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Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts

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2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts

30 Schools Ranked
$24,578 Avg Student Debt

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Our analysis looked at 30 schools in Massachusetts to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
$52,170 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,755 Avg Student Debt

Our 2023 rankings named Harvard University the best school in Massachusetts for students working on their graduate certificate.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,755 in student loans.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Harvard. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Harvard University

#2

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
$55,216 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Tufts University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Tufts. During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#3

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts
$29,040 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

WPI does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 37% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Worcester Polytechnic Institute Report

#4

Bentley University

Waltham, Massachusetts
$23,975 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Bentley University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $23,975 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Since the graduate programs at Bentley are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Read full report on Bentley University

#5

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
$59,418 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Boston University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

Online graduate courses are available at Boston U, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 23% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Boston University

#6

Emmanuel College Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts ranking.

Since the graduate programs at Emmanuel Boston are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Read full report on Emmanuel College Massachusetts

#7

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
$26,095 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Northeastern University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Northeastern does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 29% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#8

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts

Endicott College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts ranking.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Endicott does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 84% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Endicott College

#9

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
$16,251 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #9 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UMass Amherst. In 2019-2020 about 82% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full University of Massachusetts Amherst Report

#10

Western New England University

Springfield, Massachusetts

Western New England University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

Western New England does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 53% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Western New England University Report

$23,510 Average Tuition & Fees

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 66% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network Report

#12

University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts
$15,210 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, University of Massachusetts - Lowell did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UMass Lowell. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#13

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts
$39,813 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, Suffolk University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Suffolk does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 6% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#14

Framingham State University

Framingham, Massachusetts
$12,090 Average Tuition & Fees

Framingham State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Online graduate courses are available at Framingham State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 100% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Framingham State University Report

#15

Worcester State University

Worcester, Massachusetts
$5,796 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #15, Worcester State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Worcester State. In 2019-2020 about 62% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Worcester State University

#16

Assumption University

Worcester, Massachusetts
$13,856 Average Tuition & Fees

Assumption University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

Since the graduate programs at Assumption are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Read full report on Assumption University

#17

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
$21,546 Average Tuition & Fees

Simmons University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

Simmons is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full Simmons University Report

#18

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts
$6,012 Average Tuition & Fees

Fitchburg State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

Fitchburg State does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 89% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#19

Gordon College

Wenham, Massachusetts
$6,400 Average Tuition & Fees

Gordon College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Gordon College does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Gordon College Report

#20

American International College

Springfield, Massachusetts
$12,717 Average Tuition & Fees

American International College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

AIC does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 14% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#21

Elms College

Chicopee, Massachusetts
$16,017 Average Tuition & Fees
$33,065 Avg Student Debt

Elms College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $33,065 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Elms College does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 50% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Elms College

#22

University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston, Massachusetts
$18,938 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Massachusetts - Boston ranked #22 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UMass Boston. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#23

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts
$33,535 Average Tuition & Fees

Springfield College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #23 on the list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Springfield College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 4% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Springfield College

#24

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
$11,397 Average Tuition & Fees

Bridgewater State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #24 on the list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Bridgewater State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 26% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#25

Cambridge College

Boston, Massachusetts

Cambridge College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Massachusetts list.

Online graduate courses are available at Cambridge College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 33% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Cambridge College

Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the New England Region

View Best Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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