Education

4 Massachusetts schools got a 5-star rating on Money.com’s ‘Best Colleges’ list

The ratings are based on financial aid, graduation rate, cost of attendance, and other factors.

The Maclaurin Buildings on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge. Bloomberg

By Madison Lucchesi

July 24, 2025

1 minute to read

Four Massachusetts colleges received a 5-star rating on Money.com’s 2025 ‘Best Colleges’ list.

MIT, Harvard, Babson, and Williams are the Massachusetts colleges Money rated best.

While the list isn’t a ranking, the star ratings are based on financial aid, graduation rates within six years, cost of attendance for the 2025-2026 academic year, and median alumni salaries within 10 years of starting college, amongst other factors.

Money wrote on its website, “our star ratings on more than 700 colleges can help you build a list of standout schools that fit your budget.”

Babson College, located in Wellesley, received a 5-star rating for its 20% acceptance rate, 92% graduation rate, and financial aid bringing the cost of attendance down from the full cost of around $83,000 to $32,000 on average.

Harvard University has a 4% acceptance rate, 96% graduation rate, and on average, financial aid reduces the cost of attendance from $89,000 to $19,000.

MIT’s 5-star rating came from its 5% acceptance rate and financial aid dropping the cost of attendance from approximately $85,000 to $22,000. Like Harvard, MIT also has a 96% graduation rate.

Located in Williamstown, Williams College accepts 10% of applicants, with 94% of students graduating and the cost of attendance typically lowering to $18,000 from $88,000 with financial aid.

Of the more than 700 colleges on Money’s list, 40 received a 5-star rating. See the full breakdown here.