Best colleges in the Boston area
Colleges within 40 miles of Boston, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges in the Boston area41 schools
41 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Campus within 40 miles of the center of Boston (straight-line distance from the school’s coordinates).
- 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
- Net price $20,111 a year
- 96% graduate
- 2
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $19,066 a year
- 98% graduate
- 3
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $25,496 a year
- 92% graduate
- 4
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- Net price $39,998 a year
- 94% graduate
- 5
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $24,402 a year
- 89% graduate
- 6
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- Net price $41,704 a year
- 91% graduate
- 7
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- Net price $30,915 a year
- 91% graduate
- 8
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Net price $40,514 a year
- 93% graduate
- 9
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Net price $25,171 a year
- 96% graduate
- 10
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Net price $38,782 a year
- 87% graduate
- 11
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Net price $35,736 a year
- 86% graduate
- 12
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Net price $37,930 a year
- 87% graduate
- 13
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $28,714 a year
- 77% graduate
- 14
Longy School of Music of Bard College
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $38,530 a year
- 78% graduate
- 15
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 2% for earnings
- Net price $43,071 a year
- 90% graduate
- 16
Laboure College of Healthcare
Milton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- Net price $36,863 a year
- 100% graduate
- 17
Emerson College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $49,180 a year
- 77% graduate
- 18
Bryant University
Smithfield, RI · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Net price $41,219 a year
- 80% graduate
- 19
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
Merrimack, NH · Private nonprofit#2 in New Hampshire
- Net price $18,489 a year
- 63% graduate
- 20
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $25,265 a year
- 72% graduate
- 21Tie
The New England Conservatory of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Net price $46,754 a year
- 73% graduate
- 21Tie
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Net price $29,822 a year
- 73% graduate
- 23Tie
Endicott College
Beverly, MA · Private nonprofitTop 14% for graduation
- Net price $40,654 a year
- 76% graduate
- 23Tie
Stonehill College
Easton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- Net price $33,016 a year
- 76% graduate
- 25
Gordon College
Wenham, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $24,883 a year
- 69% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,111 | $14,768 | $143,372 | 96% |
| Harvard University | $19,066 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Tufts University | $39,998 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Boston University | $24,402 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Northeastern University | $30,915 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Babson College | $40,514 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Brandeis University | $35,736 | $25,648 | $77,231 | 86% |
| Bentley University | $37,930 | $25,023 | $120,959 | 87% |
| Clark University | $28,714 | $26,759 | $62,381 | 77% |
| Longy School of Music of Bard College | $38,530 | $24,254 | $46,543 | 78% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | $43,071 | $27,000 | $103,470 | 90% |
| Laboure College of Healthcare | $36,863 | $25,250 | $62,200 | 100% |
| Emerson College | $49,180 | $23,000 | $62,832 | 77% |
| Bryant University | $41,219 | $26,849 | $90,008 | 80% |
| Thomas More College of Liberal Arts | $18,489 | $25,000 | $53,565 | 63% |
| Simmons University | $25,265 | $24,840 | $63,494 | 72% |
| The New England Conservatory of Music | $46,754 | $27,000 | $34,483 | 73% |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | $29,822 | $26,000 | $67,725 | 73% |
| Endicott College | $40,654 | $27,000 | $58,336 | 76% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| Gordon College | $24,883 | $26,250 | $52,119 | 69% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.