Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2023

Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2023

By James Barham

Published: Mar 26, 2021
Updated: May 22, 2023

Graduate school may be a critical step in your higher education, whether you are interested in expanding your knowledge, learning a specialization, or earning advanced credentials required by your profession. The best graduate schools in Massachusetts offer advanced degrees, such as master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as opportunities for independent research, mentorships, and professional networking.

10 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts

Harvard University

97%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

87%

Boston University

69%

Tufts University

65%

Brandeis University

65%

University of Massachusetts Amherst

60%

59%

58%

Clark University

58%

Northeastern University

55%

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

92%

Western New England University

90%

Suffolk University

88%

Lesley University

87%

University of Massachusetts Lowell

85%

Simmons University

84%

University of Massachusetts Boston

79%

Endicott College

77%

Springfield College

77%

University of Massachusetts Amherst

66%

University of Massachusetts Lowell

19 to 1

American International College

18 to 1

University of Massachusetts Boston

17 to 1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

17 to 1

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

15 to 1

14 to 1

Northeastern University

14 to 1

Suffolk University

14 to 1

Endicott College

13 to 1

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

13 to 1

Tufts University

$63,000

$61,706

Brandeis University

$60,006

Boston University

$59,816

Northeastern University

$57,592

$56,114

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

$55,878

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

$55,731

Harvard University

$55,587

Bentley University

$54,910

Boston University

$58,560

$55,830

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

$55,510

Tufts University

$54,196

Brandeis University

$53,498

Harvard University

$50,928

Clark University

$47,650

Bentley University

$42,200

Suffolk University

$39,450

Springfield College

$33,150

Endicott College

24%

American International College

24%

Cambridge College

28%

Western New England University

28%

Lesley University

29%

Springfield College

32%

Simmons University

33%

Bentley University

34%

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

37%

University of Massachusetts Lowell

37%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

4%

Harvard University

4%

Tufts University

11%

Northeastern University

18%

19%

Boston University

19%

30%

Brandeis University

39%

Clark University

48%

American International College

58%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3 to 1

Harvard University

5 to 1

7 to 1

Simmons University

9 to 1

Lesley University

9 to 1

Clark University

9 to 1

Boston University

10 to 1

Brandeis University

10 to 1

Tufts University

10 to 1

Cambridge College

10 to 1

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

$13,833

University of Massachusetts Boston

$14,187

University of Massachusetts Lowell

$15,078

University of Massachusetts Amherst

$15,791

Cambridge College

$16,442

Lesley University

$29,550

Endicott College

$36,614

American International College

$39,370

Western New England University

$40,380

Springfield College

$40,480

American International College

$12,657

Endicott College

$12,746

University of Massachusetts Amherst

$14,014

University of Massachusetts Lowell

$14,590

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

$16,390

Cambridge College

$16,409

University of Massachusetts Boston

$18,433

Lesley University

$18,900

Simmons University

$21,384

Northeastern University

$25,801

Key Takeaways

Many of the best grad schools in Massachusetts are private institutions known worldwide for their academic excellence and research innovations. Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology lead the pack.
Tuition for these graduate schools are among the highest in the country, but their alumni agree that the cost of graduate education is well worth it. Their graduate school experience not only contributed to their personal growth but also improved their professional opportunities.
Prospective graduate students must look into the financial aid options offered by the graduate schools they’re planning on applying for admission. This is true regardless of your chosen graduate degree—computer science, art education, or business administration.

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts

Some of the most talked about universities in Massachusetts are its private schools, including Boston University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which also happen to be the largest. Tuition for these prestigious schools runs between $50,000 and $54,000. Students here have access to some of the top programs in the country in fields such as biology, literature, law, education, engineering, and religious studies. The alumni from New England schools are equally as impressive, including Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Gates, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

The public higher education institutes also boast top-notch programs, allowing students to pursue associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in fields like mathematics, social work, medicine, and economics. The University of Massachusetts Amherst, the state’s largest public university, offers tuition around $16,000 and serves over 28,000 students. Additionally, students who are interested in attending a religiously affiliated school have 17 options to choose from, most of which feature high graduation rates for their students. For future dental, medical, or mental health professionals, Massachusetts also offers loan forgiveness programs for those working in underserved communities.

As the port of destination for the Mayflower, home to the Plymouth colony, and site of the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts looms large in United States history, but this most populous New England state isn’t just for history buffs. The Bay State is also known for its delicious cuisine, beautiful coastlines, and devout sports fans. Not to mention, it has over 100 colleges for students to choose from.

Find a program that’s right for you and explore the best schools Massachusetts has to offer.

What are Massachusetts’ Colleges & Universities?

Massachusetts’ Best Overall

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Massachusetts: The Ivy League Grad School Hub

Graduate school refers to higher education consisting of advanced programs of study with particular focus on a profession or a discipline. As such, graduate education can fall into one of three major categories, namely:

Academic, meaning the program of study centers on the generation of original research studies in specific disciplines;
Professional, meaning students develop their advanced knowledge and skills in specific professions or disciplines; and
Academic and professional, meaning the program of study balances between academic research and professional development

For example, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education has a more professional approach, but many of its graduate schools also have an academic research-centered philosophy. Graduate students at MIT are encouraged to contribute to new knowledge in STEM fields like engineering and computer science.

Levels of Education in Massachusetts Graduate Schools

Like all institutions of higher education, the best grad schools in Massachusetts offer students three levels of graduate education.

Specialist degrees. These are typically post-master’s degrees that require students to take on additional coursework, professional training, and/or internship/externship experiences. While specialist degrees differ in their desired results, these graduate degrees prepare students for licensing or certification. Examples include Specialist in Education (Ed.S), Specialist in Community College Teaching (SCCT), and Specialist in School Psychology (SSP).
Master’s degrees. These are post-bachelor’s degrees in a wide range of disciplines, from business administration and social sciences to STEM fields. While time-to-completion varies between graduate programs, the average is 2-3 years for full-time students. Master’s degree designations include Master of Science (MS), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), and Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Doctoral degrees. These are terminal degrees intended to create new knowledge and/or contribute to applied research through independent research projects (i.e., dissertations). The average time-to-completion is 5-7 years with doctorate degree holders considered as reliable experts in their fields. Examples include Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D).

The best grad schools in Massachusetts are among the most selective schools in the United States, too. Prospective students must meet stringent admission requirements including above-average academic performance and potential, GRE/GMAT scores, and potential for research contributions.

Students in these graduate schools must also be prepared for these common characteristics:
Focused program of study with emphasis on research methodologies and dissertation courses
Fewer elective course options
Rigorous coursework and evaluations
Smaller class sizes with emphasis on peer-to-peer and student-to-professor collaborations
Independent research resulting in original work
Work experience via graduate or teaching assistantships and/or internships

Suffice it to say that graduate school isn’t for the faint of heart! Adult students with high levels of motivation are more likely to succeed in graduate schools.

Tackling the Cost of Education in Massachusetts Graduate Schools

Graduate education can be expensive, sometimes prohibitively so in private institutions. Fortunately, graduate students have several financial aid options available in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Graduate Tuition Waiver provides incentives to students enrolled in graduate programs at public colleges and universities in Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts, the only public research university system of its kind in the state, offers the tuition assistance program.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a popular financial aid option for graduate students regardless of their current financial status. Available federal financial aid options include direct unsubsidized loans, direct PLUS loans, TEACH grants, Pell grants, and the federal work-study scheme.
Institutional and external scholarships are also available to graduate students in Massachusetts graduate schools. Examples include the Fulbright Program, Rhodes Scholarship, and Marshall Scholarship.
The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) loans are also a viable option. But remember that MEFA is a private lender despite its status as a state lending authority, thus, different rules and regulations apply.

Indeed, earning a graduate degree from the best grad schools in Massachusetts is well worth the cost—and financial aid definitely helps!

How do we determine Massachusetts' best grad schools?

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

There are 23 doctorate-granting graduate schools in Massachusetts. Our ranking of the best graduate schools in the Massachusetts is composed of both private and public schools. To be included, schools must be fully accredited non-profit institutions, and must offer doctoral degrees and a broad array of graduate degrees.

Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2022

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Massachusetts’s Best Grad School for Your Interest!

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.