Best mid-size colleges in Massachusetts
Colleges with 2,000 to 10,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best mid-size colleges in Massachusetts30 schools
30 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.
- 2,000 to 10,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
- 4,576 undergraduates
- 96% graduate
- 2
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 2,112 undergraduates
- 94% graduate
- 3
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 9,095 undergraduates
- 98% graduate
- 4
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 2,418 undergraduates
- 92% graduate
- 5
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- 6,877 undergraduates
- 94% graduate
- 6
- 7
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 2,506 undergraduates
- 89% graduate
- 8
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- 3,035 undergraduates
- 87% graduate
- 9
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 2,209 undergraduates
- 84% graduate
- 10
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- 3,675 undergraduates
- 86% graduate
- 11
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 4,350 undergraduates
- 87% graduate
- 12
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 2,369 undergraduates
- 77% graduate
- 13
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 2% for earnings
- 5,453 undergraduates
- 90% graduate
- 14
Emerson College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 4,171 undergraduates
- 77% graduate
- 15Tie
Endicott College
Beverly, MA · Private nonprofitTop 14% for graduation
- 3,176 undergraduates
- 76% graduate
- 15Tie
- 17
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 7,608 undergraduates
- 67% graduate
- 18
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- 3,813 undergraduates
- 68% graduate
- 19
- 20
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- 4,199 undergraduates
- 70% graduate
- 21
Worcester State University
Worcester, MA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- 4,734 undergraduates
- 61% graduate
- 22
Western New England University
Springfield, MA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- 2,584 undergraduates
- 64% graduate
- 23
Suffolk University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- 4,484 undergraduates
- 61% graduate
- 24
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- 8,172 undergraduates
- 53% graduate
- 25
Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- 3,133 undergraduates
- 55% 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% |
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| 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% |
| Babson College | $40,514 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| Smith College | $27,579 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Mount Holyoke College | $26,441 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| 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% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | $43,071 | $27,000 | $103,470 | 90% |
| Emerson College | $49,180 | $23,000 | $62,832 | 77% |
| Endicott College | $40,654 | $27,000 | $58,336 | 76% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| Berklee College of Music | $49,465 | $25,000 | $33,647 | 67% |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | $34,170 | $25,028 | $82,721 | 68% |
| MCPHS University | $39,545 | $25,000 | $125,557 | 62% |
| Merrimack College | $37,927 | $27,000 | $75,584 | 70% |
| Worcester State University | $13,381 | $19,500 | $60,624 | 61% |
| Western New England University | $27,290 | $25,500 | $73,157 | 64% |
| Suffolk University | $29,618 | $26,889 | $67,506 | 61% |
| Bridgewater State University | $16,383 | $24,286 | $57,466 | 53% |
| Fitchburg State University | $14,262 | $24,239 | $53,874 | 55% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 11
- Arkansas 9
- California 36
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 21
- Georgia 28
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 24
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 5
- Kansas 5
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 12
- Maine 8
- Maryland 9
- Michigan 13
- Minnesota 18
- Mississippi 5
- Missouri 16
- Nebraska 4
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 14
- New York 61
- North Carolina 12
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 9
- Oregon 7
- Pennsylvania 43
- Puerto Rico 20
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 12
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 15
- Texas 35
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 13
- Washington 9
- West Virginia 5
- Wisconsin 18
- Wyoming 3