Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2023

Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2023

By James Barham

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Massachusetts ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Massachusetts

Boston University

69%

University of Massachusetts Amherst

60%

Northeastern University

55%

University of Massachusetts Lowell

37%

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

37%

Simmons University

33%

Westfield State University

32%

Salem State University

31%

Lesley University

29%

Bridgewater State University

28%

Westfield State University

94%

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

92%

Salem State University

90%

Lesley University

87%

Bridgewater State University

86%

Assumption University

86%

University of Massachusetts Lowell

85%

Nichols College

85%

Fitchburg State University

85%

Simmons University

84%

University of Massachusetts Lowell

19 to 1

Bridgewater State University

19 to 1

American International College

18 to 1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

17 to 1

Nichols College

16 to 1

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

15 to 1

Westfield State University

15 to 1

Northeastern University

14 to 1

Salem State University

14 to 1

Fitchburg State University

14 to 1

Boston University

$59,816

Northeastern University

$57,592

Assumption University

$45,900

$43,650

Simmons University

$43,062

Anna Maria College

$40,208

$39,449

American International College

$39,370

Nichols College

$37,300

Bay Path University

$35,781

Boston University

$58,560

$26,712

Northeastern University

$25,801

Boston Architectural College

$25,220

Simmons University

$21,384

Bay Path University

$19,235

Lesley University

$18,900

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

$16,390

$15,792

$15,114

Northpoint Bible College

13%

Mount Wachusett Community College

14%

Assumption University

18%

19%

19%

Nichols College

21%

Bay Path University

21%

Anna Maria College

22%

24%

American International College

24%

Northeastern University

18%

Boston University

19%

American International College

58%

University of Massachusetts Amherst

66%

68%

72%

Anna Maria College

73%

Bay Path University

75%

77%

80%

Boston Architectural College

5 to 1

Simmons University

9 to 1

Lesley University

9 to 1

Mount Wachusett Community College

9 to 1

Northpoint Bible College

9 to 1

Boston University

10 to 1

10 to 1

11 to 1

Anna Maria College

12 to 1

Bay Path University

12 to 1

Mount Wachusett Community College

$600

Salem State University

$910

Bridgewater State University

$910

Fitchburg State University

$970

Westfield State University

$970

Northpoint Bible College

$13,670

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

$13,833

University of Massachusetts Lowell

$15,078

University of Massachusetts Amherst

$15,791

Boston Architectural College

$22,144

Nichols College

$775

Bridgewater State University

$1,675

Westfield State University

$1,890

Salem State University

$2,520

Fitchburg State University

$3,420

$6,300

Anna Maria College

$10,530

Northpoint Bible College

$11,400

American International College

$12,657

Assumption University

$13,716

Featured Programs

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

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2022

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts — Download Badge

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2022