6 best international colleges in Boston, Massachusetts 2025

Some prominent universities in the vicinity include Harvard, MIT, and Tufts. Additionally, Greater Boston is home to four members of the Association of American Universities. With over 100 colleges in the Greater Boston area, the region hosts more than 250,000 international students.

Kevin McDonnell

Specialist in International Students of the University of Sussex

What advice would you give to potential students before applying to a university?

Be proactive and start your application early, ideally almost a year in advance. Seek recommendations from your teachers and academic advisors. The earlier you apply, the more time universities have to consider your application, and the more time you have to explore your options and make an informed decision.

Bay State College, founded in 1946, is a private institution dedicated to providing international students with a quality education that prepares them for professional careers and enhances higher education.

List of main advantages of the educational institution:

• More than 15 educational programs;
• One of the best online degree colleges in Boston, Massachusetts;
• Small educational groups (not more than 15 students);
• Personal attention and access to a huge range of online services including technical support, advice and tutoring;
• Online library and bookstore.

Emerson College is a community college in Boston that specializes in writing, communications, and the liberal arts.

List of main educational directions:

• Writing;
• Literature;
• Publishing;
• Political communication;
• Fiction;
• Music art;
• Business studies in communications;
• The arts.
• The college offers for international students many options for publications, such as:
• The Emerson Review;
• A literary magazine;
• The Concrete Literary Magazine.

Fisher College, established in 1903, is an accredited independent institution situated in Boston, providing programs that integrate liberal arts with professional and pre-professional education tailored to the evolving requirements of both traditional and non-traditional learners. The college aims to cultivate a learning atmosphere that:

• Encourages the intellectual development of foreign students;
• Promotes respect for oneself and others;
• Strives to enhance the innate talents of each individual, equipping them for a fulfilling, enriching, and productive life in their chosen profession and culture.
• Founded in 1889, the Boston College of Architecture is a non-profit institution that offers diverse educational tracks, including:
• Undergraduate;
• Graduate;
• Online programs in architecture and design.

Foreign students at the Boston College of Architecture gain practical experience while working as paid employees in professional design settings, earning nearly one-third of their credit hours through hands-on experience. Graduates become eligible for licensure right after completing their degree. Furthermore, this college stands among those providing online graduate programs in the Boston area.

Established in 1873, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a four-year, independent public institution located in the vibrant Fenway cultural district of Boston. This college provides widespread access to top-notch professional training in the arts, alongside a solid foundation in liberal arts education. Students can choose from 22 specializations in areas such as fine arts, design, media, and art education, culminating in a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Furthermore, the college emphasizes small class sizes, enabling students to engage in independent projects alongside faculty members who are active professionals in the art field.

Meanwhile, the New England College of Optometry, a private institution located in Boston, Massachusetts, trains the destiny generation of eye care professionals. NECO's rigorous curriculum, blended with abundant medical experience, develops not only professional practitioners but also educators and innovators in the discipline. The graduates emerge as empathetic and knowledgeable optometrists organized to work in diverse environments. Notably, NECO holds the distinction of being the oldest constantly operating optometry school within the U.S., originally established in 1894 as the Klein School of Optics.