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Massachusetts Colleges

106 Colleges
132,959 Yearly Graduations
$117,924 Avg 4-Year Tuition (In-State)
$32,349 Avg 4-Year Student Loan

Massachusetts ranked #8 in the nation for degrees handed out in 2021. Around 132,959 students received some type of diploma that year. Students who live in the state can take advantage of in-state tuition averaging $29,481 a year, while students from out-of-state may pay a higher average tuition of $31,914 a year.

An estimated 55% of college students in Massachusetts take out loans, with the average loan amount being $8,087 per year.

Learn more about the most popular schools below:

#1

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
11,219 Yearly Degrees
$59,816 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 16,872 undergraduates at Boston U, of which 16,026 are full-time, and there are 32,718 students altogether. For undergraduates at Boston U, the average graduation time is 4.1 years.

The acceptance rate at Boston U is 20%, making it one of the most selective schools in the country. Of the accepted students, 42% are men and 58% are women.

Roughly 26% of students at Boston U take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $10,878 a year. The student loan default rate of 1.4% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

Students who graduate from Boston U with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $58,876 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
9,602 Yearly Degrees
$55,587 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Harvard University is 30,391, of which 8,527 students are undergraduates and of those, 5,699 are full-time. For undergraduates at Harvard, the average graduation time is 4.2 years.

The acceptance rate at Harvard is 5%, making it one of the most selective schools in the country. Around 48% of accepted students are men, and 52% are women.

7% of Harvard students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $10,464 a year. Harvard has a 0.9% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Harvard is $77,816.

#3

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
9,046 Yearly Degrees
$16,439 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at University of Massachusetts Amherst is 31,642, of which 24,233 students are undergraduates and of those, 22,212 are full-time. UMass Amherst has a freshman retention rate of 89%, which is a good sign that once students arrive at the school, they want to stay.

About 65% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 45% are men and 55% are women.

Roughly 53% of students at UMass Amherst take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $8,157 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 1.9% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from UMass Amherst is $52,450.

#4

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
8,157 Yearly Degrees
$57,592 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Northeastern University is 22,905, of which 15,156 students are undergraduates and of those, 15,131 are full-time. Northeastern has a freshman retention rate of 97%, which is a good sign that once students arrive at the school, they want to stay.

The acceptance rate at Northeastern is 20%, making it one of the most selective schools in the country. Of the accepted students, 47% are men and 53% are women.

36% of Northeastern students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $8,697 a year. Northeastern has a 1.5% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $65,632 during the early-career years.

#5

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
5,001 Yearly Degrees
$61,706 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Boston College is 14,934, of which 9,780 students are undergraduates and of those, 9,571 are full-time. It takes the average Boston College undergraduate about 4.1 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 26%. Of the accepted students, 46% are men and 54% are women.

37% of Boston College students take out loans to afford college costs. The average amount of student loans is $4,003 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 0.9% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $70,858 during the early-career years.

#6

University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
4,801 Yearly Degrees
$15,698 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 18,150 students at UMass Lowell in total, 13,813 of which are undergraduates, and of those, 10,637 are full-time. For undergraduates at UMass Lowell, the average graduation time is 4.5 years.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 75%. Of the accepted students, 52% are men and 48% are women.

Roughly 67% of students at UMass Lowell take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $7,893 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 3.5% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate from UMass Lowell with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $51,874 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#7

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
4,141 Yearly Degrees
$63,000 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Tufts University is 12,219, of which 6,114 students are undergraduates and of those, 5,938 are full-time. The freshman retention rate at Tufts is 92%, which is great when compared to the national average of 68%.

The acceptance rate at Tufts is 16%, making it one of the most selective schools in the country. Of the accepted students, 45% are men and 55% are women.

Approximately 22% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $7,295 a year. Tufts has a 1.1% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from Tufts with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $54,590 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#8

University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
3,918 Yearly Degrees
$14,677 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 12,871 undergraduates at UMass Boston, of which 10,279 are full-time, and there are 16,259 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 80%. Around 36% of accepted students are men, and 64% are women.

Approximately 56% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $7,069 a year. The student loan default rate of 5.5% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from UMass Boston is $50,432.

#9

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
3,620 Yearly Degrees
$55,878 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 11,254 students at MIT in total, 4,361 of which are undergraduates, and of those, 4,234 are full-time. The freshman retention rate at MIT is 98%, which is great when compared to the national average of 68%.

This a very selective school with only 7% of students getting accepted. Of the accepted students, 48% are men and 52% are women.

Roughly 9% of students at MIT take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $10,070 a year. The student loan default rate of 0.3% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

Students who graduate from MIT with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $112,623 during the early years of their career after graduation.

Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
3,364 Yearly Degrees
$13,392 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 11,310 students at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network in total, 3,238 of which are undergraduates, and of those, 1,528 are full-time. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network has a 1.5% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $65,632 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#11

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
2,683 Yearly Degrees
$10,732 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 10,651 students at Bridgewater State in total, 9,028 of which are undergraduates, and of those, 7,133 are full-time. It takes the average Bridgewater State undergraduate about 4.5 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 82%. Of the accepted students, 39% are men and 61% are women.

Roughly 89% of students at Bridgewater State take out loans to pay for college. The typical student loan amount is $7,238 a year. Bridgewater State has a 5.6% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $40,839 during the early-career years.

Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
2,515 Yearly Degrees
$35,810 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is 7,501, of which 3,970 students are undergraduates and of those, 3,705 are full-time. It takes the average MCPHS University undergraduate about 4.2 years to complete their degree.

Around 91% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 20% are men and 80% are women.

Approximately 71% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $17,169 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 1.7% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate from MCPHS University with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $96,681 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#13

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
2,417 Yearly Degrees
$43,062 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Simmons University is 6,263, of which 1,736 students are undergraduates and of those, 1,609 are full-time. It takes the average Simmons undergraduate about 4.1 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 83%.

Approximately 69% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $9,612 a year. Simmons has a 1.4% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from Simmons with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $53,249 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#14

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
2,331 Yearly Degrees
$60,006 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 5,440 students at Brandeis in total, 3,493 of which are undergraduates, and of those, 3,465 are full-time. Students tend to stick around at Brandeis. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

About 33% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 62% are men and 38% are women.

Approximately 29% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $5,451 a year. The student loan default rate of 1.2% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Brandeis is $52,141.

#15

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
2,135 Yearly Degrees
$41,648 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 4,397 undergraduates at Suffolk, of which 4,179 are full-time, and there are 6,830 students altogether. The average graduation time for an undergraduate student at Suffolk is 4.3 years.

Around 86% of students who apply get accepted. Around 38% of accepted students are men, and 62% are women.

Roughly 63% of students at Suffolk take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of student loans is $9,420 a year. The student loan default rate of 4.3% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $47,459 during the early-career years.

#16

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
2,043 Yearly Degrees
$55,531 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 6,920, of which 4,892 students are undergraduates and of those, 4,709 are full-time. It takes the average WPI undergraduate about 4.1 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 59%. Around 68% of accepted students are men, and 32% are women.

Approximately 59% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $14,589 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 1.1% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from WPI is $77,597.

#17

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
1,972 Yearly Degrees
$11,675 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 5,716 undergraduates at Salem State, of which 4,444 are full-time, and there are 7,242 students altogether. The average graduation time for an undergraduate student at Salem State is 4.4 years.

Around 87% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 28% are men and 72% are women.

Approximately 78% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $7,746 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 5.9% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate from Salem State with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $46,526 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#18

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
1,956 Yearly Degrees
$14,408 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 6,027 undergraduates at UMass Dartmouth, of which 5,122 are full-time, and there are 7,869 students altogether. For undergraduates at UMass Dartmouth, the average graduation time is 4.4 years.

About 76% of students who apply get accepted. Around 43% of accepted students are men, and 57% are women.

Approximately 79% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $7,231 a year. The student loan default rate of 5.8% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

Students who graduate from UMass Dartmouth with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $44,797 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#19

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
1,842 Yearly Degrees
$10,655 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

The total student population at Fitchburg State University is 6,728, of which 3,815 students are undergraduates and of those, 2,831 are full-time. It takes the average Fitchburg State undergraduate about 4.4 years to complete their degree.

Around 88% of students who apply get accepted. Around 41% of accepted students are men, and 59% are women.

Approximately 73% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $7,392 a year. Fitchburg State has a 4.8% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from Fitchburg State with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $42,587 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#20

Bentley University

Waltham, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
1,651 Yearly Degrees
$54,910 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 4,061 undergraduates at Bentley, of which 4,008 are full-time, and there are 5,177 students altogether. The freshman retention rate at Bentley is 92%, which is great when compared to the national average of 68%.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 58%. Around 59% of accepted students are men, and 41% are women.

Approximately 52% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical student loan amount is $10,390 a year. Bentley has a 0.8% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

The early-career average earnings of bachelor’s-degree holders from Bentley is $78,514.

#21

Berklee College of Music

Boston, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
1,627 Yearly Degrees
$46,800 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 6,004 undergraduates at Berklee College of Music, of which 4,224 are full-time, and there are 6,631 students altogether. For undergraduates at Berklee College of Music, the average graduation time is 4.2 years.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 52%. Around 54% of accepted students are men, and 46% are women.

Approximately 38% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of student loans is $14,689 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 4.4% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $27,330 during the early-career years.

#22

Merrimack College

North Andover, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
1,577 Yearly Degrees
$46,916 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 4,202 undergraduates at Merrimack, of which 3,932 are full-time, and there are 5,418 students altogether. The average graduation time for an undergraduate student at Merrimack is 4.1 years.

About 82% of students who apply get accepted. Around 44% of accepted students are men, and 56% are women.

73% of Merrimack students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $13,364 a year. The school reports a student loan default rate of 3.3% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor’s-degree holder from this school earns an average of $49,705 during the early-career years.

#23

Worcester State University

Worcester, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
1,511 Yearly Degrees
$10,586 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 4,958 undergraduates at Worcester State, of which 3,871 are full-time, and there are 5,724 students altogether. For undergraduates at Worcester State, the average graduation time is 4.3 years.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 81%. Of the accepted students, 32% are men and 68% are women.

65% of Worcester State students take out loans to afford college costs. The average amount of student loans is $7,612 a year. The student loan default rate of 4.4% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

Students who graduate from Worcester State with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $44,120 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#24

Emerson College

Boston, Massachusetts
Private not-for-profit Public vs. Private
1,463 Yearly Degrees
$51,286 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 3,708 undergraduates at Emerson, of which 3,626 are full-time, and there are 5,115 students altogether. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

The school doesn’t accept everyone who applies - it has an acceptance rate of 41%. Around 31% of accepted students are men, and 69% are women.

49% of Emerson students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $13,791 a year. The student loan default rate of 3.2% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

Students who graduate from Emerson with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $44,415 during the early years of their career after graduation.

#25

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
Public Public vs. Private
1,421 Yearly Degrees
$11,139 Yearly Tuition & Fees (In-State

There are 4,633 undergraduates at Westfield, of which 3,812 are full-time, and there are 5,395 students altogether. The average graduation time for an undergraduate student at Westfield is 4.2 years.

Around 92% of students who apply get accepted. Around 36% of accepted students are men, and 64% are women.

75% of Westfield students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical student loan amount is $7,750 a year. Westfield has a 3.8% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

Students who graduate from Westfield with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $43,458 during the early years of their career after graduation.

Other Massachusetts Colleges

Rank School Yearly Graduations
26 Clark University 1,371
27 Hult International Business School 1,339
28 Endicott College 1,337
29 Framingham State University 1,292
30 Lesley University 1,252
31 Bay Path University 1,223
32 Regis College 1,222
33 Bunker Hill Community College 1,185
34 Bristol Community College 1,107
35 Babson College 1,071
36 Wentworth Institute of Technology 1,008
37 Western New England University 978
38 Cambridge College 959
39 American International College 940
40 Smith College 933
41 Quinsigamond Community College 912
42 Springfield College 910
43 Middlesex Community College 882
44 College of the Holy Cross 877
45 Springfield Technical Community College 780
46 Massasoit Community College 742
47 Wellesley College 739
48 Stonehill College 725
49 North Shore Community College 719
50 Curry College 712
51 Williams College 692
52 Mount Holyoke College 686
53 Holyoke Community College 684
54 Assumption University 672
55 Lasell University 606
56 Gordon College 585
57 MGH Institute of Health Professions 570
58 Emmanuel College Massachusetts 533
59 Nichols College 500
60 Massachusetts College of Art and Design 490
61 Northern Essex Community College 488
62 Wheaton College Massachusetts 480
62 Elms College 480
64 Amherst College 468
65 Anna Maria College 454
66 Mount Wachusett Community College 442
67 Massachusetts Bay Community College 426
68 Massachusetts Maritime Academy 416
69 Quincy College 384
70 Laboure College 379
71 Cape Cod Community College 367
72 Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary 362
73 Fisher College 334
74 University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester 326
75 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 322
76 Dean College 293
77 William James College 264
78 The New England Conservatory of Music 241
79 Springfield College - School of Professional and Continuing Studies 237
80 Hampshire College 226
81 Greenfield Community College 203
82 Eastern Nazarene College 199
83 Berkshire Community College 180
84 Boston Architectural College 160
85 New England Law - Boston 154
86 Roxbury Community College 151
87 Bay State College 142
88 New England College of Optometry 141
89 Bard College at Simon’s Rock 134
90 Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing 113
91 Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology 103
92 Urban College of Boston 89
93 Longy School of Music of Bard College 83
94 Pine Manor College 78
95 Olin College 76
96 Northpoint Bible College 54
97 Montserrat College of Art 52
98 Massachusetts School of Law 48
99 Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc 33
99 Hebrew College 33
101 Saint John’s Seminary 32
102 Hellenic College - Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology 29
103 Pope St John XXIII National Seminary 17
104 FINE Mortuary College 14
105 Boston Baptist College 6
106 Conway School of Landscape Design 0

References

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