Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2024

Badge for BEST IN MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC COLLEGES

Published: Mar 26, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Massachusetts provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.

10 Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2024

University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Westfield State University
Salem State University
Bridgewater State University
Fitchburg State University
Worcester State University
Framingham State University

University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Salem State University
Framingham State University
Westfield State University
Bridgewater State University
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Fitchburg State University

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 96%
Salem State University 93%
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 92%
Massachusetts Maritime Academy 89%
Bridgewater State University 88%
Worcester State University 88%
Framingham State University 87%
University of Massachusetts Lowell 86%
Fitchburg State University 86%
Westfield State University 82%

University of Massachusetts Amherst 18 to 1
University of Massachusetts Lowell 17 to 1
Bridgewater State University 17 to 1
University of Massachusetts Boston 16 to 1
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 15 to 1
Worcester State University 14 to 1
Westfield State University 14 to 1
Salem State University 12 to 1
Fitchburg State University 12 to 1
Massachusetts Maritime Academy 12 to 1

University of Massachusetts Amherst $16,186
University of Massachusetts Lowell $15,462
University of Massachusetts Boston $14,542
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth $14,179
Massachusetts Maritime Academy $1,994
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts $1,030
Framingham State University $970
Worcester State University $970
Fitchburg State University $970
Westfield State University $970

University of Massachusetts Boston $18,894
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth $16,390
University of Massachusetts Lowell $14,956
University of Massachusetts Amherst $14,364
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts $3,744
Fitchburg State University $3,510
Worcester State University $3,042
Massachusetts Maritime Academy $2,710
Salem State University $2,520
Westfield State University $1,775

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Framingham State University
Worcester State University
Fitchburg State University
Bridgewater State University
Salem State University
Westfield State University
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Lowell

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Worcester State University
Fitchburg State University
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Bridgewater State University
Westfield State University
Framingham State University
Salem State University
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

University of Massachusetts Amherst 64%
University of Massachusetts Boston 81%
Westfield State University 82%
Fitchburg State University 86%
University of Massachusetts Lowell 86%
Framingham State University 87%
Worcester State University 88%
Bridgewater State University 88%
Massachusetts Maritime Academy 89%
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 92%

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 9 to 1
Framingham State University 11 to 1
Salem State University 12 to 1
Fitchburg State University 12 to 1
Massachusetts Maritime Academy 12 to 1
Worcester State University 14 to 1
Westfield State University 14 to 1
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 15 to 1
University of Massachusetts Boston 16 to 1
University of Massachusetts Lowell 17 to 1

Salem State University $910
Bridgewater State University $910
Framingham State University $970
Worcester State University $970
Fitchburg State University $970
Westfield State University $970
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts $1,030
Massachusetts Maritime Academy $1,994
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth $14,179
University of Massachusetts Boston $14,542

Bridgewater State University $1,260
Framingham State University $1,680
Westfield State University $1,775
Salem State University $2,520
Massachusetts Maritime Academy $2,710
Worcester State University $3,042
Fitchburg State University $3,510
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts $3,744
University of Massachusetts Amherst $14,364
University of Massachusetts Lowell $14,956

Key Takeaways

When scouting for public colleges, you will never run out of options in Massachusetts. While it is home to numerous top-rated private research universities, the state is known to have one of the best public higher education systems.
Public schools in Massachusetts provide college students affordable, yet rigorous, coursework, just like private institutions.
There is an overwhelming number of students in public colleges today. These institutions have so much to offer: from networking opportunities to a diverse school population, these public colleges present a wise choice for students.

Table of Contents

Massachusetts’ Top-rated Public Colleges

The Massachusetts Public Higher Education System comprises 29 campuses divided into three types of schools:

15 community colleges
nine state universities
five University of Massachusetts campuses

The public college system provides affordable, accessible, rigorous, and quality education through relevant programs that can adapt to individuals’ educational and employment needs.

Massachusetts has six comprehensive state universities:

Worcester State University
Westfield State University
Salem State University
Framingham State University
Fitchburg State University
Bridgewater State University

All these public universities integrate liberal arts and sciences programs with professional education.

Boston has a number of popular Ivy League schools for undergrad and graduate students. They also have three specialized colleges, including Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. All focus on academic areas as per the college’s name.

While there are a lot of public colleges and universities in Massachusetts, it’s best to understand why attending a public college is a wise choice.

Reasons You Should Attend a Public College or University

Public colleges have advantages that you cannot find in a private institution. While state schools are not for everybody, many students still think these schools are perfect.

Here are some reasons why attending a public college or university is a good option.

Public colleges are less expensive. Public colleges are less expensive than private schools as the former offer lower tuition rates, especially for in-state residents. And even out-of-state enrollees can be eligible for low tuition fees if they apply through an academic common market like WICHE.

Public colleges generally have large student populations. Although small public colleges do exist, most public schools are large. This is specifically great for both shy and outgoing students.

Shy students can easily meet other shy students like them and be comfortable connecting. The outgoing ones can get involved with many school opportunities and personalities around the campus.

Public colleges have diverse student populations. Students get to expand their worldliness and improve their social development when they interact with a diverse student population.

Most public institutions have diverse student populations regarding religion, race, gender, and socioeconomic status. This will allow students to learn from other perspectives of their classmates and professors. Experiencing people and cultures that are different from you can even help students to prepare for future career success.

Public colleges have comprehensive academic programs. Generally, large public colleges and universities offer a variety of academic programs. This is specifically helpful for students who are not yet decided what they want to study. It’s also a plus for students who unexpectedly change their minds about their college majors while in school.

Public colleges can be very reputable. There are times when public colleges are pegged as “safety schools,” a fallback option for students who cannot enroll in private schools like the popular Boston College for various reasons.

However, some of the best colleges in the US are public institutions—UCLA, University of Virginia, and University of California, Berkeley. There are also lots of public colleges with highly regarded programs within their schools, like the business programs at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor or the Austin Engineering programs at the University of Texas.

Public colleges give graduates exposure to numerous job opportunities. Most public colleges are nationally known and recognized. Many companies come to public institutions to seek future interns and employees for their organizations/companies.

Students have the chance to meet these employers on campus during career fairs, in career centers, or through professor introductions.

Public colleges provide excellent networking opportunities: Students meet many other students because of the larger student population. Student organizations in public institutions often bring industry leaders to school to speak to the students.

Professors even invite colleagues to the school to speak before students. If students involve themselves in these activities, they open themselves up for more opportunities to meet and network with as many individuals and industry experts as they can during their time on campus.

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

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 12 public universities in Massachusetts. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Massachusetts, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.

How do we determine Massachusetts' best public colleges and universities?

Methodology

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.

Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2023

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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.

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

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Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2024

10 Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2024

Key Takeaways

Massachusetts’ Top-rated Public Colleges

Reasons You Should Attend a Public College or University

Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts

What are Massachusetts’ Colleges & Universities?

Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Most Influential Alumni

University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Massachusetts Boston

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Massachusetts Lowell

Most Influential Alumni

University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Most Influential Alumni

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Westfield State University

Most Influential Alumni

Westfield State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Salem State University

Salem State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Bridgewater State University

Most Influential Alumni

Bridgewater State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Fitchburg State University

Most Influential Alumni

Fitchburg State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Worcester State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Framingham State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Most Influential Alumni

Find the best public college in Massachusetts in your area of interest