Universities in Boston, The United States

Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, is one of the main university cities in the United States: higher education shapes whole neighbourhoods, from Back Bay and the Fenway to downtown and the waterfront. For an international student it offers large research universities next to small specialised colleges for architecture, art, the health sciences and the liberal arts. Our directory lists ten universities and colleges in Boston; the list below the text shows them all.

What the universities offer

In the United States, "college" and "university" are often used for the same thing; strictly, a college offers only undergraduate degrees. Examples in Boston, with figures from the schools' own sites and the U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator:

• Boston University is a private university with over 38,000 students from more than 140 countries, 17 schools and colleges and more than 300 programmes of study. Its Summer Term offers more than 600 courses in 70 subjects and is open to visiting international students.
• Northeastern University, founded in 1898, is known for its experiential learning model and describes itself as a global university system of 14 campuses. It has 32,553 students in Boston, 17,432 of them undergraduates.
• University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston) is the city's only public research university, with 15,575 students. In fall 2020 it enrolled international students from 136 countries.
• Suffolk University is a private university founded in 1906, with its campus in downtown Boston.
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is a private, nonprofit institution for the health sciences that dates back to 1823.
• Boston Architectural College teaches architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture and design studies; some of its students combine study with professional practice.

Smaller colleges in the directory include Fisher College in the Back Bay (since 1903), Emmanuel College and The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.

Costs

Most universities in Boston are private and expensive, so compare the full cost of attendance, not only tuition. According to College Navigator, tuition and fees for a full-time first-year undergraduate in 2024-25 were $66,162 at Northeastern University and $68,102 at Boston University. At UMass Boston, a public university, the out-of-state rate was $38,125. Food and housing on campus added between $19,020 (Boston University) and $19,580 (Northeastern). Graduate and summer fees differ by programme, so check each school's own fee page.

Practical tips

• Visa: degree students need an F student visa. Once a school has admitted you, its international student office sends the Form I-20 that you need for the visa application.
• Work: according to EducationUSA, international students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year, with the permission of the international student office.
• English: some US universities offer bridge or pathway programmes that combine English study with academic credit; Boston University's Summer Term publishes its own English proficiency requirements.
• Transport: on the MBTA a subway ride costs $2.40, a bus ride $1.70 and a Monthly LinkPass $90.00. Colleges and universities can order semester passes for their students, so ask your school before buying a pass.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a university in Boston cost?

For first-year undergraduates in 2024-25, tuition and fees were $66,162 at Northeastern and $68,102 at Boston University, and the out-of-state rate at UMass Boston was $38,125, according to College Navigator. Food and housing on campus add about $19,000 to $20,000 a year.

Is there a public university in Boston?

Yes. UMass Boston describes itself as Boston's only public research university.

Can I take a summer course at a Boston university?

Yes. Boston University's Summer Term offers more than 600 courses in 70 subjects and accepts visiting international students.

Is there a student transit pass in Boston?

Colleges and universities can order MBTA semester passes for their students; otherwise a Monthly LinkPass costs $90.00.