College Compass GuideTrue north for every college search.

Every accredited U.S. college

Colleges

Every accredited four-year college, rated on Academic Excellence and Value (what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and student debt), all from federal data.

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Compass Score sorts by outcomes, students and cost together. The other sorts order every college by a different measure.
Ratings
Compass ScoreCompass Score: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges from federal data: outcomes (40%), entering students (40%), cost (15%) and teaching (5%). Choose the lowest grade to show.
ValueValue: what families pay after aid, graduation rate, earnings and debt, from federal data.
Academic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges, from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
Only Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only the eight Ivy League universities.
Location1
Distance (miles)
A broad region of the country, as the guide groups the states. Territories are listed separately.
School
Type of college, as college guides group them (from the federal Carnegie Classification): national universities offer a full range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and do research; liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduates in the arts and sciences; regional universities mostly offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees; regional colleges mostly offer bachelor’s degrees in many fields; specialized schools focus on one field, such as health, art or business.
Public or privatePublic: run by a state or local government. Private: nonprofit or for-profit.
Total enrollment: small is under 2,000 students, medium 2,000 to 9,999, large 10,000 to 24,999, and very large 25,000 or more.
Net price: what a typical student pays per year after grants and scholarships, from the federal College Scorecard.
Coed: men and women together. Single-sex: all-male or all-female.
Campus life
College sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.
Where the campus is, from federal data: in a city, a suburb, a town, or a rural area.
The college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).
The college offers study abroad (federal data).
Admissions and outcomes
How many applicants are admitted (federal data). Most: 65% or more. Selective: 25% to 64%. Highly selective: under 25%.
Your SAT or ACT, to sort colleges Target, Likely and Reach. Signed in, it is kept on your account (private to you); otherwise only in this browser.
Reach, Target or LikelyA rough guide from admitted students' scores and admission rates, not a prediction. Target: your score is in the college's middle range. Likely: above it, or the college admits most applicants. Reach: below it, or the college admits fewer than 1 in 5.
Small classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
Strong outcomes: 75% or more of students graduate (federal data).
Major
Colleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.
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RecommendedOnly Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.Honor RollOnly Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.ValueOnly colleges with a Value score of 85 or higher (grade A), from federal data.AcademicsOnly schools with an Academic Excellence grade of A or better (the top 10% of rated colleges), from federal data.Ivy LeagueOnly the eight Ivy League universities.Clear
Division I sportsCollege sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.ROTCThe college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).Study abroadThe college offers study abroad (federal data).NursingColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.EngineeringColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.Under $20kNet price under $20,000 a year: what a typical student pays after grants and scholarships (federal data).Small classesSmall classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
State: MassachusettsClear all

72 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 1%

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    #1 in Massachusetts
    Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,920 students

    $20,111 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 1%

    Williams College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,168 students

    $17,716 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 1%

    Harvard University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 30,386 students

    $19,066 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Ivy LeagueOne of the eight Ivy League universities. Ivy League membership doesn't change any grade.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 1%

    Wellesley College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,418 students

    $25,496 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 2%

    Amherst College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Amherst, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,910 students

    $23,367 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 3%

    Tufts University

    Top 3% for graduation
    Medford, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 13,274 students

    $39,998 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    Boston University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 36,624 students

    $24,402 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    Boston College

    Top 2% for earnings
    Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 15,280 students

    $41,704 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    Northeastern University

    Top 3% for earnings
    Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 31,159 students

    $30,915 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    Babson College

    Top 1% for earnings
    Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,943 students

    $40,514 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    Smith College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Northampton, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,830 students

    $27,579 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

    Top 1% for earnings
    Needham, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 402 students

    $25,171 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%

    College of the Holy Cross

    Top 4% for earnings
    Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,035 students

    $38,782 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 7%

    Mount Holyoke College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,330 students

    $26,441 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 7%

    Brandeis University

    Top 7% for graduation
    Waltham, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,302 students

    $35,736 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 8%

    Bentley University

    Top 1% for earnings
    Waltham, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,264 students

    $37,930 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 9%

    University of Massachusetts-Amherst

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Amherst, MA · Public · 4-year · 31,810 students

    $22,383 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    Clark University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,124 students

    $28,714 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    Longy School of Music of Bard College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 318 students

    $38,530 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFair
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%

    Worcester Polytechnic Institute

    Top 2% for earnings
    Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,353 students

    $43,071 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%

    Laboure College of Healthcare

    Top 1% for graduation
    Milton, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 717 students

    $36,863 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 12%

    Emerson College

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,670 students

    $49,180 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 15%

    Simmons University

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,053 students

    $25,265 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 17%

    Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

    Top 17% for earnings
    Norton, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,778 students

    $29,822 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 17%

    The New England Conservatory of Music

    Top 16% for graduation
    Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 784 students

    $46,754 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent

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