Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Massachusetts
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division III athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Massachusetts38 schools
38 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Massachusetts.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division III (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 96% graduate
- 2
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 94% graduate
- 3
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 92% graduate
- 4
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 94% graduate
- 5
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 94% graduate
- 6
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 93% graduate
- 7
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 89% graduate
- 8
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 84% graduate
- 9
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 86% graduate
- 10
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 77% graduate
- 11
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 2% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 90% graduate
- 12
Emerson College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 77% graduate
- 13
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 72% graduate
- 14
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 73% graduate
- 15
Endicott College
Beverly, MA · Private nonprofitTop 14% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 76% graduate
- 16
Springfield College
Springfield, MA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 74% graduate
- 17
Gordon College
Wenham, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 69% graduate
- 18
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 74% graduate
- 19Tie
Emmanuel College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 68% graduate
- 19Tie
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 68% graduate
- 21
Regis College
Weston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 72% graduate
- 22
Worcester State University
Worcester, MA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 61% graduate
- 23Tie
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Chicopee, MA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 68% graduate
- 23Tie
Western New England University
Springfield, MA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 64% graduate
- 25
Suffolk University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 61% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | About $20,000 | $14,768 | $143,372 | 96% |
| Williams College | About $18,000 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Wellesley College | About $25,000 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Amherst College | About $23,000 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Tufts University | About $40,000 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Babson College | About $41,000 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| Smith College | About $28,000 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| Mount Holyoke College | About $26,000 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| Brandeis University | About $36,000 | $25,648 | $77,231 | 86% |
| Clark University | About $29,000 | $26,759 | $62,381 | 77% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | About $43,000 | $27,000 | $103,470 | 90% |
| Emerson College | About $49,000 | $23,000 | $62,832 | 77% |
| Simmons University | About $25,000 | $24,840 | $63,494 | 72% |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | About $30,000 | $26,000 | $67,725 | 73% |
| Endicott College | About $41,000 | $27,000 | $58,336 | 76% |
| Springfield College | About $31,000 | $26,250 | $48,036 | 74% |
| Gordon College | About $25,000 | $26,250 | $52,119 | 69% |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $82,392 | 74% |
| Emmanuel College | About $27,000 | $27,000 | $68,245 | 68% |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | About $34,000 | $25,028 | $82,721 | 68% |
| Regis College | About $27,000 | $25,500 | $52,873 | 72% |
| Worcester State University | About $13,000 | $19,500 | $60,624 | 61% |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | About $18,000 | $25,000 | $51,540 | 68% |
| Western New England University | About $27,000 | $25,500 | $73,157 | 64% |
| Suffolk University | About $30,000 | $26,889 | $67,506 | 61% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Arkansas 3
- California 13
- Connecticut 10
- District of Columbia 3
- Georgia 8
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 10
- Iowa 10
- Kentucky 5
- Maine 11
- Maryland 9
- Michigan 7
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 3
- Missouri 3
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 14
- New York 60
- North Carolina 10
- Ohio 21
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 4
- Tennessee 3
- Texas 15
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 19
- Washington 4
- Wisconsin 24