For students looking to earn an online education from a nonprofit college or university located in Massachusetts, we’ve compiled a list of our top picks for online universities and colleges located within the state. These programs have all been selected based upon their average tuition price, as well as the amount and type of programs available.
Ranking the Top Online Colleges in MA
#1. Worcester State University
Established in 1874, Worcester State University is a public university. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester State University was originally established as the Massachusetts State Normal School at Worcester. At the time, the Massachusetts State Normal School at Worcester was one of nine teacher training schools in the entire state of Massachusetts. Having become a major center of industry in the state of Massachusetts, Worcester was in dire need of an institution to train teachers in order to educate the areas growing populace. Meeting this need, the Massachusetts State Normal School at Worcester soon grew to become more than just a teacher training facility. In 1921, the school was renamed as Worcester State Teachers College following the expansion of the academic programs offered to students at the institution. Now offering full-time degree programs, Worcester State Teachers College was now under threat of closure due to an initiative to shutter some of the states teacher training facilities. However, Worcester State Teachers College was spared this fate and was renamed to Worcester State College in 1952. Now known as Worcester State University, the school now is home to a student body of just over 6,600 students.
Featured Programs
Students at Worcester State University are given the opportunity of choosing from a large selection of academic programs offered to students at the school. Currently, students at Worcester State University are able to choose from over sixty different undergraduate programs as well as almost thirty different graduate degrees. Many of these programs are also offered to students entirely online. By offering these programs online, Worcester State University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Worcester State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Worcester State University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $130/credit
Click here for a list of Worcester State University’s online programs.
#2. Westfield State University
Located in Westfield, Massachusetts, Westfield State University is a public university. Established in 1839, Westfield State University was first established as the Westfield Normal School. Founded by Horace Mann, the Westfield Normal School has the distinction of being the first public coeducational school for teacher education in the entire United States. The school was initially located in Barre, Massachusetts but relocated to Westfield, Massachusetts five years after its founding. Offering junior-college level educations for almost an entire century, the Westfield Normal School added four-year degree programs to its curriculum in 1939 which also prompted the school to be renamed to Westfield State Teachers College. The name of the college was changed once again in 1960 to the State College at Westfield. This same decade, the State College at Westfield began to incorporate graduate degree programs into its academic offerings. Developing its graduate degrees into the 21st century, the State College at Westfield was renamed to Westfield State University in 2010. Today, Westfield State University enrolls a student body of approximately 5,500 students.
Home to the Owls, Westfield State University offers its students a variety of different academic programs from which to enroll. Students at Westfield State University can choose from over thirty different undergraduate degree programs offered at the school as well as around two dozen different graduate degrees. Westfield State University offers a sizable selection of these programs to students entirely online helping the school to rank among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Westfield State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Westfield State University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $297/credit
Click here for a list of Westfield State University’s online programs.
#3. Fitchburg State University
Founded in 1894, Fitchburg State University is a public university located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Established by the Massachusetts Legislature, Fitchburg State University was originally named the State Normal School in Fitchburg. One of Massachusetts’ original nine state teachers schools, the State Normal School in Fitchburg was established in order to train and teach teachers who would then go on to work within the states public education system. Operating in this capacity for nearly forty years, the State Normal School in Fitchburg began to offer students four-year degree programs in 1930. This change soon brought about a name change for the school to the State Teachers College at Fitchburg. Attracting more students to its programs, the State Teachers College at Fitchburg began to expand its curriculum beyond that of teacher education. Slowly adding more degree programs it was eventually decided in 1960 that the school was to be renamed to the State College at Fitchburg. Five years later the school was renamed once again to Fitchburg State College and then finally to Fitchburg State University in 2010. Today, Fitchburg State University is home to a student body of almost 7,000 students.
Fitchburg State University maintains a sizable catalog of academic programs for students to enroll in. At this moment, Fitchburg State University offers students the ability to enroll in almost sixty different undergraduate degree programs as well as dozens of graduate level degree programs. Offering a selection of these academic programs to students online, Fitchburg State University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusets. Fitchburg State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Fitchburg State University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $308/credit
Click here for a list of Fitchburg State University’s online programs.
#4. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
One of the five members of the University of Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public research university. Established in 1895, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth was originally made up of two different academic institutions. In 1895, the Massachusetts Legislature called for the creation of two new institutions within the state: the New Bedford Textile School and the Bradford Durfee Textile School. Both renamed to New Bedford Institute of Textiles and Technology and Bradford Durfee College of Technology, respectively, the two new schools grew popular in the early half of the 20th century. In 1962, the Massachusetts Legislature decided that the two schools should be combined into one new institution. Called the Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute, the school was soon expanded and renamed to Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1969. Quickly expanding under its new identity, Southeastern Massachusetts University added additional academic programs to its curriculum. In 1991, the school was absorbed into the UMass System and was renamed to the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Located in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth is now home to a student body of almost 8,700 students.
Home to the Corsairs, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth currently operates a large array of different academic programs for students to enroll in. Currently, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth offers students fifty-one Bachelor’s degrees, twenty-five Master’s degrees, and a dozen doctoral programs. A selection of these programs is also made available to students entirely online. By offering these programs entirely online, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth has earned its place among the top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth is a public institution.
Accreditation: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $322/credit
Click here for a list of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s online programs.
#5. Dean College
Founded in 1865, Dean College is a private college in Franklin, Massachusetts. Established with the Latin motto “Forti et Fideli Nihil Difficile“, Dean College was founded by Dr. Oliver Dean. A coeducational school from the very outset, Dean College was made possible through a sizable donation of land and money by Dr. Oliver Dean. Dr. Oliver Dean was a medical doctor who played a major role in the Industrial Revolution in Massachusetts by operating a variety of businesses including the Amoskeag Mills in Manchester, New Hampshire. Founder of the Universalist Church, Dr. Oliver Dean hoped to incorporate the teachings of his church into the curriculum at the Dean Academy. Operating as an academy for decades, the school added a junior college program to its curriculum following World War II. Wanting to provide educations to those seeking to take advantage of the GI Bill, this change in curriculum helped attract many new students to the institution. With the influx of new students came new funding that allowed the school to be revitalized. By the 1990s, the school had changed dramatically and was now offering undergraduate degree programs to its students. This prompted the school to be renamed once more to Dean College. Today, Dean College enrolls a student body of around 1,350 students.
Students at Dean College are able to select from a modest selection of academic programs offered at the school. At this time, Dean College offers twenty different undergraduate majors for students to choose from. A selection of these academic programs is also offered to students online. By offering these programs online, Dean College has earned a place among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Dean College is a private institution.
Accreditation: Dean College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $325/credit
Click here for a list of Dean College’s online programs.
#6. Endicott College
A private college, Endicott College is located in Beverly, Massachusetts. Established in 1939, Endicott College was originally established as the Endicott Junior College. Founded by Elanor Tupper and her husband George O. Bierkoe, Endicott College originally functioned as a two-year women’s college. The school was designed in order to help educate women so they can thrive independently in the modern era while also affording them the education needed to succeed in the workforce. The school was named after John Endicott who was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony as well as one of the earliest overseers of Harvard University. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Endicott College provided high-quality educations to women. But it wasn’t until 1944 that Endicott College received accreditation to offer students Associate’s degrees. Eight years later, Endicott College received additional accreditation to offer students Bachelor’s degree programs. This change in curriculum prompted the school to be renamed to its current name of Endicott College. The school began admitting male students into its programs in 1994 making the institution coeducational. Today, Endicott College enrolls a student body of over 5,000 students.
Students at Endicott College are able to select degrees from a wide selection of academic programs made available at the school. Currently, students at Endicott College are able to choose from almost two dozen different Bachelor’s degrees as well as over a dozen different graduate and postgraduate programs. Endicott College also offers a selection of these programs to students entirely online. By offering these programs online, Endicott College has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Endicott College is a private institution.
Accreditation: Endicott College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $349/credit
Click here for a list of Endicott College’s online programs.
#7. Framingham State University
Established in 1839, Framingham State University is a public university located in Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded on the motto “Live to the Truth”, Framingham State University was established by order of Massachusetts’ first Secretary of the Board of Education, Horace Mann. Calling for the creation of experimental normal schools across the state. The first experimental normal school was established in 1839 in Lexington, Massachusetts. Growing rather quickly, the Lexington Normal School was forced to move to West Newton in 1843, and then again to Bare Hill in Framingham in 1953. Now located in Framingham, the normal school worked to provided educations in teaching to students interested in working in the state’s public education system. Initially only offering junior college level courses, the Framingham Normal School began offering Bachelor’s degrees in Education in 1922. As college degrees became more commonplace, Framingham Normal School was renamed to Framingham State Teachers College. The Framingham State Teachers College began to offer students academic programs beyond the scope of just education. This change prompted the school to be renamed to the State College at Framingham and then eventually Framingham State University in 2010. Today, Framingham State University is home to a student body of almost 6,500 students.
Students at Framingham State University are able to choose from a wide selection of academic programs offered to students at the institution. Across Framingham State University’s undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate offerings, students at the school can choose from almost 100 different programs. Framingham State University offers a selection of these programs to students entirely online, earning Framingham State University a place among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Framingham State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Framingham State University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $352/credit
Click here for a list of Framingham State University’s online programs.
#8. Fisher College
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Fisher College is a private college. Established with the motto “Everywhere Faithful”, Fisher College was founded by Myron C. Fisher and Edmund H. Fisher in 1903. Originally known as the Winter Hill Business College, the school was established in order to provide students with the opportunity to get an education in business. Modern for its time, the curriculum at the Winter Hill Business College put a large emphasis on vocational preparation in training. Myron C. Fisher and Edmund H. Fisher both believed that by providing students with the chance to gain actual work experience, those students would go on to be much more successful in the workplace. In 1910, the school was renamed to Fisher Business College in honor of Myron C. Fisher and Edmund H. Fisher. Originally located in Somerville, Massachusetts, the Winter Hill Business College was relocated to its current location in Boston in 1939. During the 1940s, the school was split into two different schools: The Fisher School for Men and the Fisher School for Women. This change lasted until 1998 at which point the two different colleges were rejoined. This same year, Fisher College added its Online Division. Today, Fisher College enrolls over 1,000 students.
Home of the Falcons, Fisher College offers students the chance to enroll in a large selection of academic programs offered at the school. Today, Fisher College offers students over two dozen different undergraduate degree programs to enroll in as well as a half-dozen different graduate programs to enroll in. Fisher College offers a large portion of its academic programs online to students. By offering these programs online, Fisher College has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Fisher College is a private institution.
Accreditation: Fisher College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Tuition: $369/credit
#9. University of Massachusetts Amherst
A public research university, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the flagship university of the University of Massachusetts system. Established in 1863, the University of Massachusetts Amherst was funded through the Federal Morrill Lant-Grant Colleges Act. Created in order to give Massachusetts an institution that would teach students about “agricultural, mechanical, and military arts”, the University of Massachusetts Amherst was founded as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. While officially established in1863, the school had not admitted its first class of students until 1867. With a slow start, the Massachusetts Agricultural College soon began to pick up momentum. By the beginning of the 20th century, the Massachusetts Agricultural College had begun to hit its stride and enrollment numbers were up. As more students attended the school, the school was able to expand its curriculum. In 1931, the school was renamed to the Massachusetts State College in order to reflect its expanded curriculum. Massachusetts State College was renamed once again in 1947 to the University of Massachusetts. In 2003, the University of Massachusetts was given the distinction of being the flagship university of the UMass system. Currently, the University of Massachusetts Amherst enrolls a student body of over 30,000 students.
Home to the Minutemen and Minutewomen, the University of Massachusetts Amherst maintains a large curriculum of programs for students to enroll in. Currently, students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst can pick from over 110 different undergraduate degree programs, seventy-five Master’s degrees, and almost fifty doctoral programs. The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers many of these programs online to students through the UMass Online program. With this large online offering, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution.
Accreditation: University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $371/credit
Click here for a list of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s online programs.
#10. University of Massachusetts Lowell
Part of the University of Massachusetts System, the University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public research university. Located in Lowell, Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts Lowell was founded in 1894. The history of the University of Massachusetts Lowell can be traced back through two distinct institutions. During the 1890s, Lowell State College was founded on the northern side of the Merrimack River and Lowell Technological Institute was founded on the southern side of the river. Lowell State College began as Lowell Normal School. The Lowell Normal School was established in order to provide training in education for students who were interested in working as teachers in the state’s public education system. The Lowell Technological Institute was founded as the Lowell Textile School and focused on providing vocational training to students interested in working in the textile industry. Both very popular institutions, Lowell State College and Lowell Technological Institute grew throughout the 20th century. In the 1970s, it became clear that these two schools would need to be joined in order to facilitate the growth of both schools. In 1975, the two schools were joined and named the University of Lowell and then renamed to the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1991. Currently, the University of Massachusetts is home to a student body of over 18,000 students.
Home of the River Hawks, the University of Massachusetts Lowell offers a large collection of an academic program for students to enroll in. Currently, the University of Massachusetts Lowell offers over 120 Bachelor’s programs, over forty Master’s degrees, and over thirty-five doctoral programs. A large amount of these programs are also offered online through the UMass Online system. Through this college of programs, the University of Massachusetts Lowell has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution.
Accreditation: University of Massachusetts Lowell is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $375/credit
Click here for a list of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell’s online programs.
#11. Northeastern University
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university. Established with the motto “Light, Truth, Courage”, Northeastern University was first known as the Evening Institute for Younger Men. Located within the Huntington Avenue YMCA in downtown Boston, the school was established in order to provide nontraditional students with an opportunity for an education. At the time, many adults were interested in expanding their knowledge and gaining a higher education but were unable to do so due to working day jobs. The Evening Institute for Younger Men provided students with an alternative program that allowed them to study at night. Proving quite popular the school continued to attract students into the 20th century. Adding day classes in 1909, it soon became clear that the Evening Institute for Younger Men was growing into something more closely resembling a traditional college. In 1916, the school was renamed Northeastern College. Continuing its rapid growth, Northeastern College began adding more and more programs into its curriculum. Five years after being named Northeastern College, the school was renamed Northeastern University in order to better reflect the scope of programs offered at the school. Today, Northeastern University has grown to enroll a student body of almost 25,500 students.
Home of the Huskies, Northeastern University maintains a large selection of academic programs for students to choose from. At this time, students at Northeastern University can enroll in undergraduate majors across sixty-five different departments as well as over 125 different graduate programs. A large selection of these programs is also offered to students entirely online. Through this commitment to online learning, Northeastern University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Northeastern University is a private institution.
Accreditation: Northeastern University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $378/credit
Click here for a list of Northeastern University’s online programs.
#12. Bay Path University
A private research university, Bay Path University was established in 1897. Located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Bay Path University was first established in Springfield, Massachusetts. Known as the Bay Path Institute, Bay Path University originally operated as a coeducational institute that focused on business education, teacher training, secretarial science, and accounting. The name of the school was derived from its location along the Boston Post Road known as the Bay Path. From the very outset, Bay Path University proved to be very popular. By the early 1900s, the Bay Path Institute had grown so much in popularity that it had begun purchasing nearby business schools including the Clawson-Hamilton Business School of Brattleboro and the Griffin Business School. Soon, the Bay Path Institute had grown to become one of the most successful business school in the Northeast. However, World War II put a lot of strain on the institution and the school was forced to relocate to its current location in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The school’s name was changed to the Bay Path Secretarial School and was reinvented as a women’s college. The school was then renamed to Bay Path Junior College and finally to Bay Path University in 2014. Currently, Bay Path University enrolls approximately 3,300 students.
Students at Bay Path University are afforded the opportunity to enroll in a large selection of academic programs offered by the school. Currently, Bay Path University is offering students over thirty different Bachelor’s programs as well as twenty-five Master’s degrees. A selection of these programs is made available to students entirely online helping the school earn its place among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Bay Path University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Bay Path University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $400/credit
Click here for a list of Bay Path University’s online programs.
#13. Boston University
Established in 1839, Boston University is a private research university located in downtown Boston. Founded on the motto “Learning, Virtue, Piety”, Boston University can trace its roots all the way back to the Newbury Biblical Institute located in Newbury, Vermont. In the late 1830s, a group of Methodist ministers in Boston began discussing plans to establish a Methodist theological school. After considering a variety of different locations, the Methodist ministers decided to establish their biblical institute in the nearby town of Newbury, Vermont. Proving to be quite popular, the Congregational Society in Concord, New Hampshire offered the Newbury Biblical Institute the opportunity to relocate to the town of Concord. Moving to Concord, the school was renamed to the Methodist General Biblical Institute. After staying in Concord for the contractually-obligated twenty years, the Methodist General Biblical Institute was relocated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1867. Renamed to Boston Theological Institute, the school was soon chartered as Boston University in 1869. Since then, Boston University has become a major part of the culture and history of downtown Boston. Growing to become one of the premier research universities in the region, Boston University is now home to a student body of approximately 33,000 students.
Students at Boston University can choose from a massive selection of academic programs to enroll in. Currently, Boston University offers over 250 different degree programs across its undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate offerings. A large selection of these programs is also made available to students entirely online. Boston University has earned a place among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts because of their commitment to online education. Boston University is a private institution.
Accreditation: Boston University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $435/credit
Click here for a list of Boston University’s online programs.
#14. Wentworth Institute of Technology
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the Wentworth Institute of Technology is a private university. Established in 1904, Wentworth Institute of Technology was founded with the motto “Honesty, Energy, Economy, System”. In 1903, successful Boston entrepreneur Arioch Wentworth donated the vast majority of his estate to the founding of an industrial school within the city of Boston. The following year, the Wentworth Institute was founded in order to carry out his dream of creating a school for the mechanical arts in Boston. Seven years later, the Wentworth Institute enrolled its first class of students. Enrollment at Wentworth Institute of Technology quickly grew. Over the course of the first half of the 20th century, more and more students enrolled at the school which prompted the Wentworth Institute to expand its curriculum. By 1957, the Wentworth Institute had begun to offer students Bachelor’s degrees. In 1972, the Wentworth Institute enrolled its first female student. Renamed to the Wentworth Institute of Technology in 1977, the school continued to grow into the institution that it is today. Still located in downtown Boston, the Wentworth Institute of Technology has now grown to enroll almost 5,000 students.
Today, students at Wentworth Institute of Technology can choose from a focused selection of academic programs made available at the institute. Currently, students can choose from almost twenty different Bachelor’s degree programs as well as an assortment of Master’s degrees. Many of these programs are also offered to students online, helping Wentworth Institute of Technology to earn a place among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. Wentworth Institute of Technology is a private institution.
Accreditation: Wentworth Institute of Technology is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $475/credit
Click here for a list of Wentworth Institute of Technology’s online programs.
#15. University of Massachusetts Boston
A member of the University of Massachusetts System, the University of Massachusetts Boston is a public research university. The third-largest campus in the University of Massachusetts System, the University of Massachusetts Boston was founded in 1964. Prior to the founding of the University of Massachusetts Boston, there was only one public university serving people of Massachusetts: the University of Massachusetts Amherst This proved to be quite problematic as more and more students attempted to enroll in the University of Massachusetts Amherst. By the 1960s, the University of Massachusetts Amherst had reached a point that it was rejecting qualified candidates solely because the school had run out of space. To remedy this problem, the Massachusetts Legislature called for the creation of a new University of Massachusetts in Boston. Named the University of Massachusetts Boston, this new school would help alleviate the pressure on the University of Massachusetts Amherst while also giving the people of Boston greater access to a higher education. Growing rapidly, the University of Massachusetts took over the neighborhood of Dorchester and soon absorbed Boston State College. Today, the University of Massachusetts Boston has grown its student body to almost 17,000 students.
Students at the University of Massachusetts Boston offers students a large catalog of degree programs for students to choose from. Currently, the University of Massachusetts Boston offers hundreds of academic programs including undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees. Of these programs, a large selection is made available online through the UMass Online system. Because of this, the University of Massachusetts Boston has earned a place among our top online universities and colleges in Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution.
Accreditation: University of Massachusetts Boston is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Tuition: $546/credit
Click here for a list of the University of Massachusetts Boston’s online programs.
Related:
Largest Nonprofit Online Universities
Top Scholarships for Online Students
Affordable Nonprofit Online Colleges
