The Best Colleges in The U.S. have been ranked according to the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal does the rankings annually and they are based on data, which rates the top 400 universities in the country, obtained in collaboration with College Pulse and Statista. The rankings are based on three main categories: student outcomes (70%), learning environment (20%), and diversity (10%). After doing the research and crunching all of the numbers, one Massachusetts school ranked #2 while three others ranked in the top 10.

MIT was ranked #2 nationwide with a total score of 90.4. MIT was also ranked #2 according to U.S. News & World Report. Their rankings are based on cost, student to teacher ratio, academics, diversity, campus life and more. Moving back to the Wall Street Journal rankings, Harvard University was next in the nationwide ranking coming in #6 nationwide. Harvard received a score of 89.5 on the Wall Street Journal list. The other two schools that placed in the top 10 nationwide are Amherst College and Babson College. They came in at #8 and #10 respectively.

Now in regards to locally here in Massachusetts, we are going to show you the top 11 ranked schools that are here in the state. Now again, this is according to the Wall Street Journal’s findings as different outlets do their own rankings each year. And if your child goes to one of these schools, they can consider themselves lucky. Student outcomes, learning environment and diversity are thriving at each of these schools. It should be mentioned too that another New England school ranked in the top 10 (third place actually). Yale University in Connecticut placed third with a score of 90.3. So, let’s run down the list of the top schools in Massachusetts according to the Wall Street Journal. Let us also remind you this list is for the year 2024. Congratulations to the schools on the list.

• #11 Northeastern University, Boston (No. 138 nationally)

  Pebbles’ alma mater. Northeastern was originally called the Evening Institute of Young Men, and was founded in association with YMCA in 1898.Its sports arena, Matthews, is the oldest hockey arena in the world.

  Home - Northeastern University

  Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global, experiential, research university built on a tradition of engagement with the world.

• #10 University of Massachusetts, Lowell (No. 137 nationally)

  • UMass Lowell received the National HEED Award (2022) for outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.  It was the first public university to offer a degree in music education.

  First-Year Applicants

  November 5: First-Year Early Action I* January 5: First-Year Early Action II* February 5: First-Year Regular Decision Applicants March 1: FAFSA Financial Aid Priority Deadline Rolling Decision: August 1 (We welcome applications for select majors, where space is available, on a case-by-case basis) Application Information * All applicants to the nursing program must apply Early Action I or II.

• #9 Wellesley College, Wellesley (No. 117 nationally)

  85% of students graduate within 4 years, and 91% graduate within 6 years of entering college. 

  • The Student to Faculty ratio is 7:1.
  • The average class size is 17 students per class.

  Facts

  Wellesley College, one of the most academically challenging institutions of higher education in the country and widely acknowledged as the nation's top women's college, provides its 2,300 students with an array of opportunities that create the richest possible educational environment. Wellesley prepares women to realize their own highest ambitions and compete in any setting.

• #8 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester (No. 61 nationally)

  Fun fact: Worcester Polytechnic Institute received the little black goat that became its mascot in 1893, a gift from the sophomore class.  It’s ranked as one of the top engineering schools in the country. 

  Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

  A WPI education has never been more relevant than it is today, because the demand for innovative thinkers who can solve problems on a global scale has never been greater.

• #7 College of the Holy Cross, Worcester (No. 60 nationally)

  Holy Cross, the oldest Catholic college in New England, was founded in 1843. They are also one of the few colleges in the country where 100% of our students complete an internship before graduation.

  College of the Holy Cross | A highly selective, four year, undergraduate, Jesuit, liberal arts institution. College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts | College of the Holy Cross

  In a diverse community connected by hope, you'll live, learn, and serve with students, faculty, and alumni who support and empower one another. You'll solve complex problems, dive deep on what you're passionate about, and find every opportunity to get involved. Ready to experience life on The Hill?

• #6 Boston College, Chestnut Hill (No. 45 nationally)

  Boston College Fun Facts: Their fight song, “For Boston,” claims to be the oldest fight song in the US. BC’s Gasson Hall is the third most Instagrammed college building in the country. And during exam weeks, BC brings in petting zoos and puppies for students to play with.

  Home - Boston College

  Boston College, the first institution of higher education to operate in the city of Boston, is today among the nation's foremost universities, a leader in the liberal arts, scientific inquiry, and student formation.

• #5 Williams College, Williamstown (No. 31 nationally)

  Williams Fun Facts: Their mascot is Ephelia the Purple Cow, and the sports teams are referred to as “Ephs.” About 35% of all students participate in intercollegiate sports.

  Williams Home Page

  Photo by Maya Singh '27 A Celebration to Remember Williams celebrated the opening of the newly renovated Davis Center on April 13 during the 2024 Bolin Legacy Mentorship Weekend, which honors Gaius C. Bolin, Class of 1889, Williams' first Black graduate.

• #4 Babson College, Wellesley (No. 10 nationally)

  Babson Fun Facts: They only carry Pepsi products, as Pepsi is their sponsor. Roger Babson (the founder) is buried on campus between his first wife Grace, and his mistress Nona, who later became his second wife.

  www.babson.edu

  Babson College is a top school of business and the best college for entrepreneurship, with campuses in Wellesley, Boston, and Miami.

• #3 Amherst College, Amherst (No. 8 nationally)

  Amherst Fun Facts: The way to get into the coolest dorm room is through Lip Sync, their annual show with the winners getting the highest Room Draw Number. The international students in this years incoming class come from over 30 countries. Their mascot is the Mammoth.

  Home

  Amherst College does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs and activities on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity), age, disability, genetic information, military service, or any other characteristic or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

• #2 Harvard University, Cambridge (No. 6 nationally)

  Harvard Fun Facts: Harvard bans commercial filming on campus, seeing it as a distraction to students. They hold a record number of honors and awards with 161 Nobel Laureates, 23 heads of state, and 132 Pulitzer Prize winners. It also has 79 libraries with the main one housing about 3.5 million books in over 100 languages. Four of the floors are actually underground because that was the only way they were able to expand.

  Harvard University

  Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders who make a difference globally.

• #1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (No. 2 nationally)

  MIT Fun Facts: They send out their undergraduate acceptance letter on March 14th which is Pi Day. They’ve published over 2,600 of their undergraduate and graduate course on OpenCourseWare – free for anyone to use! And they also have a long history of prank culture at the school, including putting up Wakanda Forever Banners on one of their buildings. Some scenes were filmed there, and there was even a character who attended MIT.

  The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

  The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

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