Best colleges for Business/Commerce in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and Brandeis University are the top bachelor's Business/Commerce programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Northeastern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,868, College Scorecard. Northeastern University, Emerson College and Brandeis University award the most Business/Commerce degrees in Massachusetts: 1,250, 115 and 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Massachusetts colleges offer Business/Commerce and award 1,970 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Business/Commerce program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of business management, marketing, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in…
Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,868 | 1,250 | 91% | $18,925 | $24,000 |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,287 | 33 | 52% | — | $24,973 |
| 3 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,806 | 61 | 86% | $25,074 | $26,000 |
| 4 | Western New England University Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,921 | 30 | 64% | $29,327 | — |
| 5 | Nichols College Dudley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,801 | 59 | 63% | $29,718 | $25,356 |
| 6 | Westfield State University Westfield Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,862 | 10 | 54% | — | $26,000 |
Top 4 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield Technical Community College Springfield Public · Associate degree | $19,969 | 59 | 32% | — | $7,200 |
| 2 | Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner Public · Associate degree | $42,825 | 37 | 24% | — | $9,250 |
| 3 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester Public · Associate degree | $42,618 | 45 | 22% | — | $17,500 |
| 4 | Bristol Community College Fall River Public · Associate degree Small program | $35,815 | 14 | 22% | — | $7,480 |
Colleges awarding the most Business/Commerce degrees in Massachusetts
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 1,250 | $74,868* |
| 2 | Emerson College Boston Private not-for-profit | 115 | Not reported |
| 3 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit | 61 | $55,806 |
| 4 | Nichols College Dudley Private not-for-profit | 59 | $44,801 |
| 5 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 53 | Not reported |
| 6 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston Private not-for-profit | 51 | $74,868* |
| 7 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Private not-for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public | 33 | $59,287 |
| 9 | Western New England University Springfield Private not-for-profit | 30 | $50,921 |
| 10 | Greenfield Community College Greenfield Public | 14 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Massachusetts colleges offering Business/Commerce
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill | Public | 72 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Public | 59 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Public | 45 |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Public | 37 |
| Bristol Community College | Fall River | Public | 14 |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | Public | 13 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 10 |
| Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield | Public | 8 |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater | Public | 4 |
| Suffolk University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Business/Commerce programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Business/Commerce degrees?+
Northeastern University (1,250 graduates a year), Emerson College (115 graduates a year) and Brandeis University (61 graduates a year) award the most Business/Commerce degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Massachusetts colleges offer Business/Commerce.
What is the best college for Business/Commerce in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Northeastern University leads among bachelor's Business/Commerce programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,868, College Scorecard. University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and Brandeis University follow. By degrees awarded, Northeastern University is the largest, with 1,250 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Business/Commerce program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northeastern University tops the list at $74,868. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Massachusetts is $155,020 (median $127,220), across about 95,880 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Business/Commerce program?+
The Business/Commerce program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of business management, marketing, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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