Boston, Massachusetts Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Boston, Massachusetts shows: median public in-state tuition $38,110 (+591.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $64,680 (+19.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 24.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $24,900 (+85.4% vs U.S.) 89,548 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 26 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 89,548 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $38,110 (+591.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $64,680 (+19.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 24.2% (-63.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $26,678 (+167.7% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $24,900 (+85.4% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $18,927
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 67.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 84.8%
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Boston, Massachusetts—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Massachusetts and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Boston vs Massachusetts & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, Massachusetts | $38,110 | $26,678 | $24,900 | 67.4% | 89,548 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $6,732 | $12,244 | $21,974 | 66.7% | 311,375 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Boston, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, Massachusetts | $64,680 | 24.2% | 84.8% | 3.9% | — | 78.1% | 0.39 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $63,494 | 21.8% | 83.9% | 3.7% | — | 82.2% | 0.39 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Massachusetts (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, Massachusetts | $38,110 | $26,678 | $24,900 | 67.4% | 89,548 | $64,680 | 24.2% |
| Amherst | $58,896 | $23,367 | $22,763 | 83.3% | 26,421 | $71,631 | 43.9% |
| Worcester | $51,356 | $27,048 | $19,500 | 76.9% | 23,178 | $74,895 | 23.3% |
| Cambridge | $57,160 | $31,152 | $17,884 | 77.8% | 13,886 | $101,817 | 64.4% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Fall River | $5,832 | $21,734 | $8,243 | N/A | 6,197 | N/A | N/A |
| North Andover | $53,962 | $37,927 | $6,333 | 70.0% | 4,464 | $75,584 | 7.9% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Boston, Massachusetts
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 14 | $65,500 | 32.2% | 84.8% | 3.9% | — | 82.2% |
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 90.5%, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 88.7%, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 77.1%, Emerson College
Emerson College
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 72.3%, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 68.9%, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 68.2%, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
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Rank 7, Graduation Rate, 67.5%, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 8, Graduation Rate, 67.3%, Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
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Rank 9, Graduation Rate, 62.0%, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 10, Graduation Rate, 60.9%, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 64.6%, Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 47.8%, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 46.0%, Emerson College
Emerson College
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 37.8%, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 37.8%, Northeastern University Professional Programs
Northeastern University Professional Programs
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 26.6%, Cambridge College
Cambridge College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 21.8%, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 21.0%, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 18.2%, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 17.3%, Simmons University
Simmons University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Boston, Massachusetts (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 5.2%, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 11.1%, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 43.5%, Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 51.3%, Emerson College
Emerson College
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 70.0%, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 6, Admission Rate, 70.7%, Fisher College
Fisher College
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Rank 7, Admission Rate, 75.6%, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 8, Admission Rate, 76.3%, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
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Rank 9, Admission Rate, 82.3%, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
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Rank 10, Admission Rate, 83.8%, University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $115,587, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $115,587, Northeastern University Professional Programs
Northeastern University Professional Programs
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $93,995, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,954, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,096, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $82,118, University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston
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Rank 7, Entry-Level Earnings, $80,034, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 8, Entry-Level Earnings, $64,502, Cambridge College
Cambridge College
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Rank 9, Entry-Level Earnings, $63,595, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 10, Entry-Level Earnings, $61,133, Fisher College
Fisher College
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $163,708, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $163,708, Northeastern University Professional Programs
Northeastern University Professional Programs
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $136,667, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $121,671, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $100,902, University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $92,960, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 7, Early-Career Earnings, $90,090, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
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Rank 8, Early-Career Earnings, $85,199, Fisher College
Fisher College
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Rank 9, Early-Career Earnings, $78,338, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 10, Early-Career Earnings, $76,623, Emerson College
Emerson College
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $78,413, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $78,413, Northeastern University Professional Programs
Northeastern University Professional Programs
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $77,171, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $71,868, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $65,655, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $61,420, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $55,856, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $53,521, University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $50,180, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $49,215, Cambridge College
Cambridge College
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $108,480, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $82,813, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $82,813, Northeastern University Professional Programs
Northeastern University Professional Programs
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $80,509, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $73,661, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $64,922, University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $61,452, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $60,385, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $59,301, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,113, Emerson College
Emerson College
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $125,557, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $92,538, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $92,538, Northeastern University Professional Programs
Northeastern University Professional Programs
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $83,238, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $82,721, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $68,245, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $67,506, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $65,865, University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $63,494, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $62,832, Emerson College
Emerson College
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $345,632, MCPHS University
MCPHS University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $267,806, Boston Architectural College
Boston Architectural College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $261,472, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $235,682, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $222,052, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $217,513, University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $169,408, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $157,792, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $140,562, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $103,074, Fisher College
Fisher College
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Boston, Massachusetts (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $17,707, University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston
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Rank 2, Net Price, $24,100, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
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Rank 3, Net Price, $24,402, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 4, Net Price, $25,265, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 5, Net Price, $26,649, Fisher College
Fisher College
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Rank 6, Net Price, $26,706, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 7, Net Price, $29,618, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
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Rank 8, Net Price, $30,915, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 9, Net Price, $31,072, Cambridge College
Cambridge College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $34,170, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Top 10 colleges in Boston, Massachusetts by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 100.0%, Cambridge College
Cambridge College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 96.9%, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 94.7%, Boston University
Boston University
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 89.1%, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 88.6%, Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 87.4%, Emerson College
Emerson College
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Rank 7, First-Year Retention, 84.8%, Simmons University
Simmons University
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Rank 8, First-Year Retention, 83.8%, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
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Rank 9, First-Year Retention, 78.6%, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
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Rank 10, First-Year Retention, 75.4%, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
In-state tuition: Boston, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Boston, Massachusetts median in-state tuition is $38,110, +591.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Boston, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Boston, Massachusetts is $24,900 (+85.4% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $18,927.
Median earnings (10 years out): Boston, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Boston, Massachusetts center around $64,680 (+19.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Boston, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 24.2% at the median Boston, Massachusetts campus (-63.8 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Boston, Massachusetts median public in-state tuition is $38,110, about +591.4% vs the national median. Versus the New England region, tuition is +305.3%.
Median graduate debt is $24,900 (+85.4% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Boston, Massachusetts are $64,680, about +19.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 24.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-63.8 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 84.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 78.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Berklee College of Music (64.6%), Boston University (47.8%), Emerson College (46.0%), Northeastern University (37.8%), Northeastern University Professional Programs (37.8%), Cambridge College (26.6%), MCPHS University (21.8%), Massachusetts College of Art and Design (21.0%), Suffolk University (18.2%), Simmons University (17.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Boston, Massachusetts, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $65,500 (14 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Boston, Massachusetts is 67.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Boston?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 26 campuses in Boston, Massachusetts with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Boston?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Boston is $38,110 and median net price is $26,678. For Massachusetts overall, medians are $6,732 and $12,244; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Boston?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Boston is $64,680 vs $63,494 for Massachusetts and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Boston colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Boston is $24,900 vs $21,974 for Massachusetts and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Boston?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Northeastern University (graduation) and MCPHS University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Boston?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 26 campuses in Boston, Massachusetts, 4 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Bunker Hill Community College, Cambridge College, and Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology; 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Baptist (1), Roman Catholic (1), Interdenominational (1).
Sources & related
- Massachusetts college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON