10 Best Colleges in Boston
Boston, Massachusetts: quaint and historical, yet busy and thriving. A hub for businesses and universities, the “Athens of America” has become a popular destination for young people from around the globe who want to live, study, and work in the heart of New England. The Boston metro area has an astounding 52 institutions of higher learning, among them some of the most prestigious universities in the world. We ranked our top ten choices for best universities in the Boston area.
Babson College
A small private college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Babson is a popular destination for business majors and ranks #13 in a US Department of Education-sourced list of Best Business Schools in America. With a 24% acceptance rate, Babson is a competitive school with an SAT range of 1230–1410 and an ACT range of 27–32. Babson graduates go on to earn an average salary of $96,100 per year 6 years after graduation. Babson students say their school promotes an entrepreneurial spirit and appreciate the college for its engaged professors and quality academics.
Academics: A
Value: A+
Diversity: A+
Campus: B-
Berklee College of Music
Located in the heart of Boston, Berklee College of Music is an excellent choice for the musically-inclined. Berklee draws students from around the world to create a creative, diverse, and dedicated student body. Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi and Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks are just two of a cohort of prestigious musicians who claim Berklee as their alma mater. For those whose musical talents outshine their academics, this school would be an excellent choice as Berklee does not require SAT or ACT scores and has a generous 53% acceptance rate.
Academics: B+
Value: C
Diversity: A+
Campus: B
Brandeis University
Brandeis is a small liberal arts school located less than half an hour away from Boston in nearby Waltham, Massachusetts. A highly rated private university, Brandeis has a small student body of around 3,000 undergraduate students. With a 34% acceptance rate, average SAT scores of 1280–1470, and average ACT scores of 29–33, Brandeis is a reasonably competitive university whose students love their professors. Students at Brandeis have a reputation for being quirky and social-justice oriented, so be sure to apply if that sounds like you!
Academics: A+
Value: A
Diversity: A+
Campus: C-
Wellesley College
Wellesley College, a small liberal arts college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is notable for its historical all-female student body. Ranked the second best women’s college in America, Wellesley College has a competitive 28% acceptance rate and expects SAT scores of 1360–1530 or ACT scores of 30–33. Students at Wellesley describe the population as hardworking and motivated and appreciate the small class sizes and dedicated professors.
Academics: A+
Value: A+
Diversity: A
Campus: A-
Boston College
Boston College is a highly rated private, Catholic Jesuit college located in Newton, Massachusetts. Boston College (BC) is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 9,681 undergraduate students. With a 32% acceptance rate, an SAT range of 1320–1490, and an ACT range of 31–33, BC is a fairly competitive school renowned for academic excellence. Students value the college for its beautiful campus, strong alumni network, and dynamic athletic department.
Academics: A+
Value: A+
Diversity: A-
Campus: A-
Boston University
Boston University, located along the beautiful Charles River in historic Boston, is a large private university with just under 17,000 students. Commonly known as BU, Boston University has an acceptance rate of 25%, SAT Range of 1300–1480, and ACT Range of 29–32. Thanks in part to its convenient city location, students find few difficulties securing jobs after graduation and BU grads are ranked #21 globally for employability. The diverse and motivated student body and plentiful opportunities are just some of the reasons why BU students love their school.
Academics: A+
Value: A
Diversity: A+
Campus: B+
Northeastern University
Like BU, Northeastern University is a highly rated large private university located in the heart of Boston. With an acceptance rate of 27%, SAT range of 1370–1520, and an ACT range of 32–34, Northeastern is an academically challenging school known for an ambitious and hardworking student body. While the most popular majors at the college are Economics, Business, and Engineering, Northeastern is also well known for its specialty in criminal justice and is ranked #5 in Niche’s list of Best Colleges for Criminal Justice. Northeastern students love their school for its renowned cooperative education (co-op) program in which students alternate academic semesters with periods of full-time employment in their fields of study.
Academics: A+
Value: A+
Diversity: A+
Campus: A
Tufts University
Tufts University, located primarily in Medford, Massachusetts, is a highly competitive mid-size private university with an acceptance rate of 15%. Tufts attendees boast an SAT score range of 1410–1540 and an ACT range of 31–34. Tufts students claim the student body is open-minded, passionate, and quirky, and they appreciate the welcoming atmosphere and intellectual engagement.
Academics: A+
Value: A+
Diversity: A
Campus: A-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a small, private college located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With an acceptance rate of just 7%, MIT is an elite, highly competitive institution with an SAT range of 1490–1570 and an ACT range of 33–35. Most students at MIT go into STEM fields that pay, so the median salary of MIT grads 6 Years after graduation is $104,700. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is not just about prestige, however; students say they enjoy the energy and passion of the student body as well as the supportive environment and convenient location.
Academics: A+
Value: A+
Diversity: A+
Campus: A-
Harvard University
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University is a prestigious mid-size Ivy League university with an SAT range of 1460–1590 and an ACT range of 32–35. With an acceptance rate of just 5%, Harvard is the #1 hardest college to get into in America. Predictably, students describe their experience as “intense,” but appreciate the passion and intelligence of their peers. With a beautiful campus, endless opportunities, talented professors, and quality resources, it’s easy to see why a Harvard education is so highly sought-after.
Academics: A+
Value: A+
Diversity: A+
Campus: A
