Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Massachusetts 2023

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Massachusetts 2023

Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Massachusetts offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.

10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Massachusetts

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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.

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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.


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A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 41 liberal arts universities in Massachusetts. To be ranked among the 25 best liberal arts colleges in Massachusetts, schools must fully accredited institutions.

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Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Massachusetts 2022

  1. #1

    Amherst College

    Amherst , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/33

  2. #2

    Williams College

    Williamstown , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    2K

  3. #3

    Wellesley College

    Wellesley , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    16%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1435/32

  4. #9

    Emerson College

    Boston , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $52K

    Acceptance

    45%

    Graduation

    79%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1285/29

  5. Tuition + fees

    $38K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    72%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1185/25

    What is Wentworth Institute of Technology known for?

    Wentworth Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  6. #13

    Bard College at Simon's Rock

    Great Barrington , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $64K

    Acceptance

    80%

    Graduation

    70%

    Student body

    <1K

  7. Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    61%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1050/22

    Westfield State University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Management
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Marketing
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in History
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  8. Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    57%

    Student body

    6K

    Salem State University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business
    Degree Concentrations
    • Accounting
    • Corporate Finance And Accounting
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Hospitality Management
    • Human Resources
    • International Business
    • Management
    • Management Information Systems
    • Marketing
    • Operations And Decision Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BS in Occupational Health Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BS in Fire Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Education: Early Education And Care
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BLS in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BSW in Social Work
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BS in Healthcare Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
  9. #17

    Springfield College

    Springfield , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $40K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1250/24

  10. #18

    Bridgewater State University

    Bridgewater , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    9K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1045/22

    Bridgewater State University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Management
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  11. #19

    Gordon College

    Wenham , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $26K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    72%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1150/24

    Gordon College ’s Online Degrees

    BA in Accounting
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Finance
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  12. Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    57%

    Student body

    5K

    Fitchburg State University’s Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 32
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  13. #21

    Wheaton College

    Norton , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1265/29

  14. #22

    Anna Maria College

    Paxton , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $40K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    48%

    Student body

    1K

    Anna Maria College’s Online Degrees

    BS in Fire Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  15. #23

    Endicott College

    Beverly , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $37K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    4K

  16. #25

    Bay State College

    Boston , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $30K

    Acceptance

    50%

    Graduation

    17%

    Student body

    <1K

    What is Bay State College known for?

    Bay State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Bay State College’s Online Degrees

    BS in Fashion Merchandising
    Degree Concentrations
    • Fashion Design
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Entertainment Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Music Industry
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Cloud Security Risk Management
    • Finance
    • Healthcare Management
    • Human Resource Management
    • Digital Marketing
    • Healthcare Management
    • Cloud Security Risk Management
    • Finance
    • Human Resource Management
    • Finance
    • Cloud Security Risk Management
    • Healthcare Management
    • Marketing/Digital Marketing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Information Technology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Business Analytics
    • Web And Mobile Development
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    Degree Concentrations
    • Cloud Security Risk Management
    • Digital Forensics And Cybersecurity
    • Domestic And International Security
    • Cloud Security Risk Management
    • Domestic And International Security
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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Find the Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Massachusetts for Your Area of Interest

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.

  1. Amherst College
  2. Hampshire College
  3. Wellesley College
  4. Williams College
  5. Smith College
  6. Mount Holyoke College
  7. Emerson College
  8. College of the Holy Cross
  9. Stonehill College
  10. Wheaton College
  11. Bentley University
  12. Gordon College
  13. Massachusetts Maritime Academy
  14. Springfield College
  15. Emmanuel College
  16. Wentworth Institute of Technology
  17. Merrimack College
  18. Endicott College
  19. Elms College
  20. Bay Path University

Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.