2024 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts for Doctorate Degrees
There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which grad school to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges in Massachusetts ranking is part of that endeavor.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
Your Choice of Grad School Matters
Our analysis looked at 23 grad schools in Massachusetts to determine which ones have the best doctorate degree programs. Our ranking for the best grad schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Average Early-Career Salaries
Average early-career salary of those graduating with a doctorate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue a doctorate degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
Student Loan Borrowing
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that graduate students take on while pursuing their doctorate degree.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Doctorate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
To learn more, visit our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Custom Rankings
You may also want to
narrow this list by location to find the best doctorate degree schools nearest you. Also, you may want to check out our other
college rankings.
Still not sure what graduate degree you wish to pursue? You may want to visit our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.
Top Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
568
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$115,303
Average Early-Career Earnings
Our analysis found Massachusetts Institute of Technology to be the best grad school for doctorate degrees in Massachusetts in this year’s ranking. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 568 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from MIT make an average of $115,303 a year.
Read full report on Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1,444
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$95,158
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 in Massachusetts on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1,444 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Harvard is $95,158 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Harvard University
351
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$56,355
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Suffolk University. The school came in at #3 in Massachusetts on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 351 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Suffolk go into careers with an average salary of $56,355 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Suffolk University
655
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$78,116
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #4 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in Massachusetts list means Tufts University is a great place for students working on their degree. Medford, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 655 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from Tufts make an average of $78,116 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Tufts University Report
1,170
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$71,439
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #5 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in Massachusetts list means Boston University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,170 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Boston U go into careers with an average salary of $71,439 during the early years of their career.
Full Boston University Report
62
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Worcester, Massachusetts that handed out 62 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Worcester Polytechnic Institute
75
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Brandeis University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Brandeis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 75 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Brandeis University
582
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$80,214
Average Early-Career Earnings
Northeastern University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 582 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $80,214 during the early years of their career.
Full Northeastern University Report
319
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$76,002
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, the large public school handed out 319 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from UMass Amherst make an average of $76,002 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Massachusetts Amherst
6
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
With a ranking of #10, Smith College did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Located in Northampton, Massachusetts, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Full Smith College Report
355
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$101,770
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #11, Boston College did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Boston College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It awarded 355 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Boston College go into careers with an average salary of $101,770 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Boston College
88
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$69,105
Average Early-Career Earnings
Simmons University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 88 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Simmons go into careers with an average salary of $69,105 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Simmons University
24
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Clark University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #13. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 24 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Clark University Report
31
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$91,807
Average Early-Career Earnings
Lesley University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 31 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Lesley is $91,807 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Lesley University
4
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$103,025
Average Early-Career Earnings
Elms College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Elms College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicopee, Massachusetts that handed out 4 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Elms College make an average of $103,025 a year.
Learn More About Elms College
139
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$67,655
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Massachusetts - Lowell landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Lowell, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 139 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from UMass Lowell make an average of $67,655 a year.
Learn More About University of Massachusetts - Lowell
98
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$57,087
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Massachusetts - Boston came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. University of Massachusetts - Boston is a fairly large public school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 98 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from UMass Boston make an average of $57,087 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Massachusetts - Boston
21
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Endicott College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Beverly, Massachusetts, and it awarded 21 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Endicott College
51
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$71,582
Average Early-Career Earnings
Springfield College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Springfield College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 51 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Springfield College go into careers with an average salary of $71,582 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Springfield College
55
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$71,283
Average Early-Career Earnings
American International College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 55 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from AIC go into careers with an average salary of $71,283 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About American International College
129
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$79,367
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #21. UMass Dartmouth is a medium-sized public school situated in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It awarded 129 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from UMass Dartmouth go into careers with an average salary of $79,367 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
15
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
With a ranking of #22, Bay Path University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Bay Path University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts that handed out 15 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About Bay Path University
160
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$100,947
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #23, Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 160 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network is $100,947 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network
Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the New England Region
View Best Doctorate Degree Schools Nationwide >
More Massachusetts Rankings
More Rankings >
college factual
