The Best Business Schools in Boston for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Boston
- Northeastern University ranks #1 in the Boston area on a 97.5 Program Score, with a 91% graduation rate.
- Tufts University graduates the most students on this list (94%), from #3.
- Every school on this list is private.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Endicott College, ranks #8.
- Programs analyzed
- 292
- Schools ranked
- 11
- Tuition range
- $39,750-$67,082
- Average graduation rate
- 81%
We analyzed 292 accredited business programs in Boston and the surrounding metro and ranked 11 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 11 ranked schools runs from $39,750 to $69,146 a year, a $29,396 spread for the same credential.
Northeastern University leads with a 97.5 Program Score on a 91% graduation rate, at $64,990 a year. Across all 11 ranked business schools in Boston the average graduation rate is 81%, ranging from 67% to 94%.
The Top Business Schools in Boston at a Glance
Northeastern leads at 97.5, and Simmons closes the chart at 87.2. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Business Schools in Boston Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 11 Best Business Schools in Boston, Ranked for 2027
The 11 best Business Schools in Boston, ranked by outcomes.
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 91%
- Admit rate
- 5%
- In-state
- $64,990
- Out-of-state
- $64,990
Northeastern University's BS in International Business requires at least a semester abroad or a co-op in another country, and the school reports 99% of graduates employed or in graduate school within nine months.
- 91% graduation rate
- Program Score 97.5
- $64,990 in-state tuition
- Required global experience
Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business offers a four-year, full-time Bachelor of Science in International Business with a fall entry term. Students must complete a global experience in a country other than the one where they grew up, such as a semester of study abroad, a co-op abroad, or summer programs. The page also describes a dual-degree option with partner schools in Brazil, France, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. Every major chooses at least one concentration, and up to three are allowed. The school reports that 99% of its international business graduates were employed or in graduate school within nine months, and points to its co-op program for paid work placements.
Northeastern reports a 91% graduation rate and admits about 5% of applicants. Tuition is $64,990 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program's Program Score is 97.5 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want cross-cultural business training built around work and study abroad. Locations are listed as Boston and global, and students are encouraged to become proficient in a second language.
Boston University
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 89%
- Admit rate
- 11%
- In-state
- $66,670
- Out-of-state
- $66,670
Boston University's Questrom BS in Business Administration offers concentrations, minors, dual degrees, an honors program and client-based Action Learning coursework.
- 89% graduation rate
- Program Score 96.8
- $66,670 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Action Learning client projects
Boston University's BS in Business Administration is offered through the Questrom School of Business. The page says students start management training right away and, by their third year, lead the creation of a detailed business plan for a product with their peers. Students shape their path with concentrations, minors and the option of a dual degree. Action Learning@Questrom places students in client-based coursework outside the classroom, and study abroad is built into the offering. An honors program and the Questrom Ascend Fellowship, which gives new students a community and mentoring chances from sophomore year, are also described. The school cites national undergraduate business rankings on the page, and those are its own reports.
Boston University graduates 89% of its students and admits 11% of applicants. Tuition is $66,670 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The program's Program Score is 96.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a broad business foundation with the freedom to specialize, and who value hands-on projects with real clients.
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 94%
- Admit rate
- 11%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Tufts University's Fletcher Executive Master of International Business is fully online for professionals with eight or more years of experience, with two in-person immersions.
- 94% graduation rate
- Program Score 96.7
- Fully online, 8+ years experience
- Immersions in Boston and abroad
Tufts University's Fletcher School offers the Executive Master of International Business Online, previously called the Global Business Administration degree. The page describes it as taking the core of a global MBA and adding the contextual intelligence of international affairs. It is designed for students with eight or more years of experience and is delivered online, with coursework completed on the student's own schedule, full time or part time. Two in-person immersions bring students together, one in Boston and one in an international city. The program is built to help working professionals pivot or accelerate toward their career goals, and it connects them with an international network of peers.
Tufts graduates 94% of its students and admits 11% of applicants, making the university highly selective. The program earned a Program Score of 96.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits experienced managers who want MBA-level rigor with a global affairs perspective while continuing to work, and who can travel for two short residencies. Because the schedule is flexible and the cohort is made up of experienced professionals, it is a weaker fit for students who want a traditional campus year straight after an undergraduate degree.
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 93%
- Admit rate
- 17%
- In-state
- $57,152
- Out-of-state
- $57,152
A 128-credit BSBA built around Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship plus a required advanced experiential course.
- 93% graduation rate
- Program Score 95.8
- $57,152 in-state tuition
- 128-credit entrepreneurship core
The Babson College Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), in the catalog version for students matriculating in Fall 2021 and forward, totals 128 credits, with most courses worth four credits. The core opens with Foundation of Management and Entrepreneurship and moves through financial and managerial accounting, business law and ethics, foundations of business analytics and predictive business analytics, technology operations management, digital technologies for entrepreneurs, marketing, finance, and micro and macroeconomics. Students also complete Socio-Ecological Systems and Strategic Problem Solving, an advanced experiential course, 12 credits of advanced liberal arts electives and 20 free elective credits, so the business core sits beside a broad liberal arts load.
Federal data show a 93% graduation rate and a 17% admit rate, so admission is selective. Tuition is $57,152 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earned a Program Score of 95.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a general business degree with entrepreneurship at the center and plenty of elective space to build their own focus.
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 70%
- Admit rate
- 70%
- In-state
- $49,352
- Out-of-state
- $49,352
Merrimack College's Corporate Finance and Investments concentration requires four 4-credit courses, including Portfolio Analysis, within a 124-credit degree.
- 70% graduation rate
- Program Score 94
- $49,352 in-state and out-of-state tuition
- Student Managed Fund elective
Merrimack College lists a Business Administration degree with a Corporate Finance and Investments concentration, awarded as a B.S.B.A. The page here is the 2021-2022 undergraduate catalog, so students should confirm current requirements with the college. The degree requires a minimum of 124 credits and a 2.0 cumulative GPA, with 64 credits needed to complete the major. The concentration teaches students to project earnings, conduct valuations, construct and manage portfolios, and assess an organization's assets and liabilities. The core is four 4-credit courses: Corporate Finance, Investments, Applied Corporate Finance and Portfolio Analysis. Students then choose two electives from options including International Financial Management, Financial Valuation, Financial Planning, Financial Markets and Institutions and Student Managed Fund.
Merrimack's federal figures show a 70% graduation rate and a 70% admit rate. Tuition is $49,352 for in-state and out-of-state students, the same for everyone. The program's Program Score is 94 out of 100, the basis of its ranking on this site. The concentration fits students who want a business administration foundation with a deeper focus on investments and corporate finance, and the elective list lets them lean toward valuation, planning or hands-on fund management. Because the catalog entry is archived, it works best as a guide to the program's structure.
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 86%
- Admit rate
- 40%
- In-state
- $67,082
- Out-of-state
- $67,082
Brandeis University requires six core Business courses (Bus 6a, 10a, 71a, 120a, 152a and 172a) to be taken on campus, even for students who study abroad.
- 86% graduation rate
- Program Score 93.6
- $67,082 tuition
- Six required on-campus core courses
Brandeis University houses its undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Business in the International Business School, alongside a Bachelor of Science in Finance. The department's pages describe a defined major with required courses, recommended course sequencing, an honors program, a business minor and a sports analytics minor. Six core courses (Bus 6a, 10a, 71a, 120a, 152a and 172a) must be completed at Brandeis, and students who want to study abroad have their overseas courses pre-approved by a faculty liaison, with a minimum grade of C+ for credit. The program also lists accelerated graduate options, job and internship resources, and a Beta Gamma Sigma honor society chapter. Students apply to be accepted into the major, so a second declared major is required when applying to study abroad.
Federal data shows an 86% graduation rate and a 40% admit rate, so admission is selective. Tuition is $67,082 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. Brandeis earns a Program Score of 93.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking here. The program fits students who want a liberal arts setting with a structured business core, the option to study abroad, and a path into an accelerated graduate degree.
Emerson College
Boston, MA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 77%
- Admit rate
- 51%
- In-state
- $56,032
- Out-of-state
- $56,032
Emerson College's Business of Creative Enterprises major pairs business fundamentals with arts and media, ending in a senior residency with real industry clients.
- 77% graduation rate
- Program Score 93.5
- $56,032 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Senior residency with industry clients
At Emerson College, the business bachelor's degree is the Business of Creative Enterprises (BCE) major, housed in the Department of Strategic Marketing & Business. The school describes it as a first-of-its-kind program for students who want to learn how arts, media and communication industries operate and grow. Coursework covers marketing, finance, economics, collaboration and leadership, drawing on faculty from across the college. In the senior year, students complete the BCE Senior Residency, working in teams for real industry clients and analyzing each organization's revenue, marketing strategy, structure, ethics and culture. Options include an internship in Los Angeles through Emerson Los Angeles, student-run groups such as EC Agency, and short global programs.
Federally, 77% of students finish at Emerson, and the college admits 51% of applicants. Tuition is listed at $56,032 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The program earns a Program Score of 93.5 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a business foundation but plan to work in production companies, fashion, advertising, nonprofits or other creative organizations, and who want client project experience before graduating.
Endicott College
Beverly, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 76%
- Admit rate
- 71%
- In-state
- $39,750
- Out-of-state
- $39,750
A 125-credit B.S. in Business Management whose curriculum builds in two early internships, a 12-credit semester internship and a senior thesis or capstone.
- Program Score 88.5
- 76% graduation rate
- $39,750 in-state tuition
- Fifth Year Accelerated MBA option
Endicott College's B.S. in Business Management is designed to develop the leadership skills and analytical perspective managers need across many kinds of organizations. The page lists 125 total credits and a core that covers accounting, finance, marketing, business analytics, operations management, design thinking and organizational behavior. Students complete Internship I and II, a 12-credit semester internship, senior research, and either a senior thesis or a senior capstone. They also choose four business management electives from a long list that includes human resource management, project management, supply chain management, digital marketing and real estate. The school notes incoming business students have a specific laptop requirement, and describes a Fifth Year Accelerated MBA open to current Endicott business undergraduates. The page lists learning outcomes such as calculating and interpreting quantitative data and applying business best practices in a professional environment.
Endicott reports a 76% graduation rate and an admit rate of 71%. Tuition is $39,750 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program's Program Score is 88.5 out of 100, the basis of its ranking here. It suits students who want a general management degree with a lot of applied experience and room to specialize through electives.
Hult International Business School
Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- 60%
- In-state
- $53,448
- Out-of-state
- $53,448
A hands-on BBA built on challenge-based learning with real companies, where students can start on one campus and move to Boston, London or Dubai each year.
- 67% graduation rate
- Program Score 87.6
- $53,448 tuition
- Boston, London or Dubai campuses
Hult International Business School calls its Bachelor of Business Administration the flagship undergraduate program, built around doing business from the first term. The page describes challenge-based learning, live client consulting, simulations and hackathons. The core spans four academic terms, each built around a practical challenge such as the Brand Challenge, in which students consult for real organizations. Electives let students earn a major or minor. For the capstone, students choose among a business plan for their own venture, a research thesis or the Hult Business Challenge. Campuses are in Boston, London and Dubai, with January and September starts, and students may begin at one campus and continue at another each year. Each student is paired with a personal development coach and career counselors. The school reports that 96% of its graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months.
Federal data show Hult graduating 67% of its students and admitting 60% of applicants. Listed tuition is $53,448 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 87.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking here. It fits students who want an international, project-driven business degree and are open to moving between campuses in different countries.
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 72%
- Admit rate
- 70%
- In-state
- $45,534
- Out-of-state
- $45,534
Simmons University's BSBA in Business and Management builds a required core of accounting, marketing, finance, analytics and operations, with paired internship courses and an emphasis on advancing women and gender equity.
- 72% graduation rate
- Program Score 87.2
- $45,534 in-state tuition
- Built-in internship courses
Simmons University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Business and Management. The core covers financial and managerial accounting, organizational communication and behavior, marketing, financial management, business analytics and operations management. Major courses include Entrepreneurial Mindset, Project Management and Negotiations, and the program closes with a strategic management capstone. Students also complete two internship courses, one on internship and career strategies and one on learning from the internship experience. The page says electives can lead to career tracks such as people management, operations management, corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management, and it states a unique emphasis on advancing women and gender equity.
Simmons reports a 72% graduation rate and admits about 70% of applicants. In-state tuition is $45,534, the same as the out-of-state figure. The program's Program Score is 87.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a broad management foundation they can steer toward business, nonprofit or government work, with internship experience built into the degree. The school says the program builds skills hiring managers seek, including collaboration and communication.
Regis College
Weston, MA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 72%
- Admit rate
- 70%
- In-state
- $49,680
- Out-of-state
- $49,680
Every Regis business management major completes an interdisciplinary internship semester and pairs the major with a minor in communication, economics, accounting/finance or data analytics.
- 72% graduation rate
- Program Score 85.3
- $49,680 tuition
- Internship semester and required minor
Regis College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management that the school says prepares students to tackle industry challenges on an international scale. The required courses include financial and managerial accounting, international management, international marketing, international financial management, software applications for business, and micro and macroeconomics, plus a global economy course. Students finish with a managerial policy capstone seminar and an interdisciplinary internship semester. Every major must also choose a minor in communication, economics, accounting/finance or data analytics, and statistics is required whether or not the math core is waived.
Regis graduates 72% of its students, and the college admits 70% of applicants. Tuition is $49,680 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 85.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The degree fits students who want a broad, globally oriented business foundation with a built-in work experience and a focused minor, and who are comfortable at a small private college of about 2,500 students. Prospective students should confirm current requirements, start dates and available formats directly with the school before applying.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Boston
The median school on this list graduates 77% of its students. The highest rates belong to Tufts University (94%) and Babson College (93%). The top graduation rate is not at the #1 school, because the score also weighs selectivity, cost, and earnings.
- #3 Tufts University94% graduation rate
- #4 Babson College93% graduation rate
- #1 Northeastern University91% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Boston?
On this list, 5 schools admit fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Northeastern University at 5%.
- #1 Northeastern University5% admitted
- #2 Boston University11% admitted
- #3 Tufts University11% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Online Options Among the Business Schools in Boston
Of the 11 schools ranked here, 3 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Tufts University, at #3.
- #3 Tufts UniversityMedford, MA
- #4 Babson CollegeWellesley, MA
- #7 Emerson CollegeBoston, MA
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Boston
Enrollment on this list runs from 2,008 at Hult International Business School to 37,737 at Boston University. Of the 11, 2 enroll 20,000 students or more and 5 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Boston Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northeastern UniversityNortheastern | $125,162 | $29,060 |
| #2 | Boston UniversityBU | $108,412 | $36,503 |
| #4 | Babson CollegeBabson College | $107,520 | $34,096 |
| #6 | Brandeis UniversityBrandeis | $108,405 | $30,606 |
| #8 | Endicott CollegeEndicott College | $79,846 | $39,219 |
| #11 | Regis CollegeRegis College | $82,096 | $25,506 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $79,846 at Endicott College to $125,162 at Northeastern.
Northeastern leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Regis College, $25,506 a year, and most at Endicott College, $39,219.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Boston Cost
Tuition across the 11 ranked schools runs from $39,750 to $69,146 a year. Endicott College in Beverly anchors the low end at $39,750 a year, while Tufts University in Medford sits at the top at $69,146.
Over the four years the credential takes, that is roughly $159,000 in tuition at Endicott College against about $276,584 at Tufts University. 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.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
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: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes 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.
Why Study Business in Boston
The 11 ranked schools sit across 8 towns in the metro, among them Boston, Medford, Wellesley, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 3 of the 11 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Boston: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Boston?
By Program Score, Northeastern University ranks first among the 11 ranked business schools in Boston, with a 97.5 score and a 91% 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 11 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 3 of the 11 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.