Colleges in Boston, Massachusetts
26 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 26 colleges and universities in Boston, Massachusetts (22 Private nonprofit, 3 Public, 1 Private for-profit). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 26 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $26,678 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 67.4%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 70% of applicants.
The median net price in Boston runs about $1,795 higher than the Massachusetts statewide median of $24,883.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Boston, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$26,678
After aid
Median grad rate
67.4%
6-year
Median admission rate
70%
Median enrollment
1,736
Undergrad
All colleges in Boston
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston University Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $24,402 | 88.7% | 11% | 18,248 | Complete | |
| Northeastern University Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $30,915 | 90.5% | 5% | 17,326 | Complete | |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA | MA | Public, 4-year | $17,707 | 49.4% | 84% | 11,512 | Complete | |
| Bunker Hill Community College Boston, MA | MA | Public, 2-year | $7,818 | 13.2% | Not available | 8,612 | Partial | |
| Berklee College of Music Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $49,465 | 67.3% | 44% | 7,468 | Complete | |
| Suffolk University Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $29,618 | 60.9% | 82% | 4,268 | Complete | |
| Emerson College Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $49,180 | 77.1% | 51% | 3,870 | Complete | |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $34,170 | 68.2% | 91% | 3,747 | Complete | |
| MCPHS University Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $39,545 | 62.0% | 85% | 3,451 | Complete | |
| Emmanuel College Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $26,706 | 67.5% | 76% | 1,854 | Complete | |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston, MA | MA | Public, 4-year | $24,100 | 68.9% | 76% | 1,831 | Complete | |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 7% | 1,802 | Partial | |
| Simmons University Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $25,265 | 72.3% | 70% | 1,670 | Complete | |
| Fisher College Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $26,649 | 27.8% | 71% | 1,167 | Complete | |
| Cambridge College Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $31,072 | 11.1% | Not available | 532 | Complete | |
| Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $15,488 | 45.8% | Not available | 483 | Complete | |
| Urban College of Boston Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 2-year | $6,957 | 0.0% | Not available | 438 | Partial | |
| The New England Conservatory of Music Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $46,754 | 73.4% | 41% | 393 | Complete | |
| Boston Architectural College Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $25,865 | 31.6% | Not available | 280 | Complete | |
| Jupiter Beauty Academy Boston, MA | MA | Private for-profit, <2-year | Not available | 84.4% | Not available | 201 | Partial | |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 164 | Partial | |
| North Bennet Street School Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 2-year | $27,251 | 90.0% | Not available | 155 | Partial | |
| Sattler College Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | 81.3% | 69% | 57 | Partial | |
| Boston Baptist College Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $17,933 | 14.3% | 91% | 19 | Complete | |
| New England College of Optometry Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| New England Law-Boston Boston, MA | MA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private nonprofit (22)
Private nonprofit colleges in Boston are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Boston UniversityNet price: $24,402Grad: 88.7%
- Northeastern UniversityNet price: $30,915Grad: 90.5%
- Berklee College of MusicNet price: $49,465Grad: 67.3%
- Suffolk UniversityNet price: $29,618Grad: 60.9%
- Emerson CollegeNet price: $49,180Grad: 77.1%
- Wentworth Institute of TechnologyNet price: $34,170Grad: 68.2%
- MCPHS UniversityNet price: $39,545Grad: 62.0%
- Emmanuel CollegeNet price: $26,706Grad: 67.5%
- Northeastern University Professional ProgramsNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Simmons UniversityNet price: $25,265Grad: 72.3%
- Fisher CollegeNet price: $26,649Grad: 27.8%
- Cambridge CollegeNet price: $31,072Grad: 11.1%
- Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of TechnologyNet price: $15,488Grad: 45.8%
- Urban College of BostonNet price: $6,957Grad: 0.0%
- The New England Conservatory of MusicNet price: $46,754Grad: 73.4%
- Boston Architectural CollegeNet price: $25,865Grad: 31.6%
- MGH Institute of Health ProfessionsNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- North Bennet Street SchoolNet price: $27,251Grad: 90.0%
- Sattler CollegeNet price: Not availableGrad: 81.3%
- Boston Baptist CollegeNet price: $17,933Grad: 14.3%
- New England College of OptometryNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- New England Law-BostonNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (3)
Public colleges in Boston are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- University of Massachusetts-BostonNet price: $17,707Grad: 49.4%
- Bunker Hill Community CollegeNet price: $7,818Grad: 13.2%
- Massachusetts College of Art and DesignNet price: $24,100Grad: 68.9%
Private for-profit (1)
Private for-profit colleges in Boston operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Jupiter Beauty AcademyNet price: Not availableGrad: 84.4%
Top programs in Boston
Most-completed programs across Boston colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business15.6% of degrees
- Health professions13.2% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts12.2% of degrees
- Computer science10.8% of degrees
- Biological sciences7.0% of degrees
- Engineering6.9% of degrees
- Social sciences6.5% of degrees
- Communication5.4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Boston
Q.How many colleges are in Boston, Massachusetts?
There are 26 colleges and universities in Boston, Massachusetts that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 22 Private nonprofit, 3 Public, 1 Private for-profit.
Q.What is the largest college in Boston?
By undergraduate enrollment, Boston University is the largest institution in Boston with roughly 18,248 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Boston?
Based on average net price after aid, Urban College of Boston is the most affordable institution in Boston at $6,957 per year.
Q.Which Boston college has the highest graduation rate?
Northeastern University reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Boston institutions at 90.5%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Boston?
The median net price across all 26 colleges in Boston is $26,678 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Boston?
Across Boston colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Visual & performing arts.
Q.Are there community colleges in Boston?
Yes — Boston includes 3 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Massachusetts
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Boston that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.