University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs in Massachusetts.

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A state’s employment options and industries often have a strong effect on the education you can find there. After all, those states with heavy mining must also produce mining experts and engineers. Those with a focus on green energy must produce wind and solar engineers and technicians who can service these sectors.

In 2021, employment in Massachusetts stayed fairly stable. Beginning in August 2021, the revised employment number included 3,758.9 million in the workforce. The state unemployment rate tracked along with the national rate, starting with a high of 5.5% in August 2021 and dipping to 4.8% in January 2022.

Employment in Massachusetts’ many industries, of course, varies. The 12-month percentage change in mining and logging, for instance, was notable for its drop in employment, as was leisure and hospitality. However, by the end of the year, employment had rebounded in both these industries.


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Online Higher Education in Massachusetts


  • How many college students are enrolled in Massachusetts colleges and universities?
    For the most recent year, Massachusetts colleges and universities enrolled 478,706 students. This included 143,442 graduate students and 335,264 undergraduate students.
  • How many college students are enrolled in online and hybrid courses?

    Around 233,500 students were solely online learners during this same time period. A smaller number (125,825) students have enrolled in either online courses or degree programs but also attended in-person courses in the 2021-2022 academic year.

    For bachelor’s degree programs, 258,292 students took at least some online courses; for students earning graduate degrees, 100,998 students enrolled in at least one graduate course offered via distance learning.

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  • What is the cost of tuition in Massachusetts?

    On average, Massachusetts students pay $8,800 for their tuition, while out-of-state students pay around $17,000 for their tuition. The cost of attendance in 2022 was $27,682 for residents of Massachusetts earning an undergraduate degree, and for non-residents it was $35,925. These numbers include tuition, books, supplies, room and board for students living on-campus, and other living expenses and fees. Graduate students pay around $35,250 for in-state tuition and fees and out-of-state graduate students pay $38,450.

Our School Rankings Methodology


Why are college and university rankings so important? The main reason is that they help students and their families make one of the most important decisions of their lives. While much of the decision-making process for prospective students is subjective, there should be enough data that college and university ranking organizations can focus on facts and provide objective information to students and their families. This allows them to use rankings to add weight to their subjective decisions and another layer to the process that can help them get the education they need and desire.

The data used for our rankings includes retention rates, graduation rates, tuition costs, admission rates, and even graduating salaries for specific degree programs and careers when those numbers are available.

Resources used include government sites with comprehensive data regarding specific colleges, degree programs, and financial information; information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) which has information on job opportunities within certain occupations and industries, and private job search sites that can provide information that is a current snapshot of pay rates.


Top 10 Best Online Associate & Community Colleges in Massachusetts


1

Mount Wachusett Community College

Score: 85.24

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $6,000
    • Out-of-State: $10,920
  • Net Price: $7,889
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 53%
  • Graduation Rate: 27%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,868
  • Undergrad Students: 2,868
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $38,400
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Mount Wachusett Community College
2

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Score: 83.73

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $5,616
    • Out-of-State: $10,560
  • Net Price: $6,872
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 54%
  • Graduation Rate: 18%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,497
  • Undergrad Students: 3,497
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $41,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Massachusetts Bay Community College
3

Bristol Community College

Score: 82.03

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $5,412
    • Out-of-State: $10,356
  • Net Price: $6,204
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 59%
  • Graduation Rate: 22%
  • Total Enrollment: 5,822
  • Undergrad Students: 5,822
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $33,600
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Bristol Community College
4

Quinsigamond Community College

Score: 81.32

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $5,974
    • Out-of-State: $10,918
  • Net Price: $6,809
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 55%
  • Graduation Rate: 21%
  • Total Enrollment: 6,481
  • Undergrad Students: 6,481
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $36,400
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Quinsigamond Community College
5

Greenfield Community College

Score: 79.93

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $5,810
    • Out-of-State: $11,930
  • Net Price: $10,620
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 66%
  • Graduation Rate: 32%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,419
  • Undergrad Students: 1,419
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $35,800
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Greenfield Community College

Top 25 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts


1

Harvard University

Score: 96.55

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $59,076
    • Out-of-State: $59,076
  • Net Price: $19,491
  • Acceptance Rate: 3%
  • Retention Rate: 98%
  • Graduation Rate: 98%
  • Total Enrollment: 30,631
  • Undergrad Students: 9,368
  • Graduate Students: 21,263
  • Grads Salary: $96,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 7:1
  • Harvard University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
2

Tufts University

Score: 85.41

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $67,844
    • Out-of-State: $67,844
  • Net Price: $30,479
  • Acceptance Rate: 10%
  • Retention Rate: 96%
  • Graduation Rate: 94%
  • Total Enrollment: 13,431
  • Undergrad Students: 6,815
  • Graduate Students: 6,616
  • Grads Salary: $87,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • Tufts University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
3

Babson College

Score: 80.58

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $56,032
    • Out-of-State: $56,032
  • Net Price: $28,400
  • Acceptance Rate: 22%
  • Retention Rate: 95%
  • Graduation Rate: 93%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,989
  • Undergrad Students: 2,761
  • Graduate Students: 1,228
  • Grads Salary: $82,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • Babson College
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
4
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $63,141
    • Out-of-State: $63,141
  • Net Price: $35,827
  • Acceptance Rate: 7%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 91%
  • Total Enrollment: 30,013
  • Undergrad Students: 16,302
  • Graduate Students: 13,711
  • Grads Salary: $87,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • Northeastern University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
5

Regis College

Score: 78.3

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $47,770
    • Out-of-State: $47,770
  • Net Price: $30,014
  • Acceptance Rate: 89%
  • Retention Rate: 76%
  • Graduation Rate: 67%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,230
  • Undergrad Students: 1,121
  • Graduate Students: 2,109
  • Grads Salary: $100,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Regis College
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
6
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $17,357
    • Out-of-State: $39,293
  • Net Price: $22,291
  • Acceptance Rate: 64%
  • Retention Rate: 90%
  • Graduation Rate: 83%
  • Total Enrollment: 32,229
  • Undergrad Students: 24,391
  • Graduate Students: 7,838
  • Grads Salary: $82,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Massachusetts-Amherst
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
7
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $59,070
    • Out-of-State: $59,070
  • Net Price: $46,876
  • Acceptance Rate: 57%
  • Retention Rate: 91%
  • Graduation Rate: 89%
  • Total Enrollment: 7,308
  • Undergrad Students: 5,246
  • Graduate Students: 2,062
  • Grads Salary: $95,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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8

Assumption University

Score: 74.59

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $49,414
    • Out-of-State: $49,414
  • Net Price: $28,911
  • Acceptance Rate: 82%
  • Retention Rate: 83%
  • Graduation Rate: 72%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,059
  • Undergrad Students: 1,704
  • Graduate Students: 355
  • Grads Salary: $86,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Assumption University
9

Simmons University

Score: 74.5

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $45,538
    • Out-of-State: $45,538
  • Net Price: $24,423
  • Acceptance Rate: 76%
  • Retention Rate: 81%
  • Graduation Rate: 74%
  • Total Enrollment: 5,710
  • Undergrad Students: 1,788
  • Graduate Students: 3,922
  • Grads Salary: $75,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 7:1
  • Simmons University
10

Brandeis University

Score: 72.63

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $64,946
    • Out-of-State: $64,946
  • Net Price: $45,565
  • Acceptance Rate: 39%
  • Retention Rate: 92%
  • Graduation Rate: 87%
  • Total Enrollment: 5,581
  • Undergrad Students: 3,687
  • Graduate Students: 1,894
  • Grads Salary: $80,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • Brandeis University
11

Western New England University

Score: 71.16

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $46,430
    • Out-of-State: $46,430
  • Net Price: $30,214
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Retention Rate: 78%
  • Graduation Rate: 67%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,430
  • Undergrad Students: 2,406
  • Graduate Students: 1,024
  • Grads Salary: $84,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Western New England University
12

MCPHS University

Score: 70.9

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $38,850
    • Out-of-State: $38,850
  • Net Price: $38,776
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Retention Rate: 70%
  • Graduation Rate: 61%
  • Total Enrollment: 6,824
  • Undergrad Students: 3,522
  • Graduate Students: 3,302
  • Grads Salary: $97,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • MCPHS University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
13
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,046
    • Out-of-State: $17,126
  • Net Price: $15,535
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Retention Rate: 72%
  • Graduation Rate: 56%
  • Total Enrollment: 6,554
  • Undergrad Students: 3,168
  • Graduate Students: 3,386
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Fitchburg State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
14
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,630
    • Out-of-State: $17,710
  • Net Price: $17,715
  • Acceptance Rate: 87%
  • Retention Rate: 71%
  • Graduation Rate: 55%
  • Total Enrollment: 4,111
  • Undergrad Students: 2,970
  • Graduate Students: 1,141
  • Grads Salary: $74,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Framingham State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
15
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,978
    • Out-of-State: $18,961
  • Net Price: $19,277
  • Acceptance Rate: 93%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 55%
  • Total Enrollment: 6,539
  • Undergrad Students: 5,078
  • Graduate Students: 1,461
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Salem State University
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16

Cambridge College

Score: 68.34

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $18,072
    • Out-of-State: $18,072
  • Net Price: $21,178
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 100%
  • Graduation Rate: 50%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,135
  • Undergrad Students: 840
  • Graduate Students: 1,295
  • Grads Salary: $71,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 8:1
  • Cambridge College
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
17

College of Our Lady of the Elms

Score: 67.61

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $42,061
    • Out-of-State: $42,061
  • Net Price: $23,498
  • Acceptance Rate: 91%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 75%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,275
  • Undergrad Students: 980
  • Graduate Students: 295
  • Grads Salary: $63,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • College of Our Lady of the Elms
18
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $15,208
    • Out-of-State: $31,750
  • Net Price: $19,700
  • Acceptance Rate: 96%
  • Retention Rate: 67%
  • Graduation Rate: 55%
  • Total Enrollment: 7,457
  • Undergrad Students: 5,517
  • Graduate Students: 1,940
  • Grads Salary: $79,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
19

Emmanuel College

Score: 66.65

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $46,686
    • Out-of-State: $46,686
  • Net Price: $32,273
  • Acceptance Rate: 80%
  • Retention Rate: 81%
  • Graduation Rate: 66%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,012
  • Undergrad Students: 1,947
  • Graduate Students: 65
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Emmanuel College
20

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Score: 66.32

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $41,010
    • Out-of-State: $41,010
  • Net Price: $37,901
  • Acceptance Rate: 92%
  • Retention Rate: 82%
  • Graduation Rate: 69%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,920
  • Undergrad Students: 3,713
  • Graduate Students: 207
  • Grads Salary: $85,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology
21

Endicott College

Score: 66.3

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $39,212
    • Out-of-State: $39,212
  • Net Price: $39,496
  • Acceptance Rate: 73%
  • Retention Rate: 85%
  • Graduation Rate: 78%
  • Total Enrollment: 4,006
  • Undergrad Students: 3,062
  • Graduate Students: 944
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Endicott College
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
22

Nichols College

Score: 65.81

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $40,375
    • Out-of-State: $40,375
  • Net Price: $27,192
  • Acceptance Rate: 85%
  • Retention Rate: 72%
  • Graduation Rate: 58%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,403
  • Undergrad Students: 1,164
  • Graduate Students: 239
  • Grads Salary: $80,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • Nichols College
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
23

Merrimack College

Score: 65.42

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $51,786
    • Out-of-State: $51,786
  • Net Price: $37,296
  • Acceptance Rate: 75%
  • Retention Rate: 82%
  • Graduation Rate: 68%
  • Total Enrollment: 5,505
  • Undergrad Students: 4,229
  • Graduate Students: 1,276
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Merrimack College
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
24

Curry College

Score: 64.51

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $46,220
    • Out-of-State: $46,220
  • Net Price: $31,091
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Retention Rate: 62%
  • Graduation Rate: 52%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,052
  • Undergrad Students: 1,833
  • Graduate Students: 219
  • Grads Salary: $83,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Curry College
25

Bridgewater State University

Score: 64.35

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,389
    • Out-of-State: $17,529
  • Net Price: $17,225
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 56%
  • Total Enrollment: 9,604
  • Undergrad Students: 8,116
  • Graduate Students: 1,488
  • Grads Salary: $68,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • Bridgewater State University

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