Most selective colleges in Massachusetts
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Massachusetts46 schools
46 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate. 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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 4%
- Average SAT 1553
- 2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Massachusetts
- Admits 5%
- Average SAT 1560
- 3
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- Admits 5%
- Average SAT 1497
- 4
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 8%
- Average SAT 1533
- 5
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 9%
- Average SAT 1533
- 6
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 11%
- Average SAT 1480
- 7
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- Admits 11%
- Average SAT 1513
- 8
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 14%
- Average SAT 1520
- 9
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- Admits 16%
- Average SAT 1507
- 10
- 11
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Admits 18%
- Average SAT 1353
- 12
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 21%
- Average SAT 1500
- 13
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Admits 25%
- Average SAT 1520
- 14
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 36%
- Average SAT 1463
- 15
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 40%
- Average SAT 1370
- 16
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Admits 41%
- Average SAT 1462
- 17
- 18
- 19
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Admits 45%
- Average SAT 1352
- 20
- 21
- 22
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 60%
- Average SAT 1423
- 23
- 24
Hult International Business School
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Admits 60%
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | $19,066 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,111 | $14,768 | $143,372 | 96% |
| Northeastern University | $30,915 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Boston University | $24,402 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| Tufts University | $39,998 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Babson College | $40,514 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Smith College | $27,579 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Mount Holyoke College | $26,441 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| Clark University | $28,714 | $26,759 | $62,381 | 77% |
| Brandeis University | $35,736 | $25,648 | $77,231 | 86% |
| The New England Conservatory of Music | $46,754 | $27,000 | $34,483 | 73% |
| Berklee College of Music | $49,465 | $25,000 | $33,647 | 67% |
| Bentley University | $37,930 | $25,023 | $120,959 | 87% |
| Laboure College of Healthcare | $36,863 | $25,250 | $62,200 | 100% |
| Emerson College | $49,180 | $23,000 | $62,832 | 77% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $22,383 | $22,763 | $71,631 | 83% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | $43,071 | $27,000 | $103,470 | 90% |
| Hult International Business School | $45,447 | — | — | 67% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15