Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts

Simmons University's mission is "to empower women and to challenge traditional gender norms." You're welcome to apply if you were assigned female at birth, identify as a woman, or are nonbinary but feel like you belong in an undergraduate community of women.

With its accelerated programs, you can complete an undergraduate and graduate degree in less time. For instance, you can earn a bachelor's in computer science and a master's in library information science in four years with its 3+1 track.

Most online courses include some face-to-face virtual classes.

UML calls itself a pioneer in online learning and has offered online courses since 1996. It is a member of the Online Learning Consortium — a collaborative community of higher education leaders committed to advancing digital teaching. 

According to data compiled by the Wall Street Journal, the college boasts the highest lifetime return on investment out of all public research universities in New England.

Programs at UML are interdisciplinary, combining topics like business, engineering, fine arts, and humanities to foster innovation. You can earn a bachelor's degree in business administration, economics, or criminal justice completely online. 

You may be asked to submit SAT or ACT scores when applying, but you can discuss alternatives with the admissions department if you have not taken them.

Endicott College strives to deliver an education that will prepare you for a career path with a high ROI. According to the school, roughly 90% of employed graduates report that their job is related to their major.

All students at Endicott complete three internships and a senior thesis during their studies. You can pursue an online bachelor's through Endicott's Van Loan School of Professional Studies, focusing on topics like business management, psychology, or criminal justice. Courses follow a seven-week structure. 

You can choose whether to submit resumes and test scores in your application.

College of Our Lady of the Elms is a Catholic liberal arts college that welcomes all students regardless of their faith. According to the school, roughly 85% of recent graduates are employed or are continuing their education.

Through online learning, you can earn a degree in data science and artificial intelligence, healthcare management, or speech-language pathology assistant. 

Classes are taught in an asynchronous format, but you'll still have the opportunity to collaborate with peers through online chat rooms. About 80% of classes have fewer than 20 students, so that you can enjoy a personalized learning experience.

Lesley University focuses on the human arts and offers programs that intersect with counseling, education, and the visual arts. You can also earn a degree in business management, psychology, or human services. Bachelor's and master's degree options are available online through Lesley.

After graduation, you'll join an alum network of almost 100,000 people who work as mental health counselors, expressive arts therapists, designers, and more. Graduates also gain access to specialized career resources and professional development opportunities.

With flexible asynchronous online courses, you can balance classes with the rest of your busy schedule. Lesley does not require applicants to submit SAT and ACT scores. 

If you're looking for an online education in the performing arts, Berklee College of Music can help you unlock your creative potential. Since its founding in 2002, Berklee Online has offered more than 75,000 students from 164 countries around the world an online learning experience. You can study voice performance, electronic music production, and songwriting.

With a mostly asynchronous class format, you can complete your coursework at your convenience. Each course also holds a weekly, one-hour live class that is recorded so you can review it later. Plus, all classes are capped at 20 students, providing a close-knit learning experience with your peers and instructors.