Private
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
- Acceptance
- 11%
- In-state tuition
- $66,000
- Undergrads
- 18,000
A large private university along Commonwealth Avenue with combined bachelor's-to-master's tracks in several colleges.
Universities in Massachusetts
4 campuses profiled, with admission requirements, published costs, test policies and deadlines. Reviewed 2026-09-20.
Private
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Acceptance
- 3.6%
- In-state tuition
- $59,320
- Undergrads
- 7,200
The oldest degree-granting institution in the United States, with need-based financial aid that replaces loans with grants for most admitted families.
Private
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Acceptance
- 4.5%
- In-state tuition
- $60,156
- Undergrads
- 4,600
A science and engineering powerhouse that uses its own application portal and expects demonstrated depth in mathematics and physics.
Private
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts
- Acceptance
- 6%
- In-state tuition
- $65,000
- Undergrads
- 21,000
Built around a co-op model in which most undergraduates complete six-month paid work placements before graduating.
Studying in Massachusetts
This page lists the 4 universities in Massachusetts currently profiled in the directory: 0 public and 4 private nonprofit. Each profile carries the same fields — acceptance rate, published tuition for residents and non-residents, standardized test policy, deadlines and accreditation — so the campuses can be compared directly.
The lowest published in-state tuition in this group is at Harvard University, at about $59,320 per year before housing and fees.
The most selective is Harvard University, reporting an acceptance rate near 3.6%.
The largest undergraduate population belongs to Northeastern University with roughly 21,000 undergraduates.
If you are a resident of Massachusetts, the public campuses above are almost always the lowest-cost route to a bachelor's degree, and the state's community colleges add a cheaper first two years through transfer agreements. If you are applying from outside the state, compare the non-resident rate against private universities after aid before assuming the public option is cheaper — it frequently is not.
Related reading: in-state vs out-of-state tuition, financial aid and the FAFSA, and the community college transfer pathway.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities does this directory list in Massachusetts?
4 institutions in Massachusetts are profiled here: 0 public and 4 private nonprofit. The state has more institutions than this; the directory covers the campuses students most often compare.
What is the cheapest university in Massachusetts in this directory?
Harvard University has the lowest published in-state tuition in this list at about $59,320 per year, before housing, food and fees. Aid can lower the net price further.
Do I pay in-state tuition if I move to Massachusetts for university?
Usually not. Massachusetts, like almost every state, excludes time spent in the state primarily for education from the residency clock, so students who move to study normally remain non-residents for the whole degree.
Which university in Massachusetts is hardest to get into?
Among the campuses profiled here, Harvard University reports the lowest acceptance rate at about 3.6%. Selectivity also varies sharply by major within any single university.