A Comprehensive Guide to Colleges in New England

When one envisions the quintessential American college scene, images of a leafy campus adorned with autumn colors, historic brick and stone buildings, and distinguished professors in classic tweed jackets often come to mind. These iconic features are distinctly characteristic of New England, a region that is home to some of the most esteemed institutions of higher education in the United States. Schools like Harvard (founded 1636), Yale (founded 1701), and Brown (founded 1764) are all located in this historically rich area.

This article aims to provide an informative overview of various colleges in New England, highlighting their academic strengths, professional outcomes, and unique attributes. While some schools may have spectacular reputations, their performance on metrics such as student-to-faculty ratio or spending per student may vary. The colleges profiled below have a demonstrated history of producing graduates who are highly sought after by top employers and graduate schools across the country.

Top Colleges in New England

Here’s a detailed look at some of the best colleges in New England, showcasing their academic highlights and professional outcomes:

Yale University

Yale University, a name synonymous with academic excellence, offers a wide array of opportunities for its undergraduate students.

Academic Highlights: Yale boasts over 80 majors, with most requiring a senior capstone experience spanning one to two semesters. Undergraduate research is integral to the Yale academic experience, with over 100 freshmen receiving university-wide research fellowships each year. Class sizes are intentionally small, with over 70% of classes having fewer than 20 students, fostering an ideal environment for teaching and learning. Yale offers over 2,000 courses to choose from.

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Professional Outcomes: A significant 58% of the Yale Class of 2023 entered the workforce shortly after graduating, while 19% pursued graduate programs. Yale alumni are well-represented at top companies worldwide, including Google, McKinsey & Co., Goldman Sachs, Meta, and Microsoft. The mean starting salary for recent graduates was $89,622, with computer science majors earning an impressive $141,000.

Harvard University

Harvard University, an institution of global renown, provides a diverse and enriching academic experience for its students.

Academic Highlights: Harvard offers 50 undergraduate fields of study, known as concentrations, many of which are interdisciplinary. Despite a large graduate population of nearly 14,000, undergraduate class sizes remain remarkably intimate. A significant 43% of sections have single-digit enrollments, and 73% are capped at nineteen students. Graduates report a nearly 90% satisfaction rate with their academic concentration experience. Over one-third of the student body participates in summer research experiences.

Professional Outcomes: Approximately 15% of Harvard’s most recent graduating class pursued graduate or professional school directly after graduation, with the majority entering the workforce. Harvard alumni have a strong presence at leading companies, with over 1,000 working at Google and over 500 at Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs. More than 250 are employed at Amazon, Meta, and Bain & Company. Post-graduation, many Harvard students find opportunities in New York, California, and Massachusetts, with these states collectively attracting 60% of new alumni. Graduates enjoy excellent remuneration, with over two-thirds reporting starting salaries above $70,000 and 30% earning over $110,000 in base pay.

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College, known for its intimate learning environment and strong alumni network, offers a comprehensive educational experience.

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Academic Highlights: Dartmouth offers over 60 majors and a broad range of course selections for an institution of its size. The learning environment is extraordinarily intimate, with 62% of course sections having fewer than twenty students and 20% having single-digit enrollments. The student-to-faculty ratio is an outstanding 7:1. Approximately 60% of students participate in undergraduate research at some point, with nearly 90% reporting a satisfying experience working with faculty members. Dartmouth’s faculty consistently receives top ratings for quality of instruction.

Professional Outcomes: Dartmouth’s strong reputation and a passionate alumni network of 80,000 members facilitate successful transitions into graduate school and the workforce for its graduates. Recent Dartmouth graduates work for prominent organizations such as Amazon, Apple, Bain & Company, Deloitte, Epic, Google, the NIH, and the Smithsonian Institute. A significant 56% of graduates earn $90,000 or more in salary right after graduation.

Brown University

Brown University, with its emphasis on student-directed learning and interdisciplinary studies, provides a unique academic environment.

Academic Highlights: Brown offers students the opportunity to choose one of over 80 “concentration programs” without any required courses. The university’s philosophy is centered on empowering students to take control of their learning, pursue their passions, and integrate knowledge across disciplines. Class sizes are generally small, with 67% having fewer than twenty students and 32% comprised of nine or fewer students. Student surveys consistently reveal high levels of satisfaction with the quality of instruction and professor availability.

Professional Outcomes: A substantial 63% of Brown graduates enter the workforce soon after receiving their diplomas. Top employers of Brown alumni include Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, Apple, McKinsey & Company, and Meta. Additionally, 33% of recent graduates pursue graduate or professional school directly after completing their undergraduate studies.

Read also: Guide to London Universities

Bowdoin College

Academic Highlights: Bowdoin offers a flexible and broad liberal arts education. Students can choose from one of thirty-three academic programs or create their own interdisciplinary or student-designed major. One-size-fits-all requirements are minimal. Class sizes are small, with 63% containing fewer than twenty students and 19% having fewer than ten students.

Professional Outcomes: An examination of three recent years’ worth of outcomes data reveals that one year after graduation, between 73 and 77% of recent grads have found full-time employment, and 15% have gone directly into graduate school. Only 2-8% are still seeking employment. Recent alumni have found positions at Apple, IBM, Goldman Sachs, Google, HBO, and Microsoft.

Amherst College

Academic Highlights: Amherst offers a “New Curriculum” that requires no specific courses or distribution of credits. Students have the flexibility to pursue their areas of passion and interest from the very start of their collegiate experience. With no burdensome requirements, double majoring is commonplace with over 30-40% of the student body electing to study at least one additional discipline.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 78% of the Class of 2023 were employed full-time, working for employers such as Bain & Company, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and The Fulbright Program. The average starting salary for Amherst graduates is among the highest-paid liberal arts grads in the country.

Wellesley College

Academic Highlights: There are 50+ departmental and interdisciplinary majors offered. Eighteen percent of course sections have single-digit enrollments while 65% have 19 or fewer students. In addition, opportunities for participation in research with faculty members abound, and Wellesley students publish their work at a rate that outshines their peers at comparable institutions. The Summer Science Research Program is cited by many graduates as the most influential part of their educational experience.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 97% of the Class of 2023 had achieved positive outcomes. Of the 72% of grads who were employed, top employers included Microsoft, BlackRock, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase.

Wesleyan University

Academic Highlights: With 46 majors and 32 minors, Wes truly has something for everyone. The academic requirements are relatively minimal, giving undergrads a high degree of intellectual freedom. 76% of class sections have fewer than twenty students; students rave about the accessible faculty. Research opportunities with professors are plentiful. The undergraduate program for Research in the Sciences funds over one hundred students per year to conduct research over the summer.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 66% of recent grads had entered employment. The companies employing the highest numbers of recent Wesleyan grads included JPMorgan Chase, Americorps, Citi, McKinsey, Accenture, AlphaSights, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Graduate school was the next stop for 17% of new alums. Those pursuing advanced degrees have enrolled in a wide range of schools, including elites like MIT, Stanford, Berkeley and most Ivies.

Middlebury College

Academic Highlights: Middlebury offers over 50 majors and the school’s 9:1 student-faculty ratio allows 100% of courses to be taught by professors, not graduate assistants. Most classes are small; the mean class size is 16, and 15% of sections contain fewer than 10 students. The Summer Research at Middlebury program funds 130 students annually to work alongside faculty in a variety of disciplines. Each year, more than 50% of juniors take a semester abroad in one of 75 programs in 40 countries.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 74% of the Class of 2023 had landed jobs and 14% were in graduate school. Google and Meta are now two of the leading employers of alumni alongside Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Amazon, and JP Morgan. More than 100 alumni work in the US State Department and more than two dozen presently work for Apple, Microsoft, McKinsey, and Credit Suisse.

Colby College

Academic Highlights: A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio is put to good instructional use as roughly two-thirds of courses have fewer than 19 students. The school’s “Jan Plan” tacks on a truncated semester during which students can conduct research alongside faculty, pursue internships, or take an accelerated course; 90% of undergraduates participate. An exceptionally high 70% of students study abroad at some point during their four years at Colby.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 95% of the Class of 2023 had either obtained employment or were enrolled full-time in a graduate program. Eighty percent entered the workforce, working for companies such as Amazon, Brown Brothers Harriman, Accenture, Massachusetts General Hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Smith College

Academic Highlights: Smith has 50 academic departments and programs. With only a small number of graduate students to worry about, 19% of undergraduate sections have single-digit enrollments, and 68% of total class sections enroll fewer than 20 students. Nearly half of all students conduct research with a professor by the time they graduate.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 72% of alumnae had found employment. More than 25 alumnae can be found at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, JP Morgan Chase, Fidelity Investments, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, and Accenture. Within 10 years of graduation, 73% of alumnae had enrolled in graduate or professional studies. Recent Smith graduates attended Columbia, Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Johns Hopkins. Massachusetts is the most popular destination for grads, with the largest number heading to Boston or staying in Northampton.

Bates College

Academic Highlights: Eighteen percent of courses at Bates have a single-digit enrollment, and 60% of classrooms contain nineteen or fewer students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1, and not a single graduate student is present to vacuum up professorial attention.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 91% of the Class of 2023 were either employed, enrolled in graduate school, or otherwise meaningfully engaged in a fellowship or internship.

Boston University

Academic Highlights: In total, the university offers more than 300 programs of study, 100+ of which are distinct undergraduate degrees spread across 12 schools/colleges. Many classes at BU are reasonably small-59% contain fewer than twenty students; only 20% contain more than forty. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 94% of recent BU grads have found their way into the world of employment or full-time graduate study. Across all graduating years, companies employing more than 350 BU alums include Google, Oracle, Accenture, IBM, and Amazon Web Services.

Northeastern University

Academic Highlights: Northeastern offers 130 majors and 199 combined majors within nine colleges and programs. Nearly two-thirds of Husky classrooms contain nineteen or fewer students, and 13% have single-digit enrollments. Large lecture hall courses crammed with undergrads are rare at this school-only 7% of sections sport a student enrollment of fifty or more. Since 2006, Northeastern has added an incredible 650+ tenured and tenure-track faculty members.

Professional Outcomes: Nine months after leaving Northeastern, 97% of students have landed at their next employment or graduate school destination. Huskies entering the job market are quickly rounded up by the likes of Amazon, Fidelity Investments, Google, Microsoft, and Apple, all of whom employ 500+ Northeastern alums. Between 200 and 500 employees at Meta, CVS Health, Goldman Sachs, and Tesla have an NU lineage.

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering

Academic Highlights: Perhaps the most highly-regarded school of its size in the entire United States, The Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering was founded in the early 2000s as an experimental, cutting-edge training ground for budding engineers. Many classes are taught in a studio environment to encourage collaboration, and a number of courses are co-taught by professors from different disciplines. Classes are generally reasonably small; 49% of class sections contain fewer than twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: For a school exclusively graduating engineers, it isn’t a surprise that alumni tend to find good-paying jobs. The average salary for recent graduates is in excess of $100,000. Over the past decade, the companies employing the greatest number of alumni are Amazon Robotics, Ford, Apple, Microsoft, SpaceX, and Tesla. Olin College of Engineering undergrads have gone on to prestigious graduate engineering programs in impressive numbers.

Other Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts

Massachusetts boasts a diverse array of higher education institutions, catering to a wide range of academic and professional interests. These institutions include fourteen research universities, twenty-one master's universities, and thirty-four special-focus institutions. The majority, eighty-five, are private, with five operating as for-profit entities.

Public Institutions:

The University of Massachusetts Amherst: As the state's sole public land-grant university and the flagship institution of the University of Massachusetts system, UMass Amherst offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Private Institutions:

Religious Institutions: Massachusetts is home to eleven Catholic post-secondary institutions, including Boston College, the College of the Holy Cross, Merrimack College and Stonehill College, as well as two Judaic post-secondary institutions, Brandeis University and Hebrew College.
Medical Schools: The state has four medical schools: Boston University School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Tufts University School of Medicine.
Law Schools: There are eight law schools accredited by the American Bar Association, along with Massachusetts School of Law, which holds accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Additional Institutions:

American International College
Anna Maria College
Assumption College
Babson College
Bay Path University
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
Bentley University
Berklee College of Music
Berkshire Community College
Boston Architectural College
Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc
Bridgewater State University
Bristol Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
Cambridge College
Cape Cod Community College
Clark University
Curry College
Dean College
Our College of the Lady of the Elms
Emerson College
Emmanuel College
Endicott College
Fisher College
Fitchburg State University
Framingham State University
Gordon College
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Greenfield Community College
Hampshire College
Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Holyoke Community College
Hult International Business School
Laboure College
Lassell College
Lesley University
Longy School of Music of Bard College
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massasoit Community College
MCPHS University
MGH Institute of Health Professions
Middlesex Community College
Montserrat College of Art
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Wachusett Community College
New England College of Optometry
The New England Conservatory of Music
New England School of Law
Nichols College
North Shore Community College

Defunct Institutions

Over the years, at least eighty-two colleges and universities have closed in Massachusetts, starting with Worcester Medical Institute in 1859. These defunct institutions include numerous private colleges and the public Hyannis State Teachers College. Many schools were also integrated into modern public universities, forming the origins of the Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell campuses of the University of Massachusetts system. Some private institutions merged with other private institutions, ceasing to grant degrees, while others, like the Swedenborg School of Religion, relocated to California and merged with the Pacific School of Religion. The Bible Normal School, originally founded in Massachusetts, moved to Connecticut before being merged into the Hartford Seminary.

Accreditation

The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) accredits a diverse range of institutions, including public and private colleges, open-access institutions, graduate-only schools, liberal arts colleges, and research universities. While most member institutions are located within the six New England states, NECHE also accredits institutions across the United States and internationally.

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