The Best Massachusetts Colleges

The Best Colleges in Massachusetts for 2024

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in Massachusetts as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2024 as the best overall college in Massachusetts is Harvard University. The top rated public state college is University of Massachusetts Amherst. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


46 results

Harvard University
H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,631enrollment
  • $19,491net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,858enrollment
  • $20,232net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Williams College
W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,222enrollment
  • $20,965net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,898enrollment
  • $21,367net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Wellesley College
W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,447enrollment
  • $21,362net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Tufts University
T
Medford, MA

Tufts University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 13,431enrollment
  • $30,479net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Boston College
B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 15,287enrollment
  • $30,559net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1435-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Smith College
S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,873enrollment
  • $30,790net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Boston University
B
Boston, MA

Boston University

Private 4 Year

9 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 36,714enrollment
  • $27,829net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Mount Holyoke College
M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,392enrollment
  • $35,765net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1540SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

College of the Holy Cross
H
Worcester, MA

College of the Holy Cross

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,083enrollment
  • $34,679net price
  • 36%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Brandeis University
B
Waltham, MA

Brandeis University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,581enrollment
  • $45,565net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Simmons University
S
Boston, MA

Simmons University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,710enrollment
  • $24,423net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Bentley University
B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,165enrollment
  • $44,233net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1258-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Babson College
B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,989enrollment
  • $28,400net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Northeastern University
N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 30,013enrollment
  • $35,827net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Clark University
C
Worcester, MA

Clark University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,770enrollment
  • $32,053net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Massachusetts Amherst
M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 32,229enrollment
  • $22,291net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15