Why study in Boston?
The welcoming and supportive atmosphere makes Boston’s universities highly rated. Along with excellent academics, its extracurricular activities and active community attract a large percentage of international students.
- Boston is also very student friendly. You’ll find ethnic restaurants, movie theaters, and sports arenas where students can unwind after a hard day at college.
- Apart from education, Boston also provides various employment opportunities in the fields of research, education, medicine and finance.
- Logan International Airport, one of America’s busiest airports, offers nonstop flights to major cities such as New York, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco. This helps international students explore the rest of America with ease.
Read also: Study in the USA for Indian Students
Boston Study Application Process
The application process for Boston universities is different from other universities. Although some colleges prefer direct application, more than 900 colleges and schools across the United States use the Common App or Coalition App as their application tool.
You can find a suitable university, learn about the application rules and apply on the same websites with the necessary documents.
- You will first need to create a profile on the Common App/Coalition App websites.
- Complete the general application/coalition application
- High school or college transcripts
- Consultant’s recommendations
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Documentation of financial support
- Copy of passport
Is the application process long and confusing? Don’t worry, Leverage Edu will be your support system throughout the application process! All you need to do is contact us right now!
Want a FREE career consultation? Register here!
Top Universities in Boston
Two of the top five universities in the world according to the QS World Universities Ranking – USA 2023 are from Boston. Let’s find out the list of the best universities in Boston and their rankings in the USA.
| Universities in Boston | Boston rating | QS World University Rankings – USA 2023 |
| Harvard University | 1 | 5 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2 | 1 |
| Boston University | 3 | 108 |
| Tufts University | 4 | 312 |
| Northeastern University | 5 | 388 |
| Boston College | 6 | 55 |
| Brandeis University | 7 | 497 |
| University of Massachusetts | 8 | 253 |
| Suffolk University | 9 | 151-160 |
| Simons University | 10 | 161-170 |
Top Public Universities in the USA
Harvard University
Harvard is a name that every student who dreams of studying in Boston or the USA has heard of. Harvard, founded in 1636, is the leading Ivy League college in the United States. As of 2021, Harvard’s acceptance rate is only 3.43% . So you need to be a really strong candidate to get into one of Harvard’s colleges. In addition to a great SAT , class rank, and GPA, your extracurricular activities should stand out. Their alumni circle is full of geniuses who have significantly changed the world. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Barack Obama, Ratan Tata, Natalie Portman, Kapil Sibal, P. Chidambaram are just a few names of revolutionaries born at Harvard.
Find out how to get into Harvard?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
YouTube: MIT
Responsible for accelerating the American Industrial Revolution, MIT is not only the second best university in Boston, but also the best technological university in the world. The university’s belief in academic and practical knowledge can be read in its slogan “men et manus”, meaning “man and hand”. Aeronautics, Robotics, Astronautics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences are among the top MIT master’s courses at 50 schools and 1 college. Your application must be academically strong. Those who score high on the GMAT, GRE, TOEFL or IELTS become competitive candidates for MIT. Their application rate is 7%, although the number of students they accept initially is only 1,050. Interestingly, MIT has produced 38 billionaires since its founding.
Read also: MIT Acceptance Rate and Admission Statistics in 2021
Boston University
YouTube: Boston University
Boston University is known for its law school, education school, and especially its medical school. UM School of Medicine is the first laboratory in the United States to integrate cancer research and teaching. BU is one of those universities in Boston that sponsors more than 90 international programs.
There are over 500 clubs and committees at Boston University, where co-curricular programs are common. This university offers education that goes beyond the academic. Boston University’s undergraduate programs are considered among the best in the United States. Alumni from universities such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Julianne Moore and many others have brought BU to a prestigious level. So, if you like to participate in a holistic, evolving culture, then Boston University is the place for you.
Read also: Boston University Admission Rate
Tufts University
YouTube: University Walking Tour
Tufts University is primarily a research university. With its School of Arts and Sciences, Tufts offers more than 90 undergraduate programs and 160 graduate programs. Tufts is classified as R1: Doctoral Studies – Very High Research Activity.
Shashi Tharoor and Scott Brown are notable alumni of Tufts University. In fiscal year 2018, Tufts spent $213.5 million on research. So, if you want to get a PhD, Tufts is the best university for you in Boston.
Read also: Best LGBTQ-Friendly Universities in the World
Northeastern University
YouTube: University Walking Tour
Another Boston university known for its research programs is Northeastern University. It has one of the oldest and largest master co-op programs. Joint programs involve alternating semesters of academic study and internship. Northeastern University students have internship opportunities at small startups as well as large companies such as Deloitte, United Nations, The White House, and Staples. Wendy Williams, Nikesh Arora (CEO of Palo Alto Networks) and Shawn Fanning are some of their notable alumni.
Boston College
YouTube: Boston College
Boston College has one of the best art programs of any university in Boston. Although it has been classified as an R1 research university, it still maintains college status to maintain its history as a small liberal arts college.
Boston College’s acceptance rate is 27.2%. One of the best universities in Boston requires that you have a GPA of 3.96. Boston College has produced some of the world’s key leaders, such as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Secretary of State, and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.
Cost of living in Boston
Living in a US city is expensive. Besides the hefty tuition fees at Boston universities, living in the city isn’t cheap. Travel, accommodation, food and other expenses bring your cost of living estimate to $3,316 or Rs. 2.45 lakhs per month for a student.
| Category | Average consumption |
| Tuition fee | Rs. 30-50 lakhs/year |
| Accommodation | Rs. 2.45 lakh/year |
| Food | Rs. 10-15,000/month. |
| Travel (monthly pass) | Rs. 7000/month |
| Utilities (Internet and phone bills) | 2000-5000r/month. |
Class work may not allow you to set aside time for a part-time job. However, you can control your daily expenses by using local transportation, living in college dorms, and cooking your own meals.
Find out how to lower your cost of living as an international student now!
Best Universities for Bachelor of Science Degrees
Boston has many exciting opportunities for students who want to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in their chosen field. Here the undergraduate program can last 3 or 4 years depending on the university and course.
- Harvard University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Boston University
- Northeastern University
- University of Massachusetts
Best Universities for Master of Science Degrees
STEM (science, technology, engineering and management) are the most popular master’s courses in Boston. You also need to complete at least 16 years of study to earn a master’s degree in Boston.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Harvard University
- Suffolk University
- Northeastern University
- Boston University
Best Universities for MBA
The MBA program in Boston can last up to 2 years. The work experience requirement for MBA courses in Boston can range from 4 to 6 years, but they guarantee a 100% increase over your previous salaried job.
- Harvard University
- MIT Sloan
- Boston University
- HULT International Business School
- Suffolk University
Studying in Boston will be an opportunity of a lifetime. Once you get into one of these prestigious universities, you will walk out with doors open for you wherever you go. We know that getting into some of these universities may seem difficult, but we can help you improve your chances. Apply to Leverage Edu to study at universities in the Boston area, where we make your needs the center of your education, not the university you aspire to!