Colleges where the most freshmen return in Massachusetts
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Massachusetts46 schools
46 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Massachusetts.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- 99% of freshmen return
- 96% graduate
- 2
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 98% of freshmen return
- 98% graduate
- 3
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- 98% of freshmen return
- 96% graduate
- 4
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 97% of freshmen return
- 94% graduate
- 5
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- 97% of freshmen return
- 91% graduate
- 6
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 97% of freshmen return
- 94% graduate
- 7
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 97% of freshmen return
- 92% graduate
- 8
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- 96% of freshmen return
- 91% graduate
- 9
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- 96% of freshmen return
- 94% graduate
- 10
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- 95% of freshmen return
- 87% graduate
- 11
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 95% of freshmen return
- 89% graduate
- 12
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- 95% of freshmen return
- 93% graduate
- 13
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 94% of freshmen return
- 89% graduate
- 14
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 2% for earnings
- 94% of freshmen return
- 90% graduate
- 15
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 93% of freshmen return
- 87% graduate
- 16
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 92% of freshmen return
- 83% graduate
- 17
Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 91% of freshmen return
- 53% graduate
- 18
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Boston, MA · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- 89% of freshmen return
- 69% graduate
- 19
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 89% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 20
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 89% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 21
The New England Conservatory of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- 88% of freshmen return
- 73% graduate
- 22
Emerson College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 87% of freshmen return
- 77% graduate
- 23
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- 87% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
- 24
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- 87% of freshmen return
- 74% graduate
- 25
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 86% of freshmen return
- 77% 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% |
| Harvard University | About $19,000 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | About $25,000 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Amherst College | About $23,000 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Northeastern University | About $31,000 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Williams College | About $18,000 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Wellesley College | About $25,000 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Boston College | About $42,000 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Tufts University | About $40,000 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| College of the Holy Cross | About $39,000 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Boston University | About $24,000 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| Babson College | About $41,000 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| Smith College | About $28,000 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | About $43,000 | $27,000 | $103,470 | 90% |
| Bentley University | About $38,000 | $25,023 | $120,959 | 87% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | About $22,000 | $22,763 | $71,631 | 83% |
| Montserrat College of Art | About $33,000 | $27,000 | $33,022 | 53% |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | About $24,000 | $25,755 | $43,582 | 69% |
| Mount Holyoke College | About $26,000 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| Berklee College of Music | About $49,000 | $25,000 | $33,647 | 67% |
| The New England Conservatory of Music | About $47,000 | $27,000 | $34,483 | 73% |
| Emerson College | About $49,000 | $23,000 | $62,832 | 77% |
| Brandeis University | About $36,000 | $25,648 | $77,231 | 86% |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $82,392 | 74% |
| Clark University | About $29,000 | $26,759 | $62,381 | 77% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15