POPULATION (2021): 7 million
CAPITAL: Boston
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MASSACHUSETTS: University of Massachusetts Amherst
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN MASSACHUSETTS: Boston University
Massachusetts is a relatively small state, especially compared to the west and the south, but it still has 114 colleges and universities, many of which are close to the most populous city, Boston. Some of these colleges are for postsecondary education, but this article will focus on 4-year colleges and universities. There are still a lot of options, and just like the state of Massachusetts, itself, there is a college to suit pretty much everyone.
The state is named after a Native American tribe, and in addition to Native culture, there is also heavy colonial influence and many historical sites and museums. Known to many as “The Old Bay State,” Massachusetts is known for having delicious seafood, especially the Boston Clam Chowder. There are a lot of beautiful coastal places, but inland also offers beautiful scenery, perfect for a relaxing weekend escape after acing some exams.
Universities in Massachusetts – 4-Year Colleges and Online
There is no shortage of universities and colleges in Massachusetts, and many of them are located in Boston. Prestige is also quite high for many of the Massachusetts universities, with Harvard and MIT headlining in that field. There is a section below that showcases Boston schools, in particular, and here’s a look at all of the rest of the colleges and universities in Massachusetts.
Public Universities in Massachusetts
Though many private universities in Massachusetts receive national attention, many public universities offer high-quality education. The largest public university in Massachusetts is the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with nearly 30,000 students. The next largest public universities are also U of Mass schools, with the Lowell and Boston campuses serving 18,000 and 16,000 students, respectively.
Here is a list of other public universities in Massachusetts:
- Bridgewater State University
- Salem State University
- U of Mass Dartmouth
- Fitchburg State University
- Framingham State University
- Worcester State University
- Westfield State University
- Quincy College
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Private Universities in Massachusetts
Several prestigious private universities are located in Massachusetts, and several have been in existence since before the United States was even officially founded. Harvard University, Boston University, and Northeastern University all top the 20,000-student mark, and that is only scraping the surface of the private universities in Massachusetts. Here are some of the other private colleges in Mass:
- Boston College
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Tufts University
- Suffolk University
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Lesley University
- Brandeis University
- Bentley University
- Springfield College
- Simmons University
- Emerson College
- Endicott College
- Berklee College of Music
- Wentworth Institute of Technology
- Clark University
- Babson College
- Holy Cross
- Merrimack College
- Regis College
- Wheaton College
Community Colleges in Massachusetts
The Community College System of Massachusetts is very robust, not unlike the rest of the college landscape. Here is a list of all of the community colleges in Massachusetts:
- Berkshire CC
- Holyoke CC
- North Essex CC
- Bristol CC
- Massasoit CC
- North Shore CC
- Bunker Hill CC
- MassBay CC
- Quinsigamond CC
- Cape Cod CC
- Middlesex CC
- Roxbury CC
- Greenfield CC
- Mount Wachusett CC
- Springfield Technical CC
Prominent Online Colleges in Massachusetts
Massachusetts was at the forefront of online education, and all of the state universities offer online courses. The vast majority of the private colleges do, as well, with these ranking the highest:
- University of Massachusetts
- Northeastern University
- Fitchburg State University
- Assumption College
- Framingham State University
Universities in Boston, MA
Boson is the largest city in Massachusetts, and also the capital. Both of those things usually point to many colleges, and Boston is no exception. Here is a list of colleges and universities in Boston:
- Bay State College
- Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
- Berklee College of Music
- Boston Architectural College
- Boston Baptist
- Boston University
- Cambridge College
- Emerson College
- Emmanuel College
- Fisher College
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- MCPHS University
- Northeastern University
- Simmons University
- Suffolk University
- The New England Conservatory of Music
- U Mass Boston
- Wentworth Institute of Technology
Universities in Cambridge, MA
Cambridge is a suburb of Boston and is home to three of the most prestigious colleges in the state in Harvard Universit, Lesley University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Universities in Worchester, MA
Worcester is home to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Assumption University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, College of the Holy Cross, and Worcester State University, which are accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). Famous alumni of Worcester Polytechnic Institute include Robert H. Goddard, Elwood Haynes, and Dean Kamen. The city’s colleges and universities also offer many online programs.
Get to Know Massachusetts
Massachusetts is as New England as it gets, with 4 seasons, nice people who aren’t afraid to tell you they’re better than you because they’re from Massachusetts, great seafood, and beauty galore. For college students, the cities of Boston and Worchester offer the most nightlife fun, but arts and music are everywhere, with many smaller towns having large investments in their arts communities.
Snowsports are popular in the winter, and the beach is the place to be in the summer!
| Institution Name | City | State | Website | Degree Levels Offered | Modality | Profit Status (CNTLAFFI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Academy | Lunenburg | MA | www.alexanderacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| American International College | Springfield | MA | www.aic.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Amherst College | Amherst | MA | www.amherst.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Anna Maria College | Paxton | MA | www.annamaria.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Assabet Valley Regional Technical School | Marlborough | MA | www.assabet.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Assumption College | Worcester | MA | www.assumption.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Babson College | Wellesley | MA | www.babson.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Bancroft School of Massage Therapy | Worcester | MA | www.bancroftsmt.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Bard College at Simon's Rock | Great Barrington | MA | www.simons-rock.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Bay Path University | Longmeadow | MA | www.baypath.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Bay State College | Boston | MA | www.baystate.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Hybrid | No |
| Becker College | Worcester | MA | www.becker.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology | Boston | MA | www.bfit.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Bentley University | Waltham | MA | www.bentley.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Berklee College of Music | Boston | MA | www.berklee.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Hybrid | No |
| Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield | MA | www.berkshirecc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District | Upton | MA | www.valleytech.k12.ma.us | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Blue Hills Regional Technical School | Canton | MA | www.bluehills.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Boston Architectural College | Boston | MA | www.the-bac.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Hybrid | No |
| Boston Baptist College | Boston | MA | Boston.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill | MA | www.bc.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc | Brookline | MA | www.bgsp.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Boston University | Boston | MA | www.bu.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Brandeis University | Waltham | MA | www.brandeis.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater | MA | www.bridgew.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Bristol Community College | Fall River | MA | www.bristolcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | MA | www.bhcc.mass.edu | Certificates Associates |
Hybrid | No |
| Cambridge College | Boston | MA | www.cambridgecollege.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Cape Cod Community College | West Barnstable | MA | www.capecod.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics | Woburn | MA | www.catherinehinds.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Charles H McCann Technical School | North Adams | MA | www.mccanntech.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Clark University | Worcester | MA | www.clarku.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | Chicopee | MA | www.elms.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| College of the Holy Cross | Worcester | MA | www.holycross.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Conway School of Landscape Design | Northampton | MA | www.csld.edu | Masters |
Campus | No |
| Curry College | Milton | MA | www.curry.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Dean College | Franklin | MA | www.dean.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology | West Springfield | MA | www.digrigoli.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Diman Regional Technical Institute | Fall River | MA | www.dimanregional.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Eastern Nazarene College | Quincy | MA | www.enc.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| EINE Inc | Tewksbury | MA | electrologyinstitute.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy | Medford | MA | elizabethgrady.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Emerson College | Boston | MA | www.emerson.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | MA | www.emmanuel.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Boston | Boston | MA | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Framingham | Framingham | MA | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Malden | Malden | MA | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Endicott College | Beverly | MA | www.endicott.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| FINE Mortuary College | Norwood | MA | www.FMC.EDU | Associates |
Campus | No |
| Fisher College | Boston | MA | www.fisher.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | MA | www.fitchburgstate.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | MA | www.framingham.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | Needham | MA | www.olin.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Gordon College | Wenham | MA | www.gordon.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary | South Hamilton | MA | www.gordonconwell.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Greater Lowell Technical School | Tyngsboro | MA | www.gltech.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Greenfield Community College | Greenfield | MA | www.gcc.mass.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | MA | www.hampshire.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Harvard University | Cambridge | MA | www.harvard.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Hebrew College | Newton Centre | MA | www.hebrewcollege.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology | Brookline | MA | www.hchc.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | MA | www.hcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Hult International Business School | Cambridge | MA | www.hult.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Jolie Hair and Beauty Academy-Ludlow | Ludlow | MA | JolieAcademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Jupiter Beauty Academy | Boston | MA | www.jba.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Laboure College | Milton | MA | www.laboure.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Hybrid | No |
| Lasell University | Newton | MA | www.lasell.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing | Medford | MA | www.lmregis.org | Associates |
Campus | No |
| Lesley University | Cambridge | MA | www.lesley.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Somerville | Somerville | MA | www.lincolntech.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Longy School of Music of Bard College | Cambridge | MA | longy.edu | Certificates Masters |
Campus | No |
| Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute | Lowell | MA | www.lowellacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | MA | www.massbay.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Boston | MA | www.massart.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | North Adams | MA | www.mcla.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge | MA | web.mit.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | Buzzards Bay | MA | www.maritime.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Massachusetts School of Barbering | Quincy | MA | massschoolofbarbering.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Massachusetts School of Law | Andover | MA | www.mslaw.edu | Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Massasoit Community College | Brockton | MA | www.massasoit.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| MCPHS University | Boston | MA | www.mcphs.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | MA | www.merrimack.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions | Boston | MA | www.mghihp.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Middlesex Community College | Bedford | MA | www.middlesex.mass.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Mildred Elley-Pittsfield Campus | Pittsfield | MA | www.mildred-elley.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Millennium Training Institute | Woburn | MA | www.millennium.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Montserrat College of Art | Beverly | MA | www.montserrat.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Monty Tech | Fitchburg | MA | www.montytech.net | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Motoring Technical Training Institute | Seekonk | MA | www.mtti.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | MA | www.mtholyoke.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | MA | MWCC.EDU | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| National Aviation Academy of New England | Concord | MA | www.naa.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| New England College of Business and Finance | Boston | MA | www.necb.edu | No | ||
| New England College of Optometry | Boston | MA | www.neco.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| New England Hair Academy | Malden | MA | www.newenglandhairacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| New England Law-Boston | Boston | MA | www.nesl.edu | Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| New England School of Photography | Waltham | MA | www.NESOP.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts | North Andover | MA | www.nettts.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Nichols College | Dudley | MA | www.nichols.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| North Bennet Street School | Boston | MA | www.nbss.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| North Shore Community College | Danvers | MA | www.northshore.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Northeastern University | Boston | MA | www.northeastern.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Northeastern University Lifelong Learning Network | Boston | MA | www.northeastern.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill | MA | www.necc.mass.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Northpoint Bible College | Haverhill | MA | www.northpoint.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Hybrid | No |
| Pine Manor College | Chestnut Hill | MA | www.pmc.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Pope St John XXIII National Seminary | Weston | MA | www.psjs.edu | Masters |
Campus | No |
| Quincy College | Quincy | MA | www.quincycollege.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | MA | www.qcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Regis College | Weston | MA | www.regiscollege.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Rob Roy Academy-Fall River | Fall River | MA | www.rob-roy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Rob Roy Academy-New Bedford | New Bedford | MA | www.rob-roy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Rob Roy Academy-Taunton | Taunton | MA | www.rob-roy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Rob Roy Academy-Worcester | Worcester | MA | www.rob-roy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Roxbury Community College | Roxbury Crossing | MA | www.rcc.mass.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Saint John's Seminary | Brighton | MA | www.sjs.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Salem State University | Salem | MA | www.salemstate.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Salter College-Chicopee | Chicopee | MA | www.salter.edu | No | ||
| Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing | Billerica | MA | www.shawsheenpracticalnursing.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing | Brockton | MA | www.bhson.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Simmons University | Boston | MA | www.simmons.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Smith College | Northampton | MA | www.smith.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Southeastern Technical Institute | South Easton | MA | www.stitech.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District | Charlton | MA | www.baypath.net | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Spa Tech Institute-Ipswich | Ipswich | MA | www.spatech.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth | Plymouth | MA | www.spatech.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Spa Tech Institute-Westboro | Westborough | MA | www.spatech.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Springfield College | Springfield | MA | www.springfield.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Springfield College-Regional, Online, and Continuing Education | Springfield | MA | springfield.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | MA | www.stcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Stonehill College | Easton | MA | www.stonehill.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Suffolk University | Boston | MA | www.suffolk.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| The New England Conservatory of Music | Boston | MA | necmusic.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Worcester | Worcester | MA | worcester.toniguy.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School | Franklin | MA | www.tri-county.us | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Tufts University | Medford | MA | www.tufts.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Universal Technical Institute of Massachusetts Inc | Norwood | MA | www.uti.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester | Worcester | MA | www.umassmed.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Amherst | MA | www.umass.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Boston | MA | www.umb.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of Massachusetts-Central Office | Boston | MA | www.massachusetts.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
No | |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | MA | www.umassd.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | MA | www.uml.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School | Bourne | MA | www.uctpracticalnursing.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Urban College of Boston | Boston | MA | www.urbancollege.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | MA | www.wellesley.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | Boston | MA | WIT.EDU | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Western New England University | Springfield | MA | www1.wne.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | MA | www.westfield.ma.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Wheaton College | Norton | MA | www.wheatoncollege.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| William James College | Newton | MA | www.williamjames.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Williams College | Williamstown | MA | www.williams.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester | MA | www.wpi.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Worcester State University | Worcester | MA | www.worcester.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |