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Colleges in and near Needham

Babson College is 1.5 miles from Needham

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering (402 students on campus) is inside the town, and Babson College (3,646) is 1.5 miles from the center, just over the line in Wellesley. About 5% of Needham’s residents are enrolled in college, below Massachusetts (8%).

Babson CollegeMassachusetts Bay Community CollegeWellesley CollegeLasell University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Needham. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
48
225,563 students on campus
Nearest college
1.3 mi
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Residents in college
5%
Below MA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.4 mi
Massachusetts Bay · $5,856 tuition
Nearest public university
8.3 mi
Massachusetts College of Art and Design · $15,400 in-state
Median household income
$214K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Needham

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Four colleges within 4.2 milesBabson College admits 17% of applicants; Wellesley College admits 14%; Lasell University admits 81%. Together they have 9,955 students on campus.A community college 2.4 miles awayMassachusetts Bay Community College in Wellesley Hills: tuition and fees $5,856 a year for Massachusetts residents.In-state price at Massachusetts College of Art and DesignLiving in Massachusetts, Massachusetts College of Art and Design charges $15,400 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $43,400. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsBelow Massachusetts (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Needham

41 private colleges within 12 miles, three public colleges within 10.7 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miBoston UniversityNortheastern UniversityHarvard UniversityNeedham
University or collegeCommunity college
Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 402 on campus · In Needham25%admitted$25knet price96%graduate$129kearningsBabson CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,646 on campus · 1.5 mi · Wellesley17%admitted$41knet price93%graduate$124kearningsWilliam James CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 851 on campus · 2.2 mi · NewtonMassachusetts Bay Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,620 on campus · 2.4 mi · Wellesley Hills$7knet price17%graduate$53kearningsTuition and fees: $5,856 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Wellesley CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,418 on campus · 3.3 mi · Wellesley14%admitted$25knet price92%graduate$85kearningsHebrew CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 167 on campus · 3.7 mi · NewtonLasell UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,271 on campus · 4.2 mi · Newton81%admitted$28knet price59%graduate$50kearningsBoston CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 14,512 on campus · 5.3 mi · Chestnut Hill16%admitted$42knet price91%graduate$104kearningsBrandeis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,978 on campus · 5.9 mi · Waltham40%admitted$36knet price86%graduate$77kearningsRegis CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,166 on campus · 5.9 mi · Weston · mostly online70%admitted$27knet price72%graduate$53kearnings59% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Saint John's SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 120 on campus · 6 mi · BrightonHellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of TheologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 125 on campus · 6.3 mi · Brookline80%admitted$25knet price44%graduate$52kearningsBoston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis IncUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 165 on campus · 6.9 mi · BrooklineGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Curry CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,805 on campus · 7.1 mi · Milton88%admitted$29knet price51%graduate$54kearningsBentley UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,168 on campus · 7.3 mi · Waltham45%admitted$38knet price87%graduate$121kearningsMCPHS UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,353 on campus · 8.2 mi · Boston85%admitted$40knet price62%graduate$126kearningsEmmanuel CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,924 on campus · 8.2 mi · Boston76%admitted$27knet price68%graduate$68kearningsRoxbury Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,631 on campus · 8.2 mi · Roxbury Crossing$12knet price28%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $6,024 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Simmons UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,745 on campus · 8.3 mi · Boston70%admitted$25knet price72%graduate$63kearningsMassachusetts College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Public · 1,941 on campus · 8.3 mi · Boston76%admitted$24knet price69%graduate$44kearningsBoston UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 32,537 on campus · 8.4 mi · Boston11%admitted$24knet price89%graduate$83kearningsWentworth Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,885 on campus · 8.4 mi · Boston91%admitted$34knet price68%graduate$83kearningsNortheastern UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 29,851 on campus · 8.8 mi · Boston5%admitted$31knet price91%graduate$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Northeastern University Professional ProgramsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,901 on campus · 8.8 mi · Boston$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Harvard UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 22,636 on campus · 9 mi · Cambridge4%admitted$19knet price98%graduate$102kearningsBerklee College of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,560 on campus · 9 mi · Boston44%admitted$49knet price67%graduate$34kearningsThe New England Conservatory of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 784 on campus · 9 mi · Boston41%admitted$47knet price73%graduate$34kearningsLongy School of Music of Bard CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 277 on campus · 9 mi · Cambridge$39knet price78%graduate$47kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Boston Architectural CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 410 on campus · 9.2 mi · Boston$26knet price32%graduate$62kearningsMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,855 on campus · 9.3 mi · Cambridge5%admitted$20knet price96%graduate$143kearningsLesley UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,519 on campus · 9.3 mi · Cambridge97%admitted$31knet price58%graduate$51kearningsNew England College of OptometryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 529 on campus · 9.3 mi · BostonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Laboure College of HealthcareUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 520 on campus · 9.5 mi · Milton50%admitted$37knet price100%graduate$62kearningsBenjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 512 on campus · 9.9 mi · Boston$15knet price46%graduate$58kearningsFramingham State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 2,848 on campus · 10 mi · Framingham84%admitted$16knet price48%graduate$52kearningsFisher CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 737 on campus · 10 mi · Boston · mostly online71%admitted$27knet price28%graduate$50kearnings51% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.New England Law-BostonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,083 on campus · 10.2 mi · BostonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Emerson CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,965 on campus · 10.3 mi · Boston51%admitted$49knet price77%graduate$63kearningsUniversity of Massachusetts-BostonUniversity or college · Public · 14,204 on campus · 10.7 mi · Boston84%admitted$18knet price49%graduate$66kearningsSuffolk UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,596 on campus · 10.7 mi · Boston82%admitted$30knet price61%graduate$68kearningsHult International Business SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,636 on campus · 10.7 mi · Cambridge60%admitted$45knet price67%graduateTufts UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 12,718 on campus · 10.8 mi · Medford11%admitted$40knet price94%graduate$83kearningsBunker Hill Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,800 on campus · 10.9 mi · Boston$8knet price13%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $6,168 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Cambridge CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 758 on campus · 11.1 mi · Boston · mostly online$31knet price11%graduate$46kearnings61% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.MGH Institute of Health ProfessionsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,125 on campus · 11.6 mi · Boston$87kearningsEastern Nazarene CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 444 on campus · 11.9 mi · QuincyLawrence Memorial Hospital School of NursingCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 195 on campus · 12 mi · Medford$101kearningsQuincy CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,670 on campus · 12.4 mi · Quincy$17knet price15%graduate$53kearningsTuition and fees: $8,938 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Needham’s median household income ($214,308) falls.

Massachusetts Bay Community College2.4 mi · Wellesley Hills · sticker $14,185 · tuition $5,856$13,317a year
Bunker Hill Community College10.9 mi · Boston · sticker $14,899 · tuition $6,168$13,790a year
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology9.9 mi · Boston · sticker $30,406$21,375a year
Quincy College12.4 mi · Quincy · sticker $22,528 · tuition $8,938$21,920a year
Framingham State University10 mi · Framingham · sticker $27,413$21,962a year
University of Massachusetts-Boston10.7 mi · Boston · sticker $30,544$25,571a year
Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringIn Needham · sticker $86,474$27,096a year
Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology6.3 mi · Brookline · sticker $41,282$29,993a year
Fisher College10 mi · Boston · mostly online · sticker $53,921$30,661a year
Emmanuel College8.2 mi · Boston · sticker $65,252$30,832a year
Massachusetts College of Art and Design8.3 mi · Boston · sticker $34,239$31,882a year
Simmons University8.3 mi · Boston · sticker $63,460$32,777a year
Lasell University4.2 mi · Newton · sticker $42,434$32,947a year
Regis College5.9 mi · Weston · mostly online · sticker $65,546$33,106a year
Curry College7.1 mi · Milton · sticker $64,020$33,973a year
Lesley University9.3 mi · Cambridge · sticker $51,538$35,152a year
Suffolk University10.7 mi · Boston · sticker $65,281$36,264a year
Wentworth Institute of Technology8.4 mi · Boston · sticker $61,096$38,272a year
MCPHS University8.2 mi · Boston · sticker $65,022$43,470a year
The New England Conservatory of Music9 mi · Boston · sticker $81,277$47,387a year
Boston University8.4 mi · Boston · sticker $86,285$47,504a year
Northeastern University8.8 mi · Boston · sticker $84,641$47,696a year
Massachusetts Institute of Technology9.3 mi · Cambridge · sticker $82,730$48,479a year
Bentley University7.3 mi · Waltham · sticker $79,548$49,190a year
Harvard University9 mi · Cambridge · sticker $85,540$53,337a year
Wellesley College3.3 mi · Wellesley · sticker $86,290$54,188a year
Berklee College of Music9 mi · Boston · sticker $72,700$54,676a year
Brandeis University5.9 mi · Waltham · sticker $86,448$54,885a year
Emerson College10.3 mi · Boston · sticker $80,399$57,288a year
Tufts University10.8 mi · Medford · sticker $88,300$58,570a year
Hult International Business School10.7 mi · Cambridge · sticker $79,075$59,075a year
Boston College5.3 mi · Chestnut Hill · sticker $89,493$60,308a year
Babson College1.5 mi · Wellesley · sticker $80,192$80,192a year
Roxbury Community College8.2 mi · Roxbury Crossing · sticker $16,621 · tuition $6,024—a year
Longy School of Music of Bard College9 mi · Cambridge · sticker $72,450—a year
Boston Architectural College9.2 mi · Boston · sticker $40,343—a year
Laboure College of Healthcare9.5 mi · Milton · sticker $36,863—a year
Cambridge College11.1 mi · Boston · mostly online · sticker $34,072—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Needham: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k$140k$160k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Boston CollegeBoston UniversityUniversity of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston University89% graduate$83k earnings$23k typical debt
Northeastern University91% graduate$93k earnings*$24k typical debt
Harvard University98% graduate$102k earnings$14k typical debt
Boston College91% graduate$104k earnings$19k typical debt
University of Massachusetts-Boston49% graduate$66k earnings$22k typical debt
Tufts University94% graduate$83k earnings$16k typical debt
Massachusetts Institute of Technology96% graduate$143k earnings$15k typical debt
Suffolk University61% graduate$68k earnings$27k typical debt
Berklee College of Music67% graduate$34k earnings$25k typical debt
Bunker Hill Community College13% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
MCPHS University62% graduate$126k earnings$25k typical debt
Bentley University87% graduate$121k earnings$25k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Northeastern University (3); Longy School of Music of Bard College (3).

Majors

What students study in Needham

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Engineering 100%Everything else 0%

Biggest programs

Engineering, General39 graduates a year
$135k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Needham

Is Needham a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Needham residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Massachusetts (8). The largest campus in the town, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, has 402 students on campus.

What colleges are in Needham?

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is inside the town. Babson College is 1.5 miles from the center, in Wellesley, Massachusetts Bay Community College is 2.4 miles from the center, in Wellesley, and Wellesley College is 3.3 miles from the center, in Wellesley.

What is the closest community college to Needham, and what does it cost?

Massachusetts Bay Community College in Wellesley Hills, 2.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,856 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $7,169, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Massachusetts College of Art and Design cost if we live in Massachusetts?

Tuition and fees are $15,400 a year in-state and $43,400 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,351 (under $30,000 income) to $31,882 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Needham. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →