With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its Top New England Region Colleges ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 179 colleges and universities across the New England Region to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Our 2023 rankings named Massachusetts Institute of Technology the best school in the New England Region in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,620 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. During the early years of their career, graduates from MIT make an average of $111,222 a year.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in the New England Region list means Brown University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 3,032 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. During the early years of their career, graduates from Brown make an average of $78,943 a year.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in the New England Region list means Harvard University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 9,623 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $84,918 during the early years of their career..
Out of the 179 schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #4 spot on the list. Yale is located in New Haven, Connecticut and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,383 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 88%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $88,655 during the early years of their career..
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bowdoin College. The school came in at #5 in the New England Region on this year’s overall quality ranking. Located in Brunswick, Maine, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 619 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 88%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin make an average of $66,864 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, Dartmouth College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region list. Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2,220 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 86%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth make an average of $91,627 per year during the early years of their career.
Williams College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in the New England Region list.Williamstown, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 692 students in 2020-2021.
Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 90%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Williams is $71,608 during the early years of their career.
Olin College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Needham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 76 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. During the early years of their career, graduates from Olin College make an average of $132,969 a year.
Tufts University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Medford, Massachusetts, and it awarded 4,142 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,122 during the early years of their career..
Boston University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #10. Boston U is located in Boston, Massachusetts and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11,580 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $75,642 during the early years of their career..
Boston College did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5,001 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Boston College is $93,021 during the early years of their career.
Babson College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in the New England Region list. Babson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,071 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Babson College make an average of $106,595 per year during the early years of their career.
Bentley University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking. Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,676 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Bentley make an average of $107,974 a year.
Amherst College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking. Amherst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 468 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Amherst make an average of $71,567 per year during the early years of their career.
Wellesley College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in the New England Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and it awarded 739 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,531 during the early years of their career..
With a ranking of #16, Worcester Polytechnic Institute did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region list. WPI is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,043 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The low student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from WPI make an average of $89,405 a year.
Bates College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking. Bates College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lewiston, Maine that handed out 564 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Bates go into careers with an average salary of $64,706 during the early years of their career.
Colby College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges in the New England Region list. Colby College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Waterville, Maine that handed out 711 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Colby make an average of $71,127 a year.
With a ranking of #19, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region list. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 2,520 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MCPHS University make an average of $118,171 per year during the early years of their career.
Northeastern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 8,157 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern make an average of $79,786 per year during the early years of their career.
College of the Holy Cross did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #21. Holy Cross is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Worcester, Massachusetts. It awarded 877 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Holy Cross go into careers with an average salary of $84,653 during the early years of their career.
MGH Institute of Health Professions ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in the New England Region list. MGH Institute of Health Professions is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 570 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 0.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MGH Institute of Health Professions make an average of $74,940 per year during the early years of their career.
Brandeis University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 2,331 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis go into careers with an average salary of $70,327 during the early years of their career.
The New England Conservatory of Music did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #24. The New England Conservatory of Music is located in Boston, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 241 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from The New England Conservatory of Music is $38,489 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Middlebury College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the New England Region list. Middlebury is a private not-for-profit institution located in Middlebury, Vermont. The school has a small population, and it awarded 862 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 83%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury go into careers with an average salary of $65,933 during the early years of their career.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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