Boston Area Colleges and Universities

Suffolk University

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 0 miles
• School Type: private university
• Distinguishing Features: enviable location near the Boston Commons; 15 to 1 student / faculty ratio; strong programs in business fields; NCAA Division III athletics
• Learn More: Suffolk University Admissions Profile

Emerson College

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 0 miles
• School Type: private college
• Distinguishing Features: special focus on communication and the arts; strong programs in journalism, theatre, marketing, and creative writing; 15 to 1 student / faculty ratio; located adjacent to the Boston Commons
• Learn More: Emerson University Admissions Profile

Boston Architectural College

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private college
• Distinguishing Features: largest architectural college in New England; central Back Bay location; "learn by doing" hands-on approach to education
• Learn More: BAC Admissions Profile

Emmanuel College

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private Catholic liberal arts college
• Distinguishing Features: member of the Colleges of the Fenway Consortium; near Fenway Park and the Museum of Fine Arts; 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio; NCAA Division III athletic programs
• Learn More: Emmanuel College Admissions Profile

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: public art school
• Distinguishing Features: one of few publicly funded art schools in the country; member of the Colleges of the Fenway Consortium; 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio; excellent value for in-state applicants; students can participate in sports through Emerson College
• Learn More: MassArt Admissions Profile

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private college with health care focus
• Distinguishing Features: additional campuses in Worcester, MA and Manchester, NH; school inked to the Longwood Medical and Academic Area; 30 undergraduate and 21 graduate programs
• Learn More: MCPHS Admissions Profile

Northeastern University

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private university
• Distinguishing Features: highly selective admissions; strong internship and co-op program; honors program for high achieving students; 65 majors offered through six colleges; NCAA Division I athletics
• Learn More: Northeastern University Admissions Profile

School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private art school
• Distinguishing Features: affiliated with the Museum of Fine Arts; located in the Fenway neighborhood; 9 to 1 student / faculty ratio; strong studio-centered instruction in thirteen artistic disciplines
• Learn More: SMFA is affiliated with Tufts University

Simmons University

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private women's liberal arts college
• Distinguishing Features: member of the Colleges of the Fenway consortium; one of the top women's colleges in the country; NCAA Division III athletic programs; 6 to 1 student / faculty ratio
• Learn More: Simmons University Admissions Profile

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Top Massachusetts Colleges

By Allen Grove

The New England Conservatory of Music

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private music conservatory
• Distinguishing Features: oldest independent school of music in the country; 5 to 1 student / faculty ratio; located near numerous artistic and musical venues in the city; double-degree programs offered with Harvard and Tufts
• Learn More: NEC Admissions Profile

Massachuesetts Institute of Technology

• Location: Cambridge, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private university with engineering focus
• Distinguishing Features: one of the very top engineering schools; top business school; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; member of the Association of American Universities; 3 to 1 student / faculty ratio; campus on the Charles River overlooking the Boston skyline
• Explore the Campus: MIT Photo Tour
• Learn More: MIT Admissions Profile

Berklee College of Music

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private college of music
• Distinguishing Features: largest independent college of contemporary music in the world; alums have received over 200 Grammy Awards; popular programs in both the business and performance sides of the music industry; NCAA Division III athletics
• Learn More: Berklee College of Music Admissions Profile

Boston University

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private university
• Distinguishing Features: central location in Boston's Kenmore-Fenway neighborhood; one of the largest private universities in the country; selective admissions; wide-ranging academic strengths; NCAA Division I athletics
• Learn More: Boston University Admissions Profile

The Boston Conservatory at Berklee

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: private performing arts conservatory
• Distinguishing Features: small school with impressive 5 to 1 student / faculty ratio; academics focus on music, dance, or theater; one of the oldest performing arts institutes in the country; over 250 performances each year
• Learn More: Boston Conservatory Admissions Profile

Wentworth Institute of Technology

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 2 miles
• School Type: technical design and engineering college
• Distinguishing Features: 18 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 22; large co-op program so students can gain professional, paid work experience; NCAA Division III athletic program; member of the Colleges of the Fenway consortium
• Learn More: Wentworth Institute of Technology Admissions Profile

University of Massachusetts, Boston

• Location: Boston, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 3 miles
• School Type: public university
• Distinguishing Features: waterfront campus; 65 undergraduate degree programs supported by a 16 to 1 student / faculty ratio; over 100 student clubs and organizations; NCAA Division III athletics
• Learn More: UMass Boston Admissions Profile

Harvard University

• Location: Cambridge, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 3 miles
• School Type: private university
• Distinguishing Features: member of the prestigious Ivy League; one of the country's top universities; one of the most selective universities in the country; largest endowment of all U.S. colleges; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; membership in the Association of American Universities
• Explore the Campus: Harvard University Photo Tour
• Learn More: Harvard University Admissions Profile

Lesley University

• Location: Cambridge, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 3 miles
• School Type: private university
• Distinguishing Features: several locations in Cambridge and Boston; graduate student focus; strong education, mental health and art programs; interdisciplinary, hands-on approach to learning; NCAA Division III athletics
• Learn More: Lesley University Admissions Profile

Tufts University

• Location: Medford, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 5 miles
• School Type: private university
• Distinguishing Features: highly selective admissions; 9 to 1 student / faculty ratio; strong study abroad program; one of the top New England colleges; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; NCAA Division III athletics
• Learn More: Tufts University Admissions Profile

Boston College

• Location: Chestnut Hill, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 5 miles
• School Type: private Catholic university
• Distinguishing Features: stunning Gothic architecture; one of the top Catholic colleges; one of the top New England colleges; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; NCAA Division I athletics
• Learn More: Boston College Admissions Profile

Eastern Nazarene College

• Location: Quincy, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 7 miles
• School Type: Christian liberal arts university
• Distinguishing Features: emphasis on study abroad, service learning, and experiential learning; 100% of students receive some form of grant aid; NCAA Division III athletics
• Learn More: Eastern Nazarene College Admissions Profile

Curry College

• Location: Milton, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 7 miles
• School Type: private liberal arts college
• Distinguishing Features: 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio; regular shuttles to Boston; sizable continuing education programs; popular professional fields of study; NCAA Division III athletics
• Learn More: Curry College Admissions Profile

Bentley University

• Location: Waltham, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 8 miles
• School Type: private university with a business focus
• Distinguishing Features: one of the top New England colleges; highly ranked business school; 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 24; business curriculum has a liberal arts core; curricular emphasis on ethics, social responsibility, and global culture
• Learn More: Bentley University Admissions Profile

Brandeis University

• Location: Waltham, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 9 miles
• School Type: private university
• Distinguishing Features: 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio; member of the Association of American Universities for strong research programs; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; easy access to Boston; one of the top New England colleges
• Learn More: Brandeis University Admissions Profile

Lasell University

• Location: Newton, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 9 miles
• School Type: private liberal arts college
• Distinguishing Features: 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio; all classes have fewer than 30 students; popular programs in fasion, communication, and sport management; NCAA Division II athletic programs
• Learn More: Lasell University Admissions Profile

Wellesley College

• Location: Wellesley, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston:10 miles
• School Type: private women's liberal arts college
• Distinguishing Features: one of the top 10 liberal arts colleges; often ranked #1 among top women's colleges; 8 to 1 student / faculty ratio; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; academic exchange programs with Harvard and M.I.T.; attractive lake-side campus
• Explore the Campus: Wellesley College Photo Tour
• Learn More: Wellesley College Admissions Profile

Olin College

• Location: Needham, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 10 miles
• School Type: private undergraduate engineering school
• Distinguishing Features: one of the top undergraduate engineering colleges; generous financial aid—all students receive an Olin Scholarship; project-based, hands-on, student-centered curriculum; 7 to 1 student / faculty ratio; small school with lots of student-faculty interaction
• Learn More: Olin College Admissions Profile

Babson College

• Location: Wellesley, MA
• Distance from Downtown Boston: 10 miles
• School Type: private business college
• Distinguishing Features: highly ranked undergraduate business program; innovative curriculum with emphasis on leadership and entrepreneurship skills; first-year students develop, launch and liquidate a for-profit business of their own design
• Learn More: Babson College Admissions Profile

Keep Exploring

If you are willing to consider schools beyond the city, check out our picks for the 25 top colleges in New England. The area has some of the most selective and prestigious colleges and universities in the country if not the world.