2023 Best Colleges in Massachusetts

• Cambridge, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  657 reviews

Sophomore: Currently reaching near the middle of my time here, and this school truly works you to the bone. The baseline of this place is that everyone is very smart. Some are decently smart and work hard enough to get in, others come in doing Olympiads from when they were 5 years old. The students are very diverse. Some come in "normal", others finally get to truly express the weird and unique that they've been suppressing their whole lives. The campus is extremely welcoming and you really get to be who you want to be; it's very beautiful. Each dorm has an extant history and culture; you can automatically learn about someone by what dorm they live in. The academics are exceedingly difficult by content and pace. The problem set difficulty are elevated beyond a typical school's, and they force you to collaborate with others. Everyone must collaborate. You're forced to learn time management skills. I was finally able to satisfy my love for learning here. Truly an amazing and unique school!... Read 657 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 4%

• Net price $30,958

• SAT range 1510-1580

• Cambridge, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  806 reviews

Sophomore: It is an amazing school. The people on campus are such a diverse, welcoming community that I have never expected to meet.... Read 806 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 4%

• Net price $13,910

• SAT range 1480-1580

• Wellesley, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  617 reviews

Sophomore: Teachers are very kind and connected to their students and small class sizes make it very easy to participate in class discussions. The food isn't great. Some people can be very pretentious, but overall people tend to be very kind and welcoming.... Read 617 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 16%

• Net price $21,862

• SAT range 1400-1540

• Medford, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  1,050 reviews

Sophomore: Tufts University is a great school and let me tell you why. The amount of financial resources and community resources available for low-income first-generation students is shocking. Although the school's diversity is not as great as it makes it seems on its website they do support the widespread minority racial groups. As a first-generation low-income student, there has not been a moment of experience where I felt unwelcomed or made less due to my ethnic and racial identity. Aside from the resources and the diverse community, the students at Tufts University surprisingly come to this college being who they want to be but as well in a collaborative mindset rather than a competitive one. What does it mean to be who you want to be? That's the best part. Anyone you want to be! If you want to have some strange outfit or follow a certain fashion trend you don't get hate for it (you will be acknowledged for it). A lot of individuals on this campus represent where they come from. Beautiful!... Read 1,050 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 11%

• Net price $31,630

• SAT range 1440-1550

• Chestnut Hill, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  1,561 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 1,561 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 19%

• Net price $30,159

• SAT range 1420-1530

• Amherst, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  315 reviews

Sophomore: Incredible school. You can tell that Amherst invests and prioritizes its academic experience above all. Admittedly, this may come at the price of other "bells and whistles"-- its not flashy, so do not expect a great dining experience, wide merchandise selection, or hype around sports... but your academic career will be worth it! Great professors, small class sizes, diverse student body, and incredible support.... Read 315 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 9%

• Net price $18,809

• SAT range 1370-1550

• Williamstown, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  309 reviews

Alum: TL;DR: Williams is one of the best schools out there, especially for economically underprivileged and/or international students. Apply even if you think you won’t get in! Financials: I am a recent alumnus from a foreign country who had to pay less than 3K per year(!) towards my education at Williams; the rest was covered by non-repayable Williams grants. The College also pays for your medical insurance, ALL book expenditures, yearly round-trip to your home country (with all expenses). Other one-off expenses they covered: getting a visa, passport renewal, dental expenditures (over $10K). For someone who comes from a poor family whose total earnings are less than $30K/year, all this was an enormous benefit! Academics: Williams is very strong because its professors take time to teach you the material. 1-1 teaching sessions, research work with professors is easily attainable because professors care about their students. Exit opportunities: plentiful, prosperous, and very accessible!... Read 309 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 9%

• Net price $14,487

• SAT range 1410-1550

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  3,640 reviews

Alum: Northeastern provides lots of amenities to make students with different backgrounds comfortable. Lots of offerings help students feel supported in their mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing (e.g. meditation/prayer room, mental wellness programs, gym incl. group fitness programs, cafes on campus incl. Starbucks). The School is in the city, however still is one big campus which is rather rare for city campuses. I've had a good experience with my classes. There is a big variety to choose from. The international students could have been better integrated into the American student body. However clubs on campus allowed to meet people from all backgrounds. The variety of clubs and initiatives on campus is vast! The school has a great connection to the industry and the co-op program allows you to graduate with practical experience. NEU also offers lots of guidance on landing a job and help with applications. Overall, as a student I felt very supported.... Read 3,640 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 18%

• Net price $38,927

• SAT range 1430-1550

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  3,545 reviews

Senior: For context I am going into my last year at BU (my 3rd year). I really think that BU's greatest strength and asset for students is the faculty that you get a chance to meet here. Whether you are looking for personal or professional guidance there is a large pool of talent and wisdom that you can pull from coming from the professors and phd students. Students are presented with the opportunity to really grow as individuals and learn more about themselves and their beliefs without the overbearing presence of hand holding through the process. However, I am nervous that this opportunity is under threat and is the most pressing challenge that the University faces in the coming years. I believe that the faculty and administration needs to wrestle control back form the student governments as their initiatives are asking for more direct administrative intervention to help ensure students have a "safe" experience. This would undermines the greatest strength of the school.... Read 3,545 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 19%

• Net price $25,852

• SAT range 1360-1520

• Wellesley, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  372 reviews

Sophomore: Wonderful community and opportunity! Beautiful campus. Not a great choice for financially independent and low income students haha, but otherwise great! Networking is top tier. Okay location wise since there is not much access to the town unless you have a car, or are fine with 30 minute walks, but Babson offers diverse food options!... Read 372 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 25%

• Net price $29,105

• SAT range 1330-1480

• Northampton, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  907 reviews

Alum: I loved my time there! Excellent environment for education. Great investment for your future ,You get to pick your courses and learn what would be the best for you. Professors are your friends and mentors. They would share their enthusiasm for their fields. You would get support and understanding at every level in administration. You would make life-long friendships. Students support each other and are inclusive and kind, that's the school culture. Not a party school, but there are tons of clubs, groups, activities.... Read 907 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 30%

• Net price $29,569

• SAT range 1370-1530

• Worcester, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  565 reviews

Alum: Extremely competitive school from day 1. But - that fosters personal growth! Loved how many service-oriented opportunities there were. This was clearly a strong emphasis in the school's Jesuit identity. When HC says that faculty are there to help, it is not just an empty, overly-stated phrase. As an alum, I still reach out to faculty for advice on the job market and graduate school admissions. Truly thankful that HC has invested so much in recruiting and retaining world-class professors.... Read 565 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 43%

• Net price $29,198

• SAT range 1240-1420

• Amherst, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  4,562 reviews

Other: Although I am not a student currently taking classes, I will be attending in the fall. My experience so far has been amazing because University Of Massachusetts Amherst has made it extremely easy to transition so far. They make many new student checklists with due dates to make it very trackable as to what you have done so far and what you still need to complete. They also send consistent emails so that you don't forget.... Read 4,562 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 66%

• Net price $17,291

• SAT range 1250-1460

• Waltham, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  1,063 reviews

Junior: Brandeis is a really prestigious university which is know for its highly educated faculty, rigorous stem program, and diverse student population.... Read 1,063 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 39%

• Net price $35,147

• SAT range 1370-1530

• South Hadley, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  883 reviews

Sophomore: Beautiful campus with beautiful natural scenery nearby, however that's it. Outside of campus, there isn't much to do nearby, and going closer to the other five colleges still lacks due to everything closing early (8-10 pm). Many awesome professors are willing to go above and beyond for their students (but ofc there are poorer ones mixed in). Not much diversity racially which is expected of a PWI, but it feels like it's hard to connect with other POC on campus. Many professors of color are alum of MHC and Smith and are willing to share their experiences and help acclimate you. Also, the admin for the Office of Community and Belonging work hard to make campus more inclusive and provide safe spaces. Class-wise, many students are affluent and cosplay being low-income which will make you uncomfortable at times plus admin doesn't really value or recognize low-income students' situations. The new fgli community works to provide a more authentic space but it's still establishing itself.... Read 883 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 52%

• Net price $29,218

• SAT range 1300-1510

• Worcester, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  749 reviews

Niche User: As a parent of a current Freshman student, we are happy with his choice. I cannot stress “right fit” enough for HS seniors and parents. My son knew he wanted a smaller school, but not too small. Near, but not to near, home. Not in a city but on the outskirts or easy access. Our other top choice in colleges was higher “ranked”, but WPI was a better fit, he just felt like he belonged on both campus visits before deciding. We knew he would have to dig in Term A and focus on getting used to the fast pace of the 7 week terms, and he did well his first term. He’s been able to relax a bit now and find a better balance B and C term. He’s in the oldest dorm and loves it, new housing purchases should ease dorm availability for upperclassmen. It’s a city! So be smart, but relatively safe. I don’t know why the Campus scores so low on Niche, I think it’s beautiful. The only downside is the campus FOOD D-F , it is well below par. Kids look at everything when deciding on colleges. Do better WPI.... Read 749 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 60%

• Net price $48,230

• SAT range 1310-1480

• Waltham, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  771 reviews

Sophomore: I love the wide variety of clubs that Bentley offers, there are many opportunities to get involved in campus. There are endless possibilities to network in Bentley, this can be shown by their Career Center which is a tremendous help.... Read 771 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 61%

• Net price $41,708

• SAT range 1240-1390

• Worcester, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  795 reviews

Junior: I think Clark has amazing Psychology and Management programs which are my majors, I really enjoy all of the clubs and opportunities provided as well as the effort that is made to increase diversity. The reason it is not 5 stars is mainly because of the people and how they tend to be extremist with their beliefs, the food and the tuition increases.... Read 795 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 48%

• Net price $31,565

• SAT range 1170-1380

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  1,133 reviews

Sophomore: Emerson College is a hub of students that are open-minded, hard-working, and endlessly creative. The students and professors are often friendly and accepting, and the campus being in the heart of Boston would be fun for any college student looking to explore a historical and buzzing city. The only real downside to Emerson in my experience has been the increasing cost of tuition. If you come here, make sure you're invested in a career that points toward the arts or communication to get your money's worth!... Read 1,133 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 45%

• Net price $48,842

• SAT range 1200-1400

• Lowell, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  1,394 reviews

Sophomore: There’s flexibility with the online classes. All of my professors have been quick to respond. My advisor is also very knowledgeable and helpful! I don’t feel like I’m missing out on the “traditional” school life... Read 1,394 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $13,227

• SAT range 1170-1340

• Norton, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  675 reviews

Junior: Great community on a small campus. Professors are incredibly bought in to the success of their students and provide a variety of opportunities for success. Small class sizes allow for close relationships with peers and professors.... Read 675 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $28,867

• SAT range 1160-1360

• Chicopee, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  315 reviews

Sophomore: I go to the school of nursing at elms and it’s been a great experience. The college is very small with with well educated staff who are friendly and easy to communicate with. My Professors are easy to get in touch with and know how to direct any questions they can’t answer. Professors there know me by name and the small size of the school make me feel accountable and help me focus on my work. The school is also well know for nursing and encourages students to get practical experience in the work field and make resources available. The school also acknowledges the difficulty of a nursing degree and are very supportive and understanding of every students personal or academic situation and offer the supports or accommodations as needed even in nursing. Elms over all is a great fit for those looking for nursing, education, or Social work who enjoy the small school feel.... Read 315 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 70%

• Net price $22,889

• SAT range 1050-1180

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  809 reviews

Freshman: Currently, I'm a student at Simmons University. While there's a lot wrong with the school (...Bartol), there are also some great things. All of my professors have been very dedicated to seeing me succeed, and are willing to put in extra time and effort to help me. Everyone I've met is either extremely friendly, or at least cordial, and I've made some of my best friends here. The dorms aren't great, but they also aren't awful. You can put in a work order, and usually, things get fixed. If you decorate, it will feel less like a jail cell. This school is STEM-focused, so humanities majors may find resources lacking, but the professors in humanities departments will acknowledge this. It's also great for LGBT students, as you won't be the minority. However, for POC students, there is work to be done. There are a lot of events specifically for POC students, though! Don't come if you're looking to party all the time. You have to go to MIT/BU frats, and the uber charges rack up fast!... Read 809 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $19,026

• SAT range 1140-1360

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  1,165 reviews

Sophomore: The environment of Boston, specifically of Berklee and Boston Conservatroy at Berklee, are unlike any other "campus" I've stepped onto. Being in the middle of such a vibrant city is like nothing else, especially a city so emersed in music and the arts. Berklee/BoCo itself provides countless opportunities for support and networking. My professors have been nothing but supportive, all the while remaining challenging and focused. I have grown so much as a musician just in the first year I was there! Like all schools though, especially with musicians, administration does not run as smoothly as I, and many of my peers, believe it should. That being said, I do not regret my decision to attend this school in the slightest!... Read 1,165 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 55%

• Net price $48,055

• SAT range —

• Easton, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  583 reviews

Freshman: Stonehill has many students club and programs that encourage diversity and community. One of the best traditions is bingo night. Students can win airpods, Celtic tickets, and even TVs. Student Engagement and Intercultural Affairs Office organized weekly events and heritage month. The biggest diversity event is DiverCity, where students come together and wear their traditional outfits, dance, and sing. Midnight Madness is the biggest sports event, where dance teams and dance clubs perform to hype up our basketball players at the start of the season!... Read 583 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 72%

• Net price $31,467

• SAT range 1030-1230