There's a long list of postsecondary schools in Massachusetts for students who are looking to earn a certificate. This article looks at the traditional not-for-profit schools, both public and private, comparing them according to statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Massachusetts Schools Near Large Cities
Students who want to be close to an urban area in Massachusetts don't have to worry, as there are many colleges that are close to or within large city areas. A few Massachusetts schools that are located within or close to large cities include:
- Boston University (Boston)
- University of Massachusetts (Boston)
- Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester)
- Suffolk University (Boston)
- Lesley University (Cambridge)
Lowest Net Price
Individuals looking for the most affordable Massachusetts school to earn their certificates can consider each school's net price. The NCES calculates the net price by taking the total cost of attendance for an in-state full-time undergraduate student and subtracting the average amount of scholarship or grant aid awarded. In this article, the statistics for the net price of Massachusetts schools is for the 2020-2021 year. For lower cost-schools, students may want to consider:
- Middlesex Community College ($5,255)
- Bristol Community College ($6,356)
- Quinsigamond Community College ($7,853)
- Bunker Hill Community College ($9,001)
- Holyoke Community College ($8,305)
Highest Graduation Rate
One factor that can indicate student success is a school's graduation rate. The NCES calculates the overall graduation rates for schools in Massachusetts by figuring out how many full-time degree- or certificate-seeking students finished their programs within 150% of 'normal time.' The graduation rates at Massachusetts schools that offer certificate programs varied greatly; some schools had figures above 80%, and a few featured rates of 10% or lower, according to the NCES in 2022. These are the highest graduation rates for Massachusetts schools:
- Boston University (89%)
- Clark University (79%)
- University of Massachusetts - Amherst (84%)
- Assumption College (72%)
Largest Student Population
Most of the mainstream, not-for-profit colleges and universities in Massachusetts that grant certificates are fairly small. Only four of these schools had student populations above 10,000, according to the NCES in 2022. All of the following statistics were taken from the NCES:
- Boston University (36,104)
- University of Massachusetts - Amherst (32,045)
- University of Massachusetts - Lowell (17,597)
- University of Massachusetts - Boston (15,637)
- Bunker Hill Community College (9,290)
There are many options for students wanting to complete a certificate program at a school in Massachusetts - this information can help students decide where to study based on cost, proximity, graduation rate or size.
