Best small colleges in Massachusetts
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in Massachusetts31 schools
31 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.
- Fewer than 2,000 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
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 1,910 undergraduates
- 94% graduate
- 2
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- 402 undergraduates
- 96% graduate
- 3
Longy School of Music of Bard College
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A
- 34 undergraduates
- 78% graduate
- 4
Laboure College of Healthcare
Milton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 717 undergraduates
- 100% graduate
- 5
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 1,760 undergraduates
- 72% graduate
- 6Tie
The New England Conservatory of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- 393 undergraduates
- 73% graduate
- 6Tie
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- 1,778 undergraduates
- 73% graduate
- 8
Springfield College
Springfield, MA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- 1,924 undergraduates
- 74% graduate
- 9
Gordon College
Wenham, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 1,293 undergraduates
- 69% graduate
- 10
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- 1,271 undergraduates
- 74% graduate
- 11
Assumption University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- 1,688 undergraduates
- 75% graduate
- 12
- 13
- 14
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Boston, MA · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- 1,876 undergraduates
- 69% graduate
- 15
Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 276 undergraduates
- 53% graduate
- 16
Hult International Business School
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 694 undergraduates
- 67% graduate
- 17
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Chicopee, MA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- 1,038 undergraduates
- 68% graduate
- 18
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Great Barrington, MA · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- 312 undergraduates
- 68% graduate
- 19
- 20
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low debt
- 592 undergraduates
- 46% graduate
- 21
- 22
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, MA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- 836 undergraduates
- 56% graduate
- 23
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 1,342 undergraduates
- 58% graduate
- 24
Lasell University
Newton, MA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 1,183 undergraduates
- 59% graduate
- 25
Hampshire College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 717 undergraduates
- 54% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Longy School of Music of Bard College | $38,530 | $24,254 | $46,543 | 78% |
| Laboure College of Healthcare | $36,863 | $25,250 | $62,200 | 100% |
| 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% |
| Springfield College | $30,587 | $26,250 | $48,036 | 74% |
| Gordon College | $24,883 | $26,250 | $52,119 | 69% |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | $21,582 | $25,000 | $82,392 | 74% |
| Assumption University | $29,498 | $27,000 | $74,895 | 75% |
| Emmanuel College | $26,706 | $27,000 | $68,245 | 68% |
| Regis College | $27,477 | $25,500 | $52,873 | 72% |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | $24,100 | $25,755 | $43,582 | 69% |
| Montserrat College of Art | $33,216 | $27,000 | $33,022 | 53% |
| Hult International Business School | $45,447 | — | — | 67% |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | $17,545 | $25,000 | $51,540 | 68% |
| Bard College at Simon's Rock | $31,625 | $24,254 | $46,543 | 68% |
| Cambridge College | $31,072 | $21,791 | $45,998 | 11% |
| Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology | $15,488 | $12,000 | $57,556 | 46% |
| Nichols College | $33,036 | $27,000 | $58,063 | 63% |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | $16,068 | $23,750 | $48,102 | 56% |
| Lesley University | $31,152 | $21,000 | $51,173 | 58% |
| Lasell University | $27,511 | $26,000 | $49,705 | 59% |
| Hampshire College | $24,034 | $26,893 | $46,938 | 54% |
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 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15