2024 Best Colleges for Middle-Class Students in the Boston Area

• Cambridge, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  660 reviews

Freshman: Studying at the MIT has been an enlightening and enriching journey. The opportunity to learn from some of the most distinguished professors and work with bright, ambitious peers is unparalleled. The curriculum is rigorous and challenging, which I appreciate as it pushes students to their intellectual limits. MIT's focus on combining theory with practical application is particularly engaging. For example, not only did I learn the theory behind machine learning algorithms, but I also got to implement these algorithms to solve real-world problems. This hands-on approach is what sets MIT apart from many other institutions. Furthermore, MIT's culture of innovation and entrepreneurship is highly motivating. The environment encourages students to think outside the box, fostering an innovative mindset. It's also commonplace for undergraduates to work in research labs, contributing to groundbreaking advancements in various fields.... Read 660 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 4%

• Net price $30,958

• SAT range 1510-1580

• Cambridge, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  838 reviews

Graduate Student: Studying at Harvard has been my lifelong dream, and I see it fulfilled at the moment, with the many memorable learning experiences I have had so far. From a well-organized curriculum, to impressive response time to student inquiries, and then to proper student welfare facilities, I give kudos to this noble institution of learning. I would rate Harvard an A+ so far. Thank you Harvard!... Read 838 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 4%

• Net price $13,910

• SAT range 1480-1580

• Wellesley, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  624 reviews

Freshman: So far, Wellesley has been an incredible place. The professors I have had are both highly intelligent academics and great teachers, as well as interesting people, which is certainly a plus! While social life can be cliquey at times, there are plenty of places for you to meet people in your residence hall, in classes, and in clubs. I've bonded with people during random moments over almost anything. Students here are very academically committed and driven, but also find great ways to have fun, like having movie nights in dorm common rooms, going out to study or eat meals in Boston and Cambridge, or using study breaks to chat about life. We also have good dining hall food (my personal favorite dining hall out of our four is Bates Hall). Wellesley's location is also fantastic-- we have all the comforts of being in a quiet suburb while still having access to Boston and Cambridge if you want to experience the livelihood and vibrance of nearby cities! I feel so grateful to attend Wellesley.... Read 624 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 16%

• Net price $21,862

• SAT range 1400-1540

• Chestnut Hill, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  1,589 reviews

Niche User: Boston college is a great school! I recently got admitted to Boston College. I applied them through an organization called Quest-bridge that helps students that are minorities and come from low income families. Due to that, I got full tuition from Boston College. I really appreciate that Boston College is giving an opportunity to high achieving successful students since not everyone had the same opportunities growing up. In addition, I have been on Boston College tour before. It was magical there. The campus was the prettiest. More importantly, the admissions counselors were super kind to me when I went there. They answered all of my questions, and I kept in touch with them. I think this may be one of the reasons I was admitted. I think I can best express myself in interviews, since BC doesn't do interviews, it was definitely beneficial for me to show my personality to an admissions officer. The campus environment over all looked so chill, just like a family. See you at BC!... Read 1,589 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 19%

• Net price $30,159

• SAT range 1420-1530

• Lowell, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  1,432 reviews

Senior: I vividly remember the first day I stepped onto the bustling campus of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation. The sprawling greens and the modern, yet welcoming architecture immediately caught my eye, symbolizing a blend of tradition and innovation. I immersed myself in diverse and challenging courses, each lecture sparking new ideas and perspectives, constantly expanding my intellectual horizons. The faculty, always approachable and knowledgeable, played a crucial role in shaping my academic journey, guiding me with patience and expertise. Beyond academics, the vibrant campus life, filled with cultural events and student organizations, allowed me to forge lasting friendships and invaluable networks, enriching my university experience beyond measure.... Read 1,432 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $13,227

• SAT range 1170-1340

• Danvers, MA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  297 reviews

Graduate Student: I graduated from the Respiratory Care program at NSCC. Although it was a rigorous program and fast paced, the professors were great and always provided resources and were reason my accommodating. What was good is that there was always scholarships available and even more now with the pandemic. It’s wicked affordable and I had job offers before even graduating! I would highly recommend this program but it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.... Read 297 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $7,938

• SAT range —

• Boston, MA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  572 reviews

Sophomore: I am an International student from Iran. I found Bunker Hill Community College with the help of my sister. I didnt know anything about this college. I trusted my sister's viewpoint and selection. Consequetly, I applied and was accepted. When I received student visa I travelled to US. Bunker Community College was the first academic environment I experienced in the United States. From the first day attending to in person class I was pleased and happy that I could be a student in BHCC. The majority of instructors, professors, advisors, and staffs are friendly and supportive. Additionally, I experienced positive vibes all the time that helped me to handle my homesick feelings. Furthermore, they expressed sympathy and empathy to my tough conditions due to Iran's recent sad events and Internet shut down. Bunker Hill Community College is unique in developing all communities and various races.... Read 572 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $9,001

• SAT range —

• Wellesley Hills, MA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  280 reviews

Freshman: MassBay was the first school I'd attended after dropping out of high school for physical & mental health reasons. I was nervous at first, as I was used to schools overlooking my needs, or making classes inaccessible by default (e.g., in high school, my disabling fatigue meant that sometimes I couldn't attend class, and missing even one day was disastrous as it'd cause me to fall behind). This isn't the case at MassBay. My first in-person class was with Prof. Keegan, with whom I didn't even NEED to request accommodations, because he was so good about putting everything on Blackboard by default! I'm having a similarly positive experience with Prof. Bastien. MassBay's teachers are passionate about what they do, and I feel like they actually care about my success. Missing classes due to my health is no longer a "death sentence" for me. I'm not falling behind because of 1 missed day anymore! For the first time in years, I feel like somebody WANTS me to succeed academically... Thank you.... Read 280 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $6,902

• SAT range —

• Bedford, MA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  453 reviews

Alum: I was a dual enrollment student at MCC for almost three years. I studied only virtually for my degree. It was a great experience. The staff and faculty in general were super helpful and supportive of the students. Something that could be improved is with the online classes, there’s really not much chance to get engaged with the MCC community. It’s hard to hear about new events and activities going on unless you somehow have a very close relationship with your professor. If you do happen to hear about events , programs, etc and get involved in other activities, it’s a very great learning experience and a chance to build your network. So my only suggestion for future students is if you do happen to take online courses, make sure you constantly ask classmates and professors about different opportunities available that you may be interested in. Getting involved in extracurricular activities really enhances your experience at MCC!... Read 453 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $5,255

• SAT range —

• Needham, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  128 reviews

Other: The opportunities and connections in this college are incredible. Everything is designed in a way that will allow for the student to not only succeed, but achieve high levels of personal growth.... Read 128 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 18%

• Net price $36,494

• SAT range 1490-1580