The Best Business Schools in Boston for 2026
The best business schools in Boston are the accredited schools that graduate their students and charge honestly for it, not the ones with the biggest name on the building. Hakia analyzed 292 accredited business programs in Boston and the surrounding metro and ranked 18 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 18 ranked schools runs from $29,500 to $69,400 a year, a $39,900 spread for the same credential.
Harvard University leads with a 99.8 Hakia Score on a 98% graduation rate, at $56,550 a year. Across all 18 ranked business schools in Boston the average graduation rate is 82%, ranging from 61% to 98%.
Below is the full ranked table, followed by a school-by-school look at what actually separates the business schools in Boston: cost, completion, selectivity, and where the degree leads. This list covers Greater Boston, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table. Every figure is drawn from federal IPEDS and BLS data, and no school pays for placement.
Key Takeaways on the Best Business Schools in Boston
- Harvard University ranks first among business schools in Boston with a 99.8 Hakia Score and a 98% graduation rate.
- Tuition across the 18 ranked business schools in Boston spans $29,500 to $69,400 a year, a $39,900 gap for the same credential.
- The 18 ranked business schools in Boston graduate 82% of students on average, from 61% to 98%.
- 4 of the 18 offer a confirmed online option, which matters in a city where commuting time is the real cost.
Hakia analyzed 292 accredited business programs in Boston and the surrounding metro reported to IPEDS, scoring each on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes, then ranked one entry per school on its strongest program. No school is rewarded for sticker price alone, and none pays for inclusion.
The 18 Best Business Schools in Boston, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA · online option | Nonprofit | $56,550 | 98% | 4% | 99.8 |
| 2 | Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA | Nonprofit | $64,990 | 91% | 5% | 97.5 |
| 3 | Boston UniversityBoston, MA | Nonprofit | $66,670 | 89% | 11% | 96.8 |
| 4 | Tufts UniversityMedford, MA · online option | Nonprofit | $69,146 | 94% | 11% | 96.7 |
| 5 | Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA | Nonprofit | $69,400 | 91% | 16% | 96.5 |
| 6 | Bentley UniversityWaltham, MA | Nonprofit | $61,000 | 87% | 45% | 96.0 |
| 7 | Babson CollegeWellesley, MA · online option | Nonprofit | $57,152 | 93% | 17% | 95.8 |
| 8 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA | Nonprofit | $61,990 | 96% | 5% | 95.8 |
| 9 | Merrimack CollegeNorth Andover, MA | Nonprofit | $49,352 | 70% | 70% | 94.0 |
| 10 | Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA | Nonprofit | $67,082 | 86% | 40% | 93.6 |
| 11 | Emerson CollegeBoston, MA · online option | Nonprofit | $56,032 | 77% | 51% | 93.5 |
| 12 | Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA | Nonprofit | $39,750 | 76% | 71% | 88.5 |
| 13 | Hult International Business SchoolCambridge, MA | Nonprofit | $53,448 | 67% | 60% | 87.6 |
| 14 | Simmons UniversityBoston, MA | Nonprofit | $45,534 | 72% | 70% | 87.2 |
| 15 | Suffolk UniversityBoston, MA | Nonprofit | $46,954 | 61% | 82% | 87.0 |
| 16 | Gordon CollegeWenham, MA | Nonprofit | $29,500 | 69% | 69% | 86.1 |
| 17 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston, MA | Nonprofit | $50,243 | NR | NR | 85.7 |
| 18 | Regis CollegeWeston, MA | Nonprofit | $49,680 | 72% | 70% | 85.3 |
NR — not reported by the institution in the latest IPEDS collection.
The Top Business Schools in Boston at a Glance
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
Inside the Top Business Schools in Boston
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 98%
- Admit rate
- 4%
- In-state
- $56,550
- Out-of-state
- $56,550
Harvard graduates 98% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 99.8 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 99.8, #1 of 18
- 98% graduation rate
- $56,550 tuition
- Most selective program here
Based in Cambridge, MA, Harvard is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #1 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 99.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 92.4 group average. The program graduates 98% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. Harvard admits 4% of applicants, more selective than the 41% average for the group. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 30,259 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Harvard charges $56,550 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 91%
- Admit rate
- 5%
- In-state
- $64,990
- Out-of-state
- $64,990
Northeastern graduates 91% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 97.5 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 97.5, #2 of 18
- 91% graduation rate
- $64,990 tuition
- Admits just 5% of applicants
Northeastern is a private, nonprofit institution in Boston, MA. Its Business program ranks #2 of the 18 analyzed here with a 97.5 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 2.3 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 91% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. Northeastern admits 5% of applicants, more selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 32,553 students.
On cost, Northeastern charges $64,990 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Boston University
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 89%
- Admit rate
- 11%
- In-state
- $66,670
- Out-of-state
- $66,670
BU graduates 89% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 96.8 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 96.8, #3 of 18
- 89% graduation rate
- $66,670 tuition
- Largest campus in this ranking
BU is a private, nonprofit institution in Boston, MA. Its Business program ranks #3 of the 18 analyzed here with a 96.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 3 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 89% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. BU admits 11% of applicants, more selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 37,737 students.
On cost, BU charges $66,670 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 94%
- Admit rate
- 11%
- In-state
- $69,146
- Out-of-state
- $69,146
Tufts graduates 94% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 96.7 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 96.7, #4 of 18
- 94% graduation rate
- $69,146 tuition
- Online option available
Based in Medford, MA, Tufts is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #4 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 96.7 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 3.1 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 94% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. Tufts admits 11% of applicants, more selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. The university enrolls 13,599 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Tufts charges $69,146 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 91%
- Admit rate
- 16%
- In-state
- $69,400
- Out-of-state
- $69,400
Boston College graduates 91% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 96.5 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 96.5, #5 of 18
- 91% graduation rate
- $69,400 tuition
- Admits just 16% of applicants
Based in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #5 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 96.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 3.3 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 91% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. Boston College admits 16% of applicants, more selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. The university enrolls 15,432 students overall.
On cost, Boston College charges $69,400 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 87%
- Admit rate
- 45%
- In-state
- $61,000
- Out-of-state
- $61,000
Bentley graduates 87% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 96.0 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 96.0, #6 of 18
- 87% graduation rate
- $61,000 tuition
- Admits just 45% of applicants
Bentley is a private, nonprofit institution in Waltham, MA. Its Business program ranks #6 of the 18 analyzed here with a 96.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 3.8 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 87% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. Bentley admits 45% of applicants, less selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. The university enrolls 5,333 students overall.
On cost, Bentley charges $61,000 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 93%
- Admit rate
- 17%
- In-state
- $57,152
- Out-of-state
- $57,152
Babson College graduates 93% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 95.8 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 95.8, #7 of 18
- 93% graduation rate
- $57,152 tuition
- Online option available
Based in Wellesley, MA, Babson College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #7 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 95.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the middle third of the 18 ranked programs, 4 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 93% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. Babson College admits 17% of applicants, more selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,932 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Babson College charges $57,152 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 96%
- Admit rate
- 5%
- In-state
- $61,990
- Out-of-state
- $61,990
MIT graduates 96% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 95.8 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 95.8, #8 of 18
- 96% graduation rate
- $61,990 tuition
- Admits just 5% of applicants
Based in Cambridge, MA, MIT is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #8 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 95.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the middle third of the 18 ranked programs, 4 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 96% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. MIT admits 5% of applicants, more selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. The university enrolls 11,886 students overall.
On cost, MIT charges $61,990 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 70%
- Admit rate
- 70%
- In-state
- $49,352
- Out-of-state
- $49,352
At $49,352 a year in-state, Merrimack College is among the more affordable business programs ranked here, holding a 94.0 Hakia Score on a 70% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 94.0, #9 of 18
- 70% graduation rate
- $49,352 tuition
- Admits just 70% of applicants
Based in North Andover, MA, Merrimack College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #9 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 94.0 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the middle third of the 18 ranked programs, 5.8 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 70% of its students, below the 82% average across the ranked schools. Merrimack College admits 70% of applicants, less selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. The university enrolls 5,862 students overall.
On cost, Merrimack College charges $49,352 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 86%
- Admit rate
- 40%
- In-state
- $67,082
- Out-of-state
- $67,082
Brandeis graduates 86% of its students, above the 82% average across this ranking, on a 93.6 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 93.6, #10 of 18
- 86% graduation rate
- $67,082 tuition
- Admits just 40% of applicants
Based in Waltham, MA, Brandeis is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #10 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 93.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 92.4 group average, in the middle third of the 18 ranked programs, 6.2 points behind top-ranked Harvard. The program graduates 86% of its students, above the 82% average across the ranked schools. Brandeis admits 40% of applicants, more selective than the 41% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Harvard, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 61% to 98%. The university enrolls 5,205 students overall.
On cost, Brandeis charges $67,082 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $29,500 at Gordon College to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
What Business Schools in Boston Cost
Tuition across the 18 ranked schools runs from $29,500 to $69,400 a year. Gordon College in Wenham anchors the low end at $29,500 a year, while Boston College in Chestnut Hill sits at the top at $69,400.
Over the four years the credential takes, that is roughly $118,000 in tuition at Gordon College against about $277,600 at Boston College. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Boston from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Which Business Major to Choose in Boston
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Boston do not all offer the same ones. Across the 292 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Boston are business administration (30 schools), accounting (18 schools), finance (18 schools), marketing (18 schools), healthcare administration (17 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: CPA eligibility in most states requires 150 credit hours against the 120 a bachelor's confers, which changes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 18 of the schools analyzed in Boston run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Boston
The ranked business schools in Boston are private institutions.
Private schools discount heavily off the published number, which is why sticker price alone is a poor comparison. Completion is the better lens: the 18 ranked schools average 82%, from 61% to 98%, and a cheap degree that does not finish is not a saving. Run each school's own net price calculator before ruling one out on tuition.
Why Study Business in Boston
Being on a campus among the business schools in Boston puts a student inside the employer network that school recruits into, close enough for an internship during term rather than only over the summer, and internships are what turn an undergraduate business degree into a first job.
The 18 ranked schools sit across 10 towns in the metro, among them Cambridge, Boston, Medford, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 4 of the 18 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Business Schools in Boston: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Boston?
By Hakia Score, Harvard University ranks first among the 18 ranked business schools in Boston, with a 99.8 score and a 98% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Boston?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Boston, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Boston?
Tuition among the ranked Boston schools runs from $29,500 to $69,400 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Boston living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Boston does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 292 accredited business programs across Boston and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 18 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers Greater Boston, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Boston instead of online?
Only 4 of the 18 ranked schools are confirmed online, so in Boston the campus route is the one most of this list offers. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.
How the Business Schools in Boston Are Scored
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.