Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2023

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Sep 8, 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
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Northeastern University
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Simmons University
Westfield State University
Salem State University
Lesley University
Bridgewater State University

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
Curry College $43,650
Simmons University $43,062
Anna Maria College $40,208
Elms College $39,449
American International College $39,370
Nichols College $37,300
Bay Path University $35,781

Boston University $58,560
Fisher College $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
Elms College $15,792
Curry College $15,114

Northpoint Bible College
Mount Wachusett Community College
Assumption University
Elms College
Nichols College
Bay Path University
Fisher College
Anna Maria College
Curry College
American International College

Northeastern University 18%
Boston University 19%
American International College 58%
University of Massachusetts Amherst 66%
Elms College 68%
Fisher College 72%
Anna Maria College 73%
Bay Path University 75%
Gordon College 77%
Curry College 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
Gordon College 10 to 1
Fisher College 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
Gordon College $6,300
Anna Maria College $10,530
Northpoint Bible College $11,400
American International College $12,657
Assumption University $13,716

Table of Contents

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.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

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.

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Massachusetts

The following graph depicts the average salaries of top occupations in different industries in Massachusetts.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

131180Electronics Engineers, Except Computer

142630Personal Financial Advisors

145680Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other

157680Physicists

267070Chief Executives

Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2023

Top 10 Online Colleges in Massachusetts

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts

What are Massachusetts’ Colleges & Universities?

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Massachusetts

Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2022

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