Best colleges in Boston
For the Major Leaguers and Ivy Leaguers
An intellectually and culturally driven city
The Greater Boston area is known for its top ranked universities, but don’t let the prestigious institutions intimidate you. There are options for everyone with 33 technical schools, community colleges, and universities with enough programs to suit everyone’s needs. The 3 major universities alone offer more than 400 programs, some of which are the best in the world.* Bostonians take pride in their education, which is why nearly 45% of the people 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher.* Unfortunately, Boston shares the same unemployment rates as the national average, but they do make nearly $400 more a week than the average American.* And lawyers, managers, software developers, and accountants on average make more than $78,000 a year.*
Home to The Boston Beer Company, (Samuel Adams Boston Lager) Boston was ranked No. 4 by CNN as one of America’s best beer towns. Which means? Operation Find-A-Brewery should be in full effect once your plane lands. And for all the sports lovers, Boston is home to the Celtics, Bruins and the 2013 World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox. So you’re in for some serious sports entertainment amongst some true diehard fans. Boston is truly the perfect concoction of education, fun, and big city living, so the only thing missing from the mix is you.
*www.cnn.com *Bureau of Labor Statistics *US Census *Forbes, “Boston, MA” *http://www.bu.edu/admissions/about-bu/why-bu/Best Four Year Universities in Boston
Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers 114 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 3,589 students graduated with students earning 1,760 Master's degrees, 1,142 Bachelor's degrees, and 687 Doctoral degrees.
As the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, Harvard University already makes a good impression when it’s about choosing where to get some more education. So many years of experience and knowledge can’t be wrong! Harvard is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research. Its goal is to push the boundaries of human knowledge – and that’s why it attracts the most talented young adults from our whole planet. The unique and diverse students of Harvard University become leaders in various disciplines and make a difference all around the globe. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of such a unique community?
Wellesley College offers 53 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 577 students graduated with students earning 577 Bachelor's degrees.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 78 students graduated with students earning 78 Bachelor's degrees.
Northeastern University offers 186 degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 7,412 students graduated with students earning 4,085 Bachelor's degrees, 2,652 Master's degrees, 644 Doctoral degrees, and 31 Certificates.
Boston University, or BU, is a private institution that was founded in 1839 in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 35,000 students who attend classes on a campus that runs along Commonwealth Avenue and the Boston metro rail or “The T,” which provides excellent transportation for students, faculty, and visitors. BU is on a semester-based academic calendar, and the university provides ample merit and need-based scholarships.
BU is made up of 15 colleges including the competitive Questrom School of Business and the Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Students get to choose from a variety of housing options both on and off-campus, with a majority of undergraduates staying in the iconic Warren Towers and the campus brownstones.
BU offers small, intimate classes and boasts a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. BU provides current students with over 70 study abroad options through their many globally-partnered institutions. Beyond academics, BU students can explore historic Boston and stop by Faneuil Hall, picnic in the Boston Common, or visit local rivals Harvard or Boston College. Notable alumni include Bill O’Reilly, actress Julianne Moore, and radio host Howard Stern.
Babson College offers 9 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 1,167 students graduated with students earning 548 Bachelor's degrees, 528 Master's degrees, and 91 Certificates.
Brandeis University offers 119 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 1,777 students graduated with students earning 879 Bachelor's degrees, 821 Master's degrees, and 77 Doctoral degrees.
Tufts University offers 229 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 3,491 students graduated with students earning 1,373 Bachelor's degrees, 1,248 Master's degrees, 652 Doctoral degrees, and 218 Certificates.
Boston College, or BC, is a private institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of roughly 14,000. Founded in the Jesuit tradition by Benedict Joseph Fenwick, BC has since expanded its initial course offerings from theology to include a wider range of liberal arts degree options. Boston College’s tuition and fees are comparable to local “Beantown” rival Boston University. BC is located at the end of the T Train line in Chestnut Hill, so students have the option of enjoying the collegiate campus life, or choosing to venture into the city for live sports, restaurants, and tourist activities.
The university has a sprawling suburban campus that covers over 350 acres with historic gothic architecture and iconic Gasson Hall. Classes at BU follow a semester-based academic calendar, and the student-faculty ratio is a low 10:1, so average class sizes are typically under 20 students.
Boston College is known for its competitive Carroll School of Management, Woods College of Advancing Studies, and Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program. Beyond academics, BC’s athletic teams compete in the ACC and are represented by their mascot, the Eagle. Their nationally renowned hockey program competes annually in the Bean Pot and the Frozen Four, which are local tournaments against rivals like Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University. Notable alumni include fashion icon Clinton Kelly, actor Chris O’Donnell, and senator Ed Markey.
Best Community Colleges in Boston
FINE Mortuary College offers 1 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 31 students graduated with students earning 31 Associate's degrees.
Roxbury Community College offers 30 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 283 students graduated with students earning 266 Associate's degrees, and 17 Certificates.
North Shore Community College offers 88 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 966 students graduated with students earning 814 Associate's degrees, and 152 Certificates.
Bunker Hill Community College offers 114 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 1,569 students graduated with students earning 1,260 Associate's degrees, and 309 Certificates.
Northern Essex Community College offers 98 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 860 students graduated with students earning 622 Associate's degrees, and 238 Certificates.
Middlesex Community College offers 86 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 1,196 students graduated with students earning 979 Associate's degrees, and 217 Certificates.
Massachusetts Bay Community College offers 82 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 671 students graduated with students earning 455 Associate's degrees, and 216 Certificates.
Massasoit Community College offers 73 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 924 students graduated with students earning 801 Associate's degrees, and 123 Certificates.
Urban College of Boston offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 114 students graduated with students earning 60 Associate's degrees, and 54 Certificates.
Great Bay Community College offers 54 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small suburb. In 2019, 369 students graduated with students earning 249 Associate's degrees, and 120 Certificates.
List of all colleges in Boston
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | 8 : 1 | 11,520 | |
|
Harvard University Cambridge, MA | 17 : 1 | 31,655 | |
|
Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | 8 : 1 | 2,519 | |
|
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering Needham, MA | 8 : 1 | 386 | |
|
Northeastern University Boston, MA | 16 : 1 | 22,207 | |
|
Boston University Boston, MA | 18 : 1 | 33,720 | |
|
Babson College Wellesley, MA | 17 : 1 | 3,325 | |
|
Brandeis University Waltham, MA | 15 : 1 | 5,825 | |
|
Tufts University Medford, MA | 14 : 1 | 11,878 | |
|
Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | 17 : 1 | 14,747 | |
|
Bentley University Waltham, MA | 18 : 1 | 5,314 | |
|
Emerson College Boston, MA | 23 : 1 | 4,930 | |
|
The New England Conservatory of Music Boston, MA | 7 : 1 | 843 | |
|
Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston, MA | 17 : 1 | 2,095 | |
|
Simmons University Boston, MA | 28 : 1 | 6,535 | |
|
Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Brookline, MA | 6 : 1 | 130 | |
|
Gordon College Wenham, MA | 22 : 1 | 1,857 | |
|
Berklee College of Music Boston, MA | 20 : 1 | 6,999 | |
|
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH | 20 : 1 | 14,788 | |
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University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA | 28 : 1 | 18,352 | |