9 Massachusetts Colleges Among Best In Country, U.S. News Says In New Ranking

MASSACHUSETTS — Nine Massachusetts colleges were ranked among the top 100 in the country, according to new 2026 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

The rankings evaluated 1,700 colleges and universities using more than a dozen measures of academic quality, U.S. News said in a news release.

This year in its rankings, U.S. News prioritized social mobility — that is, its record in enrolling and graduating students from all backgrounds with manageable debt — and post-graduate success, including earnings.

Here’s how Massachusetts schools fared in national rankings:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, #2

Harvard University, #3

Boston College, #36 (tied)

Tufts University, #36 (tied)

Boston University, #42

Northeastern University, #46

University of Massachusetts Amherst, #64

Brandeis University, #69

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, #84

Included in the 2025 report are specialized rankings such as the best value schools, most innovative colleges, top performers on social mobility and historically Black colleges and universities, as well as universities with the greatest commitment to undergraduate teaching.

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Other specialty rankings include programs that enhance student experiences, including first-year experiences, service learning, studying abroad and undergraduate research and creative projects.

Harvard University and MIT are both also in the top five of the best value school rankings. MIT also came in on the top spot of the list of undergraduate engineering programs. Northeastern came in at #5 for most innovative schools in the country.

The top national universities are:

1. Princeton University (New Jersey)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. Harvard University (Massachusetts)
4 (tie). Stanford University (California)
4 (tie). Yale University (Connecticut)
6. University of Chicago (Illinois)
7 (tie). Duke University (North Carolina)
7 (tie). Johns Hopkins University (Maryland)
7 (tie). Northwestern University (Illinois)
7 (tie). University of Pennsylvania

LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in a news release that for more than four decades, the publication’s rankings have served as a trusted, data-backed resource for students and their families as they navigate the complex college search process.

“Over the years, Best Colleges has evolved into a comprehensive tool that reflects the changing landscape of higher education, providing prospective students with a crucial starting point to identify schools that align with their academic and personal goals,” Jones said.

Read more about the methodology on U.S. News & World Report.

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