Study in Boston

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 16th

Ranked 16th in the world, Boston is the top student city in the US, ahead of New York City.

Boston is without doubt one of the world’s best-known academic hubs, and its position is further bolstered by universities located within the Greater Boston area, in the neighbouring town of Cambridge. The most famous are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University – ranked first and fourth worldwide respectively in the QS World University Rankings®.

In addition to the academic might of MIT and Harvard, Boston is home to six more internationally ranked universities, forming a hub of intellectual endeavour which has earned it the nickname 'the Athens of America'.

Thanks in part to the two showstoppers, MIT and Harvard, Boston has a very strong score in the university rankings indicator. However, it actually ranks most highly for employer activity, reflecting the strong international reputation of its institutions among graduate employers worldwide.

The city’s weakest score, predictably, is for affordability, with fees at top US universities exceeding US$59,000 per year. Fortunately, both MIT and Harvard operate need-blind admission policies for all applicants, including international students, and generous financial aid packages mean Boston’s universities may not be as out-of-reach as they at first appear.

As one of the most historic cities in the US, Boston combines the hustle and bustle of a major metropolis and a happening arts, politics and culture scene, with an abundance of open green space and the stunning fall colours for which Massachusetts and the region of New England are famous.

Meanwhile, those who have studied in Boston rate the experience highly. The city comes within the top 10 for student view, due to its friendliness, ease of getting around, and its arts and cultural offerings.

Would you choose Boston? Tell us why.

Boston has eight universities featured in the QS Best Student Cities ranking this year. While Boston scored well across multiple indicators, employer activity earned it its highest rank, showcasing the career advancement opportunities which students and graduates can find in the city.

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.