An Introduction to Colleges & Universities in Boston

Going to School in Boston

In fact, with over 35 colleges and universities in the area, a significant percentage of the population in Boston is directly involved with academics in one form or another. Of the city's 3 million residents, one out of five is involved with higher education as a student, staff person, or similar affiliation. Massachusetts Public Higher Education served 262,903 students during fiscal year 2003, and the city is a national leader in per capita graduation rates in many fields including Computer Sciences, Engineering, Business Management, Medicine and Physical Sciences. In addition to these popular choices, students at Boston colleges and universities can study for careers that may not be offered at schools in other parts of the country, including Biobehavioral Studies, East Asian Studies, Geographic Information Technologies, and Labor Studies.

Students can choose from a wide variety of schools in both public and private categories. In addition, Boston is home to numerous specialty and professional schools that allow students to focus on a particular area of study.

Public Colleges & Universities

• Bunker Hill Community College
• University of Massachusetts-Boston

As the above list indicates, one significant aspect that stands out about higher education in Boston and the surrounding communities is that there are so many private colleges to choose from. According to Richard Doherty, President of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), Massachusetts is the only state in the country with more students in private schools than are in public institutions.

Costs

According to Doherty, one of the main reasons so many students in Boston and other areas of Massachusetts attend private colleges is because of the millions of dollars of financial aid available directly from the schools to help cover costs. "Students should be aware of the real cost of attending a college," he said. "Tuition or sticker price is not the whole story, and thanks to institutional aid available, a student could attend a private college more cheaply than a public school in many cases."

Doherty pointed out that it is important to remember that financial aid is based in part on how much it costs to attend a particular school. Those who enroll at one of the private colleges can expect to pay tuition costs that average around $15,000 to $20,000 per semester for residents, but they will receive much larger financial aid packages than students at state colleges or universities that charge between $2,000 to $5,000 for tuition per semester for residents ($4,800 to $11,000 for non-residents).

In addition, Doherty explained that the private colleges have a wealth of foundation funds, scholarships and other monies available to supplement federal and state financial aid awards. Some schools even waive costs for exceptional students from families with limited income. "Many people don't realize that Harvard fully waives tuition and room and board for accepted students with a family income of $40,000 or less," Doherty shared.

According to Francesca Purcell, Policy Analyst at the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, funding at public institutions is also quite generous. Purcell indicated that for the 2003-04 school year, "Massachusetts state and community colleges provided all of the financial aid needed to meet direct costs to at least 85% of their eligible students." In addition, she pointed out that, "The New England Board of Higher Education's Regional Student Program (RSP) provides New England residents with a tuition break when they study certain majors - not available at public colleges in their home state - at public colleges and universities in other New England states."

Financial Aid

In addition to federal aid and tuition breaks and waivers, there are a host of grants and scholarships available to students attending college in the Boston area. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) advises the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education about financial aid policy issues and is primarily responsible for the management and oversight of all state funded financial aid programs. Some of the grants and scholarships they manage include:

• CommonWealth Futures Grant
• Foster Child Grant
• MASSGrant
• Massachusetts Gilbert Matching Student Grant
• Massachusetts Cash Grant
• Massachusetts Part-Time Grant
• Massachusetts Public Service Grant
• Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant
• Performance Bonus Grant

Internships

Another way students can help to pay for college and also gain valuable experience in their field is to participate in an internship. The opportunities available are as varied as the companies located in the Boston area. Those with an interest in computers may choose to pursue an internship at Sun Microsystems, while journalism majors can learn the ropes at the Boston Globe. Several of Boston's professional sports teams, including the Boston Bruins hockey organization, provide internship programs. And those pursuing careers in government or related fields have several options through the City of Boston. See specific colleges for full listings of each school's established internship opportunities.

Employment in Boston

Upon completing their degrees, over one-third of all graduates from Boston schools find their first full-time jobs and remain in the area. With 14,907 employees, Massachusetts General Hospital is Boston's largest private employer. The medical field as a whole is the largest employment sector in the city, comprising 40% of all jobs. As was mentioned, higher education (along with consulting and research) is another top career field. Other leading industries include financial services, high technology, social services, and tourism.

Attracted by the large pool of highly educated and trained employees and the well-known research institutions, many companies, such as Amgen, Cisco, Merck, Novartis, and Pfizer have relocated to the Boston area or have established major facilities in the city. This influx of thriving businesses has given the local economy a boost and created a positive labor market for college graduates.

Summary

Steeped in history and tradition, Boston is well known for its commitment to higher education and its quality schools. It is home to some of the most prestigious private schools and top public institutions, providing a broad spectrum of program areas, learning environments, cost levels and financial aid options. Students from all backgrounds and interest areas are welcomed, however as Richard Doherty of AICUM noted, "If you come to Boston, you must be a Red Sox fan!"