2021 Top U.S. Colleges for International Students in the Boston Area
Explore the best universities in the U.S. for international students based on reviews, rankings, and statistics. These are the top schools where international students make up more than 10% of the student body, or there are more than 1000 international students enrolled. Some of these best universities in the U.S. offer international students financial aid packages, and others have great communities of international students. Find the best universities in the U.S.A for students on F1 visas, students studying abroad, or students who want to experience American education. Explore our profiles or inquire directly with the colleges for more information on programs and prices. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
View On Map
COLLEGE TYPE
GENERAL AREA OF STUDYSelect an area of study to view top schools for students studying in those general fields.
SPECIFIC MAJORSelect a major to filter your search to only schools that offer degrees in that specific major or program. Enter a major before choosing whether you want to study online or on campus.
ONLINE FRIENDLINESSOnline categories are primarily based on the number of majors that can be completed online. For more information view the college’s Niche profile or visit the college’s website.
COST (NET PRICE)Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Select a value
$
STUDENT BODY SIZEEnrollment for full-time undergraduates. Small: Less than 5,000, Medium: 5-15,000, Large: More than 15,000.
SPECIALTY
YOUR TEST SCORESSelect a value that matches your actual or expected total score on the ACT or SAT. For the SAT, please choose the sum of your Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing scores.
Select a value
Select a value
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
SELECTIVITYSelectivity based on acceptance rate. Extremely Selective: < 15%, Very Selective: 15%-30%, Selective: 30%-60%, Average: 60%-90%, Not Selective: > 90%.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
GOOD FORA critical mass of the student body falls within the specified group, low and middle income students pay a reasonable net price, the school participates in tuition relief programs for veterans, and the school’s overall Niche Grade is above a B-.
STARTING SALARY AFTER GRADUATIONMedian salary of all students at the school employed 2 years after graduation.
Best Colleges
Your Best FitBETA
Best Value
Best Student Life
More search topics
Sort Your List
Highlight what’s most important to you.
16 results
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4 Year CAMBRIDGE, MA
Rating 4.12 out of 5 633 reviews
1 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Junior: MIT is an outstanding university with numerous and diverse opportunities in research and academics. Classes at MIT are indeed difficult, with homework and associated studying consuming a large chunk of time. The beauty of this is that it pushes students to go above and beyond their previous understanding of what they believed themselves to be capable of. Additionally, the explorative and creative atmosphere which springs from the vibrancy of the student body and the faculty is second to none. There are so many chances to do great things at MIT, even as an undergrad!
Read 633 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
7%
Acceptance Rate
$20,465
Net Price
1510-1570
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?Compare
Harvard University
4 Year CAMBRIDGE, MA
Rating 4.13 out of 5 761 reviews
2 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Works Here: Harvard University is one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the nation and the world. The rigor and the quality of education is what gave Harvard global recognition. Although the college admissions process may be intricate, the idea of attending Harvard some day would be an astonishing achievement. Harvard University, unlike any other institution in the United States, is confined to a few scholars. The school is small, yet the name instantly gives you a stimulant to boost your self-esteem. I always favored quality over quantity. Harvard University was founded in 1636 by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, and was named after its first donor, Reverend John Harvard. Attending this university would feed my obsession with history. I come to from a humble background, yet stepping into the shoes of these historic visionaries will be the highlight of my potential career and, possibly, my life.
Read 761 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
5%
Acceptance Rate
$18,030
Net Price
1460-1570
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Tufts University
4 Year MEDFORD, MA
Rating 3.67 out of 5 1,013 reviews
3 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Freshman: My first year at Tufts has been a great experience. The (relatively) new engineering building is beautiful, and a new computer science building, as well as a subway station, are to open next year. I’ve received a lot of support and encouragement from my professors. Although Tufts doesn’t have a huge campus, there is always something to do. Whether you want to get involved academically or socially, there is something for everybody. The quality of life at Tufts is superb. The town has shops and restaurants within walking distance. But if you need to go a little further, there is a student-run club that provides bikeshares. Cannot recommend this school enough!
Read 1,013 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
15%
Acceptance Rate
$26,280
Net Price
1390-1540
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Wellesley College
4 Year WELLESLEY, MA
Rating 3.74 out of 5 590 reviews
4 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Sophomore: I have had the best two years of my life at Wellesley College and I’m excited about what comes in the remaining two as well. It has a great environment that is both encouraging and supportive in every aspect. The size of the school is perfect. I really like the small classrooms and the ability to get to know my professors and classmates well. It also allows for detailed and fruitful discussions during the lectures and seminars. I have been in a class of eight people in my first year! Apart from academic excellence, Wellesley also offers a wide range of clubs and sports where a student can easily find a group of friends like family. I also really like the lush green beautiful campus and Lake Waban.
Read 590 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
22%
Acceptance Rate
$19,805
Net Price
1360-1530
SAT Range
Compare Your Favorites
Add this to your list to save it for later.
Add to List
Will You Get In?Compare
Northeastern University
4 Year BOSTON, MA
Rating 3.71 out of 5 3,492 reviews
6 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Alum: The campus is great. It’s one of the few city schools that actually feels like a real campus – with clearly defined areas and greenery and everything. Boston is a great area to be for college, with all the culture, entertainment, and other schools around. And Northeastern is in the heart of it all! Also, Northeastern had plenty of clubs and activities for academic or recreational purposes. The co-op program is genius, and abroad opportunities are also unique. I loved it. It just doesn’t get five stars because the journalism program wasn’t evolved and well-connected enough.
Read 3,492 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
18%
Acceptance Rate
$36,479
Net Price
1390-1540
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?Compare
Boston University
4 Year BOSTON, MA
Rating 3.65 out of 5 3,408 reviews
7 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Sophomore: BU is a wonderful school located in the heart of Boston, granting students access to all the sights of the city in addition to other college students. The university has an incredible staff, clubs for every interest, and a great community feel. You never have to worry about working out because you can walk miles from one end of the campus to the other. Additionally, the campus is used for events such as concerts, and so there is always something to do outside of BU right outside your door. The only drawback is that sometimes it is hard to get that college feel because of how close the city is, but a quick visit to the BU Beach to overlook the Charles River helps one feel like they have had some time with nature. Overall, it is a fantastic school!
Read 3,408 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
19%
Acceptance Rate
$29,479
Net Price
1340-1510
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Babson College
4 Year WELLESLEY, MA
Rating 3.74 out of 5 354 reviews
8 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Junior: I think Babson has been the best decision I have made. Regardless of some up and down experiences with professors(which is normal), the over experience has been very ->diverse, international-friendly, open, and encouraging. You feel supported on the campus by the faculty and professors. The ambitiousness of your fellow students keeps you moving forward as well. And housing and dining have been improving over the years. Highly recommended!
Read 354 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
26%
Acceptance Rate
$28,325
Net Price
1270-1450
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Brandeis University
4 Year WALTHAM, MA
Rating 3.5 out of 5 1,027 reviews
9 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Senior: I transferred out of Brandeis and will still say amazing things about this place. I found my best friends here and I loved the activist, social justice, and heavily engaged culture. The students embrace weirdness and inclusivity so much more compared to my new school.
What compelled me to leave Brandeis, however, was its poor academic programs in environmental science/studies. I felt the classes were too easy, too superficial, and not the rigor I had hoped. The ENVS curriculum is so broad that I felt every class was the same, surface-level information, and did not offer enough science or public health courses. There was no opportunity for research, either.
Brandeis will give you As and things for your resume but if you are looking for greater challenges and research, especially in ENVS, you will be sorely disappointed. They are making improvements but I still don’t think it was worth it to stay.
Overall, Brandeis is a really special place– just wish the academics were better.
Read 1,027 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
30%
Acceptance Rate
$37,264
Net Price
1350-1520
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?Compare
Bentley University
4 Year WALTHAM, MA
Rating 3.61 out of 5 720 reviews
10 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Sophomore: College is a value proposition. You go there and work hard, pay for it and then see what it brings you. Bentley is an amazing place if you are smart enough to take advantage of what it has to offer. If you are going to college for good food, the arts, parties, big sports and funโฆ.it’s probably not a fit for you. There are plenty of other schools that will give you that. However, if you want to start life with a salary that can comfortably pay off your student loans, and/or give yourself a nice start in lifeโฆ.Bentley is hard to beat!
Read 720 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
47%
Acceptance Rate
$41,582
Net Price
1230-1410
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Wheaton College – Massachusetts
4 Year NORTON, MA
Rating 3.56 out of 5 649 reviews
12 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Niche User: Wheaton College has exceeded our expectations in every way. There is nowhere else we’d rather our college student be, even though we are not in the New England area and it requires a flight in our case. The beautiful campus, the tight-knit community, the academics, support, professors, the incredible president, Dennis Hannoโฆ I could go on and on. Wheaton truly is a special place. And that was our opinion BEFORE Covid. Seeing how carefully and responsibly they have handled this unfortunate situation has only further cemented Wheaton as a top-notch institution. If this school is not on your radarโฆ research it. If it is on your listโฆ GO!
Read 649 Reviews
grade B+
Overall Niche Grade
74%
Acceptance Rate
$29,688
Net Price
1180-1350
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Berklee College of Music
4 Year BOSTON, MA
Rating 3.84 out of 5 1,111 reviews
16 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Niche User: I have been accepted to Berklee this year for the class of ’24 for Bachelor of Music Performance.
I have not studied there yet but I did do a lot of research on it and I know for certain that is where I really want to go and study for my next 4 years of education.
My Drum Kit teacher is also one of the Alumni’s from Berklee and I also do have some friends there who all said that the place is amazing and everything it gives you, educational wise is just incredible.
All the facilities the place holds and the people there can make you become the best at what you want, meaning music.
Overall I really cannot wait to go there this year in Fall.
Thank you very much!
Many thanks,
Raoul Georgescu
Read 1,111 Reviews
grade B+
Overall Niche Grade
51%
Acceptance Rate
$43,744
Net Price
โ
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
University of Massachusetts – Boston
4 Year BOSTON, MA
Rating 3.49 out of 5 1,285 reviews
18 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Alum: I had a good time while studying for my Management and Political Science majors at UMass Boston. Overall the quality of the teaching was great, expecially for the Political Science Department. The Management classes varied greatly depending a lot on the professor. The campus is nice, with some Modern accents on some of the buildings. The WISER student records system and the Blackboard for online classes were user-friendly. The courses are relatively cheap, which is a definite plus for this school! I recommend it, but make sure your major has good professors first.
Read 1,285 Reviews
grade B
Overall Niche Grade
76%
Acceptance Rate
$17,511
Net Price
1040-1220
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
4 Year BOSTON, MA
Rating 3.47 out of 5 957 reviews
21 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Sophomore: I like how MCPHS has great diversity! Diversity is really important to me because I love to see different people and learn about different people. Also, I love how the professors are willing to move around there schedule just to help you! The campus is small but I wanted a small college and this is great! Also, there is great transportation access to this school! There are trains and buses that come straight to the college and there parking around the school if someone is driving here.
Read 957 Reviews
grade B
Overall Niche Grade
85%
Acceptance Rate
$39,112
Net Price
1010-1240
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Suffolk University
4 Year BOSTON, MA
Rating 3.46 out of 5 999 reviews
22 Best Colleges in Boston Area
Sophomore: Ive been at Suffolk for a year now. Just know coming to this school, you get out of any college what you put into it. The professors here are as good (if not better) that the college that I transferred from, Umass Amherst (this is proabably because the school has an enormous budget for it’s professors) . The campus is stunning. People are usually upset here because they don’t receive the traditional college experience, but you shouldn’t expect that coming to this school anyway. Like i said, the education here is top notch as long as you are willing to put in the work. About half the students here dont care and cheat their way to B’s. But the students here that actually want to learn and be successful in life are granted those opportunities from Suffolk. The potential ROI is enormous if you want it to be. Hope this helps!
Read 999 Reviews
grade B
Overall Niche Grade
84%
Acceptance Rate
$33,105
Net Price
1020-1210
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Olin College of Engineering
4 Year NEEDHAM, MA
Rating 4.15 out of 5 123 reviews
Freshman: Great community brings both a sense of family and feeling supported in all your endeavors. The faculty and staff are so dedicated to their work, and the students are incredibly smart and kind — there is an endless number of opportunities for each student given the small size of the school, and each student will be able to find and learn the things they want to learn and achieve. The mission to “do good in the world” is a presence that is often not found at other technical schools.
Read 123 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
16%
Acceptance Rate
$35,310
Net Price
1460-1560
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
New England Conservatory of Music
4 Year BOSTON, MA
Rating 3.79 out of 5 56 reviews
Freshman: It’s excellent school, and all the classes are super good, for instance we have orchestra training, orchestra rep class which help young musician to prepare to get a job after graduate, chamber music, music theory and music history. All the classes they provide are fantastic.
Read 56 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
37%
Acceptance Rate
$46,620
Net Price
โ
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?Compare
Sponsored
Wentworth Institute of Technology
4 Year BOSTON, MA
Rating 3.47 out of 5 941 reviews
Senior: Wentworth is definitely an interesting college. I have had a good time at Wentworth and have been taught by some spectacular professors. Wentworth as a whole has some very questionable ways that they deal with certain circumstances that happen but I think with the change of administration etc that they have been trending towards improvement in their reactions and involvement with students. One of the main things I would love to see change at Wentworth is their meal plan, it seems like its just another way of using money directly rather than an actual meal plan while all food in the cafeteria seems to be extremely overpriced. It would be nice if there was a point system or meal swipe system like other colleges have. Academically, this school is good, you just have to know what you want from the school and to ask the correct questions and you will be set. Most people who work at Wentworth do genuinely want to help, it can just take time to get to the right people who can help.
Read 941 Reviews
grade B
Overall Niche Grade
69%
Acceptance Rate
$37,322
Net Price
1060-1270
SAT Range
Add to List
Will You Get In?CompareVirtual Tour
Find Your Best Fit Colleges
Tailor your college search based on what matters most to you.
SPONSORED
Find Student Loan Options
4 Ways to Pay for College
2021 Top Private Universities
ABOUT THIS LIST
Where Niche Grades come from and how Niche calculates rankings.
MORE FROM NICHE
2021 Best Colleges in America
2021 Best Online Colleges in America
2021 Best Value Colleges in America
2021 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America
2021 Hardest Colleges to G
Leave a Reply