranked college in Massachusetts is Harvard University and the top rated public state college is University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Local college options can be explored in Boston, Worcester and Springfield or other cities.

Massachusetts Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

103 results

List of the Best Massachusetts Colleges

Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 30,386enrollment
  • $17,900net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 11,920enrollment
  • $21,519net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Williams College
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W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,168enrollment
  • $16,988net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Amherst College
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A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $17,965net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Wellesley College
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W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,418enrollment
  • $21,501net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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Tufts University
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T
Medford, MA

Tufts University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 13,274enrollment
  • $33,333net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Boston College
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B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 15,280enrollment
  • $32,590net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Smith College
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S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,830enrollment
  • $27,823net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1408-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Boston University
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B
Boston, MA

Boston University

Private 4 Year

10 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 36,624enrollment
  • $27,551net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1520SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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College of the Holy Cross
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H
Worcester, MA

College of the Holy Cross

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,035enrollment
  • $35,455net price
  • 21%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Mount Holyoke College
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M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,330enrollment
  • $35,782net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Brandeis University
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B
Waltham, MA

Brandeis University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,302enrollment
  • $44,668net price
  • 35%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Bentley University
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B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,264enrollment
  • $43,858net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Babson College
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B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,943enrollment
  • $30,220net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Simmons University
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S
Boston, MA

Simmons University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,053enrollment
  • $29,575net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Northeastern University
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N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 31,159enrollment
  • $34,770net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Clark University
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C
Worcester, MA

Clark University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 4,124enrollment
  • $32,767net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1400SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
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M
Boston, MA

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 6,321enrollment
  • $37,182net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1340SAT range
  • 23-33ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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