Best colleges for biology in Massachusetts

    Northeastern University ranks first in Massachusetts for biology value (#7 nationally, value score 83.2): graduates earn $78,327 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $17,850 a year.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 29 Massachusetts colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026

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    Best biology colleges in Massachusetts

    Northeastern University ranks first in Massachusetts for biology value (#7 nationally, value score 83.2): graduates earn $78,327 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $17,850 a year. 29 Massachusetts colleges qualify. At the median one, biology graduates earn $65,991 and the average net price is $25,519 a year.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025

    What the data shows

    Key findings

    • 29 Massachusetts colleges qualify. At the median one, biology graduates earn $65,991 and the average net price is $25,519 a year.
    • The highest biology earnings in the state are at College of the Holy Cross ($92,914), ranked #5 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
    • The lowest average net price among them is at Salem State University-Massachusetts: $12,921 a year.
    Median earnings
    $65,991
    National: $58,001
    Median net price
    $25,519
    National: $18,049
    Median federal debt
    $22,500
    biology graduates
    Public colleges
    10 of 29
    in this list

    29 colleges

    The Massachusetts ranking

    Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    1. Rank in Massachusetts 1

      Northeastern University

      Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · #7 nationally

      83.2Value
      Earnings
      $78,327
      Net price
      $17,850
      Federal debt
      $19,500
      Graduation rate
      91%
    2. Rank in Massachusetts 2

      Williams College

      Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofit · #9 nationally

      83.2Value
      Earnings
      $65,357
      Net price
      $15,157
      Federal debt
      $8,000
      Graduation rate
      95%
    3. Rank in Massachusetts 3

      University of Massachusetts-Lowell

      Lowell, MA · Public · #27 nationally

      76.8Value
      Earnings
      $76,149
      Net price
      $17,362
      Federal debt
      $22,500
      Graduation rate
      69%
    4. Rank in Massachusetts 4

      Worcester State University

      Worcester, MA · Public · #29 nationally

      76.5Value
      Earnings
      $68,459
      Net price
      $13,866
      Federal debt
      $16,729
      Graduation rate
      57%
    5. Rank in Massachusetts 5

      College of the Holy Cross

      Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · #50 nationally

      73.7Value
      Earnings
      $92,914
      Net price
      $38,829
      Federal debt
      $19,375
      Graduation rate
      86%
    6. Rank in Massachusetts 6

      Boston College

      Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · #61 nationally

      73.1Value
      Earnings
      $83,614
      Net price
      $38,930
      Federal debt
      $19,000
      Graduation rate
      90%
    7. Rank in Massachusetts 7

      Tufts University

      Medford, MA · Private nonprofit · #62 nationally

      73.1Value
      Earnings
      $76,782
      Net price
      $38,797
      Federal debt
      $15,250
      Graduation rate
      94%
    8. Rank in Massachusetts 8

      University of Massachusetts-Amherst

      Amherst, MA · Public · #77 nationally

      71.9Value
      Earnings
      $72,726
      Net price
      $22,857
      Federal debt
      $22,500
      Graduation rate
      81%
    9. Rank in Massachusetts 9

      Fitchburg State University

      Fitchburg, MA · Public · #99 nationally

      69.9Value
      Earnings
      $65,991
      Net price
      $13,803
      Federal debt
      $20,165
      Graduation rate
      53%
    10. Rank in Massachusetts 10

      Smith College-Massachusetts

      Northampton, MA · Private nonprofit · #115 nationally

      68.3Value
      Earnings
      $63,133
      Net price
      $25,519
      Federal debt
      $11,375
      Graduation rate
      86%
    11. Rank in Massachusetts 11

      Stonehill College

      Easton, MA · Private nonprofit · #116 nationally

      68.2Value
      Earnings
      $81,361
      Net price
      $36,082
      Federal debt
      $23,250
      Graduation rate
      74%
    12. Rank in Massachusetts 12

      Assumption University

      Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · #117 nationally

      68.1Value
      Earnings
      $83,706
      Net price
      $28,788
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      73%
    13. Rank in Massachusetts 13

      Salem State University-Massachusetts

      Salem, MA · Public · #119 nationally

      68.1Value
      Earnings
      $67,551
      Net price
      $12,921
      Federal debt
      $23,000
      Graduation rate
      49%
    14. Rank in Massachusetts 14

      Worcester Polytechnic Institute

      Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · #175 nationally

      62.4Value
      Earnings
      $75,018
      Net price
      $43,885
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      90%
    15. Rank in Massachusetts 15

      Merrimack College

      North Andover, MA · Private nonprofit · #184 nationally

      61.9Value
      Earnings
      $79,581
      Net price
      $39,219
      Federal debt
      $26,500
      Graduation rate
      69%
    16. Rank in Massachusetts 16

      Wellesley College

      Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofit · #192 nationally

      61.5Value
      Earnings
      $58,285
      Net price
      $23,995
      Federal debt
      $11,618
      Graduation rate
      91%
    17. Rank in Massachusetts 17

      Westfield State University

      Westfield, MA · Public · #195 nationally

      61.3Value
      Earnings
      $64,904
      Net price
      $16,484
      Federal debt
      $21,500
      Graduation rate
      49%
    18. Rank in Massachusetts 18

      University of Massachusetts-Boston

      Boston, MA · Public · #261 nationally

      57.0Value
      Earnings
      $65,815
      Net price
      $22,548
      Federal debt
      $21,500
      Graduation rate
      51%
    19. Rank in Massachusetts 19

      Boston University

      Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · #266 nationally

      56.8Value
      Earnings
      $61,610
      Net price
      $36,503
      Federal debt
      $19,000
      Graduation rate
      90%
    20. Rank in Massachusetts 20

      Emmanuel College-Massachusetts

      Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · #281 nationally

      55.5Value
      Earnings
      $69,269
      Net price
      $27,196
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      64%
    21. Rank in Massachusetts 21

      Brandeis University

      Waltham, MA · Private nonprofit · #321 nationally

      52.4Value
      Earnings
      $58,384
      Net price
      $30,606
      Federal debt
      $17,500
      Graduation rate
      81%
    22. Rank in Massachusetts 22

      Bridgewater State University

      Bridgewater, MA · Public · #347 nationally

      50.2Value
      Earnings
      $60,880
      Net price
      $18,061
      Federal debt
      $23,500
      Graduation rate
      52%
    23. Rank in Massachusetts 23

      Suffolk University

      Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · #382 nationally

      47.4Value
      Earnings
      $67,377
      Net price
      $40,008
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      59%
    24. Rank in Massachusetts 24

      Framingham State University

      Framingham, MA · Public · #395 nationally

      46.4Value
      Earnings
      $59,676
      Net price
      $15,951
      Federal debt
      $25,500
      Graduation rate
      46%
    25. Rank in Massachusetts 25

      University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

      North Dartmouth, MA · Public · #425 nationally

      43.5Value
      Earnings
      $60,170
      Net price
      $20,319
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      49%
    26. Rank in Massachusetts 26

      Mount Holyoke College

      South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofit · #467 nationally

      40.0Value
      Earnings
      $55,869
      Net price
      $30,861
      Federal debt
      $22,013
      Graduation rate
      82%
    27. Rank in Massachusetts 27

      Clark University-Massachusetts

      Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · #473 nationally

      39.8Value
      Earnings
      $58,429
      Net price
      $29,446
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      77%
    28. Rank in Massachusetts 28

      Bay Path University

      Longmeadow, MA · Private nonprofit · #508 nationally

      36.4Value
      Earnings
      $55,827
      Net price
      $16,390
      Federal debt
      $24,500
      Graduation rate
      42%
    29. Rank in Massachusetts 29

      Wheaton College-Massachusetts

      Norton, MA · Private nonprofit · #664 nationally

      16.2Value
      Earnings
      $43,012
      Net price
      $31,147
      Federal debt
      $24,964
      Graduation rate
      72%

    Method: the same value score as the national biology ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.

    Questions about biology colleges in Massachusetts

    What are the best colleges for biology in Massachusetts?

    By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Massachusetts colleges for biology are Northeastern University (value score 83.2), Williams College (value score 83.2) and University of Massachusetts-Lowell (value score 76.8). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.

    Which Massachusetts college has the highest earnings for biology graduates?

    College of the Holy Cross: its biology graduates have median earnings of $92,914 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    What is the most affordable biology college in Massachusetts on this list?

    Salem State University-Massachusetts has the lowest average net price of the ranked Massachusetts colleges, $12,921 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.

    How many Massachusetts colleges are ranked for biology?

    29 Massachusetts colleges have a biology bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Massachusetts.