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2020 Best Colleges in the Boston AreaAbout this List

The Best Colleges ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. The ranking compares more than 1,000 top colleges and universities in the U.S. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

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  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    • 4 Year
    • Cambridge, MA
    • 611 reviews
    #1 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Junior: MIT is an outstanding university with numerous and diverse opportunities in research and academics. Classes at MIT are indeed difficult, with homework and associated studying consuming a large chunk of time. The beauty of this is that it pushes students to go above and beyond their previous understanding of what they believed themselves to be capable of. Additionally, the explorative and creative atmosphere which springs from the vibrancy of the student body and the faculty is second to none. There are so many chances to do great things at MIT, even as an undergrad!
    Read 611 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 7% Acceptance Rate
    • $22,230 Net Price
    • 1490-1570 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  2. Harvard University

    • 4 Year
    • Cambridge, MA
    • 693 reviews
    #2 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Alum: I loved the campus and the teachers, especially my professors. I really got a chance to connect with them while on campus! I loved their teaching methods; they really let us explore the topics we covered, by ourselves, and with our own interest. They gave us constructive criticism and we gladly grew and flourished in that environment. I would like to change one though, and that is the parking on campus. Harvard has a major parking problem, and that should really be taken a look at.
    Read 693 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 5% Acceptance Rate
    • $17,030 Net Price
    • 1460-1590 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  3. Tufts University

    • 4 Year
    • Medford, MA
    • 898 reviews
    #3 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Freshman: As a freshman at Tufts, I am constantly blown alway by endless opportunities available to undergraduate students at various academic departments, student-run organizations, and Tisch College of Civic Engagement. Students are here to learn from a wide range of perspectives and always listen carefully to one another to reexamine their thoughts. Even in today's political divisiveness, I find Tufts students relatively open-minded and tolerant to perspectives and thoughts that might be contrary to their own. Furthermore, as a student who plans on majoring in International Relations, I am always struck by how organized the program is here at Tufts. Professors and students are experts in their field, and I can easily see future diplomats and leading scholars in my classroom. There are conferences at the Fletcher school almost every week where leading scholars and researchers come and speak. I love Tufts!
    Read 898 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 15% Acceptance Rate
    • $29,449 Net Price
    • 1410-1540 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  4. Wellesley College

    • 4 Year
    • Wellesley, MA
    • 560 reviews
    #4 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Sophomore: I have had the best two years of my life at Wellesley College and I'm excited about what comes in the remaining two as well. It has a great environment that is both encouraging and supportive in every aspect. The size of the school is perfect. I really like the small classrooms and the ability to get to know my professors and classmates well. It also allows for detailed and fruitful discussions during the lectures and seminars. I have been in a class of eight people in my first year! Apart from academic excellence, Wellesley also offers a wide range of clubs and sports where a student can easily find a group of friends like family. I also really like the lush green beautiful campus and Lake Waban.
    Read 560 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 28% Acceptance Rate
    • $20,189 Net Price
    • 1360-1530 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  5. Northeastern University

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 3,314 reviews
    #5 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Sophomore: There’s always something to do since we’re in the city. The academic rigor is challenging, usually in a good way. However, some professors care more about their own professional goals than actually teaching which can make digesting material rather difficult. So, take advantage of the multitude of resources and opportunities on campus! Have study sessions with friends and discuss topics and go to tutoring! Don't reduce your character or your college life to a single number. You will waste the printing dollars. Save your past notes. They love their engineering students more than CAMD so you may feel under-appreciated. Be wary of fake friends who just want to network. Balance between schoolwork and partying. Join clubs - find people who enjoy the same things as you do! Those are friends who will help you continue to cultivate your passions into something productive. Also, everyone will always seem so much busier, smarter, etc. than you. They're not. They're just different.
    Read 3,314 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 27% Acceptance Rate
    • $30,784 Net Price
    • 1370-1520 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  6. Boston College

    • 4 Year
    • Chestnut Hill, MA
    • 1,428 reviews
    #6 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Sophomore: Great student body and professors that really seem to care about you (for the most part). Wonderful campus, food is pretty good and really nice to be near Boston (but not TOO near!) Great school spirit & athletics, lots of clubs and activities to participate in and quite a diverse course selection between the 4 schools. Career support is excellent and new athletic center opening soon is a big plus. Also new STEM/engineering center coming soon!
    Read 1,428 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 32% Acceptance Rate
    • $27,299 Net Price
    • 1320-1490 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  7. Boston University

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 3,232 reviews
    #7 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Junior: I've very much enjoyed my time at BU, the professors are willing to teach beyond the normal classroom and make a great effort to meet with their students. I can't speak for every department, although the professors in the Linguistics and Spanish department are AMAZING! The only reason I didn't give BU a 5 star is because the housing and food situation were a nightmare. Early into my spring semester I decided to move off campus and lose the money that I had already payed on my housing and food deposit because I was having trouble sleeping and digestive problems. These problems were addressed to the school, although they refused to help in any way.
    Read 3,232 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 25% Acceptance Rate
    • $33,728 Net Price
    • 1300-1480 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  8. Babson College

    • 4 Year
    • Wellesley, MA
    • 330 reviews
    #8 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Sophomore: Such an inspiring school! While it is considered a business school, so many different people with varying backgrounds combine their personal interests with their passion for business to create unique careers and opportunities for themselves and others. The school often promotes diversity and inclusion, but they could work a little harder on the inclusion portion!
    Read 330 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 24% Acceptance Rate
    • $29,847 Net Price
    • 1230-1410 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  9. Brandeis University

    • 4 Year
    • Waltham, MA
    • 985 reviews
    #9 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Sophomore: I love my time at Brandeis! As a Stem student, there are so many opportunities for me to take. All of the professors have been great in their ability to explain difficult concepts and work directly with students. The introductory chemistry class was a bit difficult, but being able to work through it was a great achievement.
    In terms of housing, I couldn't have been happier. Brandeis has a policy where all incoming freshman must go random for roommates. Despite this being nerve-wracking, I was put with two amazing people that I am glad to have as friends. I was also able to make lots of friends within my building since orientation was partially organized with people from my building.
    Many people complain about the food, but I believe the food is significantly better than what people say. My mother is a phenomenal cook so I have a good frame of reference.
    Overall, Brandeis is a great school that I am excited to attend.
    Read 985 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 34% Acceptance Rate
    • $32,714 Net Price
    • 1280-1470 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  12. Bentley University

    • 4 Year
    • Waltham, MA
    • 685 reviews
    #10 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Senior: Bentley is great especially if you are a focus driven individual. The environment is that of Harvard, Yale, Cornell or any other of the Ivy Leagues! Students are gravely concerned about their grades mostly. It is very intense academically but can be a special place once you can balance and maintain as well as have control and restraint. If you are into getting the best return on your investment, this is the place for you. Bentley is very well known in the Northeast region and has a lot of prestige behind its name. You are more than certain to obtain a job once it's on your resume!
    Read 685 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 44% Acceptance Rate
    • $36,613 Net Price
    • 1210-1380 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  13. Emerson College

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 1,051 reviews
    #11 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Sophomore: Emerson is a great school, though it definitely caters to a specific type of student. It is a very liberal and progressive environment that can make you feel like your living in an isolated bubble without the opportunity to interact with people who have different perspectives. Its small size allows you to truly feel a sense of community, especially within your department. The best part about Emerson is how much student lead activity there is and how proactive and productive your peers are. This can be intimidating to some, but it's also really inspirational and ensures that there is always something you can be doing outside your classes to further your education, and people to do it with. The teachers are, for the most part, very passionate about what they do, and the small class sizes really allow you to get the most out of your courses and form relationships with your teachers and classmates.
    Read 1,051 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 46% Acceptance Rate
    • $42,070 Net Price
    • 1200-1360 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  14. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

    • 4 Year
    • Lowell, MA
    • 1,194 reviews
    #12 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Sophomore: I am so happy that I chose to attend UMass Lowell. While it is extremely affordable, it also provides the same rigorous and challenging academics that many highly ranked universities offer. There are limitless opportunities to be involved on campus from joining clubs, intramural sports, and even hosting your own events on campus for other students to attend. Most of my classes are fairly engaging and are reasonably challenging. Another great part of UMass Lowell are the free resources that the school offers, like free resume workshops, tutoring centers, and career fairs. It is amazing how they provide so much information for students that most people probably did not know that they needed. Needless to say, I absolutely love UML.
    Read 1,194 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 69% Acceptance Rate
    • $18,375 Net Price
    • 1130-1310 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  15. Wheaton College - Massachusetts

    • 4 Year
    • Norton, MA
    • 620 reviews
    #13 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Senior: Wheaton College MA is truly my dream school. It is expensive, but we are good about providing need and merit based financial aid. Due to the size of the school, students are able to get one on one attention from professors throughout their 4 year experience. The facilities are expansive for each major, and we have a rapidly growing psychology and business department in particular. Additionally, the support system that you find here on a social basis is extensive and truly makes me feel loved and appreciated. Each professor is remarkably passionate about their subject matter and that energy is transferable to the staff and students. Speaking of the staff, those who work in the dining halls and on maintenance are kind and welcoming. We do not have greek life on campus. Regardless of this, we have a ton of things going on on campus every day. The location is also awesome if you don't mind public transportation or if you have a car. Please come visit Wheaton College MA!
    Read 620 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 48% Acceptance Rate
    • $31,814 Net Price
    • 1150-1350 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  16. Stonehill College

    • 4 Year
    • Easton, MA
    • 526 reviews
    #14 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Freshman: As a freshman at Stonehill College, I would say I have never felt more accepted in a very diverse community of people. Everyone at Stonehill has such a passion for academics but also making the college experience a very memorable one. I am able to express myself and surround myself with others who resonate with me. As well, there are also a lot of opportunities to join clubs and other activities and events to balance out school and social life. I am excited to continue my journey on this campus and community for the next four years!
    Read 526 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 72% Acceptance Rate
    • $33,583 Net Price
    • 1030-1230 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  17. Simmons University

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 718 reviews
    #15 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Sophomore: Simmons is a small college with big university benefits. The professors are incredible, and the classes offered for students are very tailored and unique to the population of the school. Apart from the incredible academics, you can't beat the location of the university. You can never be bored attending Simmons. For areas of improvement, I know that many students do not feel heard by administration, or that their concerns are dismissed once they are brought up to a higher level within the college. Many students are also fearing the cost of Simmons. Although many have fantastic scholarships, the college itself is still very hard to afford.
    Read 718 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 60% Acceptance Rate
    • $29,690 Net Price
    • 1130-1310 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  18. Berklee College of Music

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 892 reviews
    #16 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Freshman: I love that Berklee has all the programs and classes that I need in order to better understand music and learn more techniques that I can do to make my voice fuller and sound more mature/beautiful. The community nice and everyone is pretty welcoming! But what I think should change is the way their financial aid do things. I did my FASFA in October of 2018 to make sure that I had enough money to ensure my 1st year at the school, but in the start if Summer Berklee's financial aid made me do these tasks that took awhile to do and because of that I lost a lot of money that I could've gotten from Federal Financial Aid. Not just that, but even though they made do all that work they didn't give me any money in my Financial Aid Package.
    Read 892 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 53% Acceptance Rate
    • $41,382 Net Price
    • — SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  19. University of Massachusetts - Boston

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 1,156 reviews
    #17 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Alum: I had a good time while studying for my Management and Political Science majors at UMass Boston. Overall the quality of the teaching was great, expecially for the Political Science Department. The Management classes varied greatly depending a lot on the professor. The campus is nice, with some Modern accents on some of the buildings. The WISER student records system and the Blackboard for online classes were user-friendly. The courses are relatively cheap, which is a definite plus for this school! I recommend it, but make sure your major has good professors first.
    Read 1,156 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 75% Acceptance Rate
    • $10,991 Net Price
    • 1040-1220 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  22. Gordon College

    • 4 Year
    • Wenham, MA
    • 681 reviews
    #18 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Freshman: Gordon is an amazing, Christian college! The atmosphere is always positive and the people are friendly. I greatly enjoy this college to the highest!
    Read 681 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 89% Acceptance Rate
    • $30,888 Net Price
    • 1050-1290 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  23. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 893 reviews
    #19 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Niche User: Not currently enrolled accepted as a senior in HS & lucky enough to been able to hold a great relationship with this school. First of all, the school is so nurturing. You can first witness that through meeting admissions counselors. They're SO SWEET, actually care about you, & show that the COLLEGE cares about you. I met the counselor at a college fair & from there, we instantly clicked! She followed up w/ emails, letters, interviews and super friendly greetings when I went to the open house. GREAT financial aid, always looking to improve. I heard the best parts about MCPHS are the massages, puppy visits during finals, etc. Also, this is a college where it's great to make friends quick being very diverse. There's people from all over the world, people you can actually connect for once in your life because they're interested in the same things as you: medicine. Still waiting on other acceptance letters, but my experience with MCP so far has been unforgettable!
    Read 893 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 84% Acceptance Rate
    • $38,708 Net Price
    • 1040-1270 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  24. Emmanuel College - Massachusetts

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 622 reviews
    #20 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Junior: I am currently a junior at Emmanuel College with a Biology major and a Political Science and Sustainability minor. Emmanuel in my opinion is a great university due to its focus on academic and career oriented internships. Emmanuel is a very small school which allows for small class sizes, one on one relationships with professors, and campus where everyone knows your name. Academically, Emmanuel truly excels but socially because of its' size, it lacks school spirit. If you get involved then it is a great fit for you but if you do not you miss the social benefits of college. Overall, I believe Emmanuel is a great institution that has helped prepare me for the workforce and gave me a great college experience thus far.
    Read 622 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 73% Acceptance Rate
    • $31,448 Net Price
    • 1090-1250 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  25. Suffolk University

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 935 reviews
    #21 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Graduate Student: Suffolk University has stood out from day one. From the application process to the admission team they are very accommodating. I am currently a incoming graduate student. While I have not yet attended my first class I would say that the admission ceremony was a very warm and inviting event. The diversity grade truly reflects that. There is a wide range of students all over the world that attend Suffolk University. I am very exciting to start this new chapter of my life at Suffolk!
    Read 935 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 84% Acceptance Rate
    • $31,722 Net Price
    • 1000-1180 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  26. Merrimack College

    • 4 Year
    • North Andover, MA
    • 534 reviews
    #22 Best Colleges in Boston Area

    Graduate Student: I would put 3 stars for the entire experience and an extra one for the memories.
    Academics: DECENT
    I had great professors and not so great ones. But the one’s that were great have helped me throughout my four years and I will never forget them.
    Athletics:
    Former athlete at Merrimack. They treat them great, some more than others. But overall athletics are supported and there are many oppetunties to see games/matches
    Campus Life:
    ALRIGHT
    Housing is terrible. Get off campus housing when you can! The food sucks too. I never ate at the cafe.
    Dorms are small and stupid. Not what you paid for :)
    Friends I made were amazing! However I wish there was more diversity!
    Read 534 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 82% Acceptance Rate
    • $33,202 Net Price
    • 930-1120 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  29. Endicott College

    • 4 Year
    • Beverly, MA
    • 844 reviews

    Sophomore: Endicott College is a wonderful school that has a welcoming community and allows students to learn and grow to become contributors of society. Endicott has a wonderful group of staff members that help students grow and support them when times become difficult. Additionally, Endicott College has a wonderful internship program that allows students to network and begin their career search well before graduating from college. Endicott college requires students to complete two 120-hour internships freshman and sophomore year, and an additional full semester long internship senior year. There is also a wonderful study abroad program that allows students in most majors to be able to study abroad and gain a once in a lifetime experience. Overall, I would recommend students of all kinds to further research what Endicott College has to offer.
    Read 844 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 81% Acceptance Rate
    • $35,097 Net Price
    • 980-1160 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  30. Massachusetts College of Art & Design

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 479 reviews

    Sophomore: MassArt embodies a community that feels inclusive; and I know that the word 'inclusive' might sound too political, but I believe it is the word that can describe how cohesive MassArt is. MassArt definitely has its flaws, like the food and the elevators (at least one breaks every month, no joke). The food in particular bothers me, as I believe that there should be options that accommodate to most of the students' eating lifestyles. As of housing, MassArt deserves five stars; truly, the living spaces are high-quality and safe. Overall, I believe MassArt still has work to do, but its pros ultimately win over its cons.
    Read 479 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 71% Acceptance Rate
    • $22,043 Net Price
    • 970-1160 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  31. Wentworth Institute of Technology

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 895 reviews

    Alum: The five years I attended Wentworth were some of the best years of my life. It is the perfect school for people who are willing to work really really hard to earn a degree. It has very focused curriculum, and I would not recommend it for anyone who is unsure of the field they want to pursue. I had a wonderful experience socially and academically. Co-op is a huge plus. After graduation, I was hired by the top architecture firm in the state! Wentworth in a nutshell: easy to get into, very hard to graduate from. Wentworth instills work ethic in its students and companies love to hire Wentworth grads for this reason. It is one of the best colleges for anyone seeking to enter the construction or design field.
    Read 895 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 92% Acceptance Rate
    • $37,656 Net Price
    • 1080-1270 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?
  32. Sponsored

    Babson College

    • 4 Year
    • Wellesley, MA
    • 330 reviews

    Sophomore: Such an inspiring school! While it is considered a business school, so many different people with varying backgrounds combine their personal interests with their passion for business to create unique careers and opportunities for themselves and others. The school often promotes diversity and inclusion, but they could work a little harder on the inclusion portion!
    Read 330 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 24% Acceptance Rate
    • $29,847 Net Price
    • 1230-1410 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?
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    Montserrat College of Art

    • 4 Year
    • Beverly, MA
    • 127 reviews

    Freshman: They are many things that I liked about Montserrat since the first day I step there, one of them is how everyone respects people personalities, they gender and color. Another thing that I liked were my classes that they gave me, the classes are really interesting and practical. Something that surprised me in my orientation was how the college is not just one, it is divided in many buildings! I’m enjoying a lot and hopefully I will like more things about it.
    Read 127 Reviews

    • C
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 100% Acceptance Rate
    • $28,777 Net Price
    Will You Get In?
  36. Sponsored

    Berklee College of Music

    • 4 Year
    • Boston, MA
    • 892 reviews

    Freshman: I love that Berklee has all the programs and classes that I need in order to better understand music and learn more techniques that I can do to make my voice fuller and sound more mature/beautiful. The community nice and everyone is pretty welcoming! But what I think should change is the way their financial aid do things. I did my FASFA in October of 2018 to make sure that I had enough money to ensure my 1st year at the school, but in the start if Summer Berklee's financial aid made me do these tasks that took awhile to do and because of that I lost a lot of money that I could've gotten from Federal Financial Aid. Not just that, but even though they made do all that work they didn't give me any money in my Financial Aid Package.
    Read 892 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 53% Acceptance Rate
    • $41,382 Net Price
    Will You Get In?
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