Colleges in Massachusetts

Whether you know Massachusetts as “The Pilgrim State,” “The Old Colony State,” or as “The Baked Bean State,” it’s embedded in American history as the location of the first colony in New England. Massachusetts is also home to the oldest institution of higher education in the US, Harvard University, which was founded in 1636. Despite being one of the smallest states in the US, there are more than 80 colleges in Massachusetts, largely public or private not-for-profit institutions. This New England state has cold winters and warm summers, and its primary industries are Life Sciences, Finance, Information Technology, and Manufacturing. Top attractions are Martha’s Vineyard, the Freedom Trail, and Cape Cod.

Waltham, MA

Brandeis University is a private, nonsectarian institution founded by the Jewish community and named after the Supreme Court’s first Jewish justice. The 235-acre campus is located in the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts, and home to more than 100...

“…

Brandeis is an all inclusive school with everything a student could wish for. Busting at the seams with student diversity, clubs of all kinds, and professors that you can approach at almost any time, the smaller community of Brandeis University is...

” – ManOfLaMancha

average act composite

1434

average sat composite

39%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Small city

campus setting

$41,222

average net price

5,581

number of students

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Williams College

Williamstown, MA

Founded with funding from the estate of a Massachusetts Bay colonist, Williams College is a liberal arts institution in northwest Massachusetts. Williams is home to three divisions of Mathematics & Science, Languages, and Social Sciences conferring...

“…

The classes are fast paced and challenging, particularly the math and science courses. If you keep up with the coursework, reading, and go to office hours, you definetly learn a lot. English classes are not much different than high school. You have...

” – Marsha from belmont, MA

average act composite

1488

average sat composite

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Suburb or town

campus setting

$22,356

average net price

2,222

number of students

Save to list

Bentley University

Waltham, MA

Bentley University is a private institution in the Boston area with a focus on combining business education with arts and sciences. Bentley confers undergraduate degrees in 25 academic fields of study and also enables students to customize a major...

“…

Bentley University is centered on educating prospective business majors with a good variety of courses that prepare students for the business world. They also offer a liberal arts major known as the LSM for students who either stray away from...

” – Christopher from Attleboro, MA

average act composite

1327

average sat composite

58%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Small city

campus setting

$42,759

average net price

5,165

number of students

Save to list

Clark University

Worcester, MA

Clark University is a private institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts. Clark offers more than 30 undergraduate majors and minors structured around Clark’s Liberal Education and Effective Practice (LEEP) curriculum which includes a small...

“…

I have, quite honestly, learned more in my first semester at Clark than I ever have in my entire life. The academics here are very good but in some cases you have to step up your own learning, it isn't always handed to you. All my professors are...

” – Olivia from West Hartford, CT

average act composite

1275

average sat composite

50%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Small city

campus setting

$30,617

average net price

3,770

number of students

Save to list

Berklee College of Music

Boston, MA

The Berklee College of Music is a school of the musical and performing arts in Boston and one of the largest contemporary music colleges in the world. Berklee consists of the College of Music and the Boston Conservatory at Berklee conferring bachelor...

“…

about the music business

” – Lynne from Suisun City, CA

average act composite

average sat composite

54%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Major city

campus setting

$42,952

average net price

8,282

number of students

Save to list

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA

Founded in 1870, Wellesley College is a 4-year liberal arts college for women in eastern Massachusetts as well as a member of the Seven Sisters Colleges and Three-College Alliance. Wellesley confers undergraduate degrees in over 50 departmental and...

“…

Wellesley is an excellent liberal arts school because, in a nutshell, they teach you how to figure the world out for yourself. They have excellence in everything: faculty, location, students, campus, dining, residential staff, dorms, comprehensive...

” – Christine from Salt Lake City, UT

average act composite

1452

average sat composite

14%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Suburb or town

campus setting

$21,614

average net price

2,447

number of students

Save to list

Smith College

Northampton, MA

Smith College is an all-female liberal arts institution in western Massachusetts and the largest all-women’s college in the country. The biggest school among the Seven Sisters Colleges, Smith offers degrees and certificates in over 50 areas of study...

“…

The academics at Smith are amazing. There are no core classes and the professors are excellent. If there's something Smith doesn't have, you can easily enroll in a class at one of the other colleges of the Five College Consortium.

” – Veronica from Plymouth, MA

average act composite

1415

average sat composite

23%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Small city

campus setting

$28,422

average net price

2,873

number of students

Save to list

Babson College

Wellesley, MA

Founded in 1919, Babson College is a college of business in the greater Boston area. Babson offers an undergraduate curriculum in Business and Entrepreneurship and the college includes an accelerated degree program that enables students to graduate...

“…

Definitely will learn about setting up and running a business. Students work a lot in groups, so learning about people and cultures is a good thing.

” – CK from Southern California

average act composite

1362

average sat composite

22%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Suburb or town

campus setting

$31,559

average net price

3,989

number of students

Save to list

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA

Founded in 1840, Bridgewater State University is a 4-year public school in the greater Boston area. Bridgewater State encompasses colleges of Science & Mathematics, Business, Education, and Humanities granting undergrad degrees in over 90 fields of...

“…

Every class that I have taken I have learned something useful from it. I enjoy most of the classes that I have/am taking. There are a lot of core requirements but most of them are helpful and you might even find a class that you enjoy and would like...

” – Breanna from Pittsfield, ME

average act composite

1063

average sat composite

88%

acceptance rate

Public

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Suburb or town

campus setting

$17,545

average net price

9,604

number of students

Save to list

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA

Founded by Jesuits, the College of the Holy Cross is a liberal arts college in Worcester and the oldest Roman Catholic school in New England. Holy Cross confers bachelor’s degrees in 30 academic fields of study and is also home to 10 student-designed...

“…

The academics at Holy Cross seem intense, and the students here study more than at most other colleges. With a Princeton Review academic rating of 98, only five other colleges and university's place above it. More than just pure academics, Holy Cross...

” – Kaylie from Ashburnham, MA

average act composite

1328

average sat composite

36%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Small city

campus setting

$37,292

average net price

3,083

number of students

Save to list

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA

Founded in 1865, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a school of engineering and technology in central Massachusetts. WPI grants bachelor’s degrees in 32 technical and scientific fields of study. In addition, every academic program is centered around...

“…

Classes are fast paced and can be difficult but there are many resources to help you. Professors are generally willing to help, as are other students. The Math and Science Help Center (MASH) is extremely useful for early math and science classes. An...

” – Alana from Taunton, MA

average act composite

1380

average sat composite

57%

acceptance rate

Private

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Small city

campus setting

$45,834

average net price

7,308

number of students

Save to list

Salem State University

Salem, MA

Established in 1854, Salem State University is a 4-year public school in the greater Boston area. Salem State grants bachelor’s degrees in 32 academic programs with a focus on liberal arts and sciences. In addition to classroom facilities, Salem...

“…

All of my classes at Salem State teach me the basics of the subject, as well as things I will use in my every day life. This past semester in my Child Growth class, my professor gave us everyday examples of how we will use what we have learned. We...

” – Hayley from Methuen, MA

average act composite

1085

average sat composite

93%

acceptance rate

Public

type of institution

4 Year

level of institution

Suburb or town

campus setting

$18,399

average net price

6,539

number of students

Colleges in Massachusetts

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