Massachusetts has 148 colleges and universities, more per square mile than any other US state: 42 public and 106 private, spread across 86 four-year institutions, 22 community colleges and 40 vocational schools. Together they enroll 484,937 undergraduate and graduate students in a state of roughly seven million people.
That density is the reason to study here and the reason housing is hard. In Boston, student demand is concentrated enough that the entire rental market runs on a single date. Almost every lease in the city starts on September 1, landlords begin listing in January, and if you arrive in August expecting to find something you will be looking at whatever nobody else wanted.
This guide covers what the state actually offers, what it costs, and how to plan the housing side around that date.
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How Many Colleges Are in Massachusetts?
| Category | Count |
| Total institutions | 148 |
| Public | 42 |
| Private, not-for-profit | 76 |
| Private, for-profit | 30 |
| Four-year institutions | 86 |
| Community colleges | 22 |
| Degree programs available | 7,944 |
Statewide averages for 2024-25: acceptance rate 61.31%, graduation rate 64.30%, student-to-faculty ratio 11.64 to 1, retention rate 75.26%.
The averages hide enormous spread. Northeastern admits under 6% of applicants while UMass Boston admits nearly 84%. Treat any statewide number as a starting point, never as a guide to your own odds.
What Colleges in Massachusetts Cost
Average tuition and fees for 2024-25:
| * | In-state | In-state |
| Undergraduate | Undergraduate | $31,232 |
| Graduate | $25,979 | $30,385 |
The in-state and out-of-state gap is unusually narrow here, because private institutions dominate the state and charge the same regardless of residency. The real split is public versus private, not resident versus non-resident. A Massachusetts resident at UMass Amherst pays a fraction of what the same student pays at Boston University.
Housing is the line that surprises people. In Boston, a room in a shared apartment runs roughly $1,100 to $1,500 per person in Allston and Brighton, $1,300 to $1,700 in Mission Hill and Roxbury, and $1,800 or more in Fenway and Kenmore. A studio of your own is $2,800 to $3,000. Utilities add $100 to $250 a month on top.
Figures flagged for review. Rent moves every leasing cycle and these ranges are from 2026 listings. Confirm against current listings before you budget.
Where Students Live in Massachusetts
Four areas account for most student housing in the state.
Boston and the inner suburbs. The largest concentration by far. Boston University, Northeastern, UMass Boston, Emerson, Berklee, Suffolk and the New England Conservatory all sit inside the city, with Boston College, Harvard, MIT and Tufts in Brookline, Cambridge and Medford on the MBTA. Rent is the highest in the state and the September 1 cycle is at its most brutal here. Browse student accommodation in Boston for what is currently available.
Amherst and the Pioneer Valley. UMass Amherst anchors the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith. Rent is far lower than Boston, the free PVTA bus network links the towns, and housing spreads into Hadley, Sunderland and Northampton. See student accommodation in Amherst, and our detailed guide to UMass Amherst off campus housing covers the area rent by rent.
Worcester. Clark University, WPI, Holy Cross and UMass Chan Medical School, at noticeably lower rent than Boston with commuter rail into the city. Student accommodation in Worcester is the practical middle ground for students who want a city without Boston prices.
The Berkshires and the far west. Williams College in Williamstown and MCLA in North Adams. Beautiful, rural, and you will need a car. Purpose-built student housing barely exists.
Acceptance Rates at Massachusetts Colleges
The state spans nearly the full range of US selectivity. These are the institutions students ask about most:
| Institution | Acceptance rate | Cycle | Guide |
| Northeastern University | ~5.6% | Class of 2029 | Northeastern acceptance rate |
| Boston University | 12.8% | Class of 2029 | Boston University acceptance rate |
| UMass Amherst | 60% | Class of 2028 | UMass Amherst acceptance rate |
| UMass Boston | 83.78% | 2024-25 | UMass Boston acceptance rate |
One pattern worth understanding before you apply: at the selective Boston privates, applying Early Decision changes your odds more than anything else in your control. Boston University admitted 31.3% of its Early Decision applicants against 12.8% overall, and Northeastern's Early Decision rate runs around 40% against under 5% in Regular Decision. The trade-off is that Early Decision is binding, so you commit before you can compare financial aid offers.
The September 1 Problem
This is the single most important thing to know about studying in Massachusetts, and almost no college guide mentions it.
Boston's rental market runs on an annual cycle ending on September 1. Landlords list for the following September as early as January. By June, the good apartments near campus are gone. Because so many leases turn over on one day, moving companies, elevators and even parking are booked out for that week.
What that means in practice:
- Start looking in January or February for a September start, not in the summer.
- Budget for four payments up front. Massachusetts law generally allows first month's rent, last month's rent, and a security deposit of no more than one month's rent. Add a broker fee, often another month's rent, and a $2,000 room can cost $8,000 before you get keys. Confirm who is responsible for the broker fee in writing, since the rules on this have been changing.
- Your security deposit has rules. It must be held in a separate account, you are entitled to a receipt and a written statement of the apartment's condition, and deductions at move-out must be itemised. Photograph every room on the day you move in.
If you are arriving from overseas with no US rental history, read renting without a credit history in the USA and co-signing student leases in the USA before you start applying, because a guarantor takes time to arrange and Boston landlords will ask.
On Campus or Off?
Most Massachusetts four-year institutions guarantee housing for first-year students and many require it. After that you choose.
On campus in Boston is often competitive with off-campus rent once you account for the broker fee, utilities and the fact that university contracts run for the academic year rather than twelve months. Off campus gives you more space, a kitchen and the summer, but you carry a full-year lease and pay for July and August whether you are there or not.
Our comparison of college dorms versus off-campus housing works through the trade-off properly, and how to book on-campus housing at US universities covers the application side. If you are viewing private apartments, take our apartment tour checklist with you.
Who Massachusetts Suits
A strong fit if you want the highest concentration of institutions in the country, intend to use co-ops or internships in a major city, value public transport over driving, or want a small liberal arts college within reach of a big city.
Think carefully if you are on a tight housing budget, cannot pay four months of costs up front, dislike cold winters, or need to arrive in late August, which is the worst possible timing in Boston.
The community college route is genuinely strong here. Massachusetts has 22 community colleges with transfer pathways into the UMass system, and it is the most effective way to cut the cost of a four-year degree in an expensive state. See the best community colleges in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Massachusetts?
There are 148 active colleges and universities: 42 public and 106 private, including 86 four-year institutions and 22 community colleges.
What are the best colleges in Massachusetts?
The state includes Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, Williams, Amherst and Wellesley, alongside the UMass system. "Best" depends on your subject, budget and whether you want a city or a small campus, so compare acceptance rates and total cost rather than rankings alone.
How much does college cost in Massachusetts?
Average 2024-25 undergraduate tuition and fees were $27,152 in-state and $31,232 out-of-state. Private institutions charge the same to residents and non-residents, so the meaningful split is public versus private.
What is the average acceptance rate for colleges in Massachusetts?
About 61.31% across all institutions, but the spread is extreme: Northeastern admits under 6% while UMass Boston admits nearly 84%.
Which city in Massachusetts is best for students?
Boston has the most institutions and the most expensive housing. Amherst is far cheaper with a strong five-college community. Worcester sits in between, with lower rent and commuter rail into Boston.
Why do Boston leases all start on September 1?
It is a long-established annual turnover cycle. Landlords list for the following September from January onwards, which means you should search five to eight months ahead rather than over the summer.
How much do I need up front to rent in Boston?
Typically first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of up to one month's rent, and often a broker fee of another month. On a $2,000 room that is around $8,000. Confirm the broker fee arrangement in writing.
Do Massachusetts colleges require first-year students to live on campus?
Many do, and most guarantee first-year housing. Policies differ by institution, so check with the housing office before assuming you can live off campus in year one.
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The Bottom Line
The colleges in Massachusetts give you more choice than any comparable area in the US, from 22 community colleges to some of the most selective universities in the world. The cost of that density is the housing market, and specifically the September 1 cycle in Boston. Pick your institution on fit and total cost rather than the statewide averages, then start the housing search in January. In this state, timing is the difference between a good apartment and whatever is left.