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.
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.
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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.
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:
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.
Like all institutions of higher education, the best grad schools in Massachusetts offer students three levels of graduate education.
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.
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.
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.
Indeed, earning a graduate degree from the best grad schools in Massachusetts is well worth the cost—and financial aid definitely helps!
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.
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
97%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Harvard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
96%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1545/35
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
89%
Student body
32K
Median SAT/ACT
1405/32
Boston University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
94%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1455/33
Tufts University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
39%
Graduation
88%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
Brandeis University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
84%
Student body
30K
Median SAT/ACT
1295/29
University of Massachusetts Amherst’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
91%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
Boston College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
91%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1475/34
Northeastern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
30%
Graduation
91%
Student body
3K
Smith College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$50K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
79%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1250/29
Clark University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$42K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
60%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1106/23
Suffolk University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
60%
Graduation
87%
Student body
7K
Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
49%
Student body
14K
University of Massachusetts Boston’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
69%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1230/26
University of Massachusetts Lowell’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
54%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/23
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
88%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1270/28
Bentley University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
63%
Student body
3K
Western New England University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Student body
2K
Cambridge College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$30K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
60%
Student body
3K
Lesley University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
73%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1250/24
Springfield College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
71%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/26
Simmons University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
78%
Student body
4K
Endicott College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
42%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
995/25
American International College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
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.
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.