Accreditation
Invitation for Public Comments - Accredited Institutions
University of Massachusetts Boston will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit 3/23/2025 – 3/26/2025 by a team representing the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, NEASC).
The New England Commission of Higher Education is one of seven accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 220 institutions in the six-state New England region as well as several American-style institutions overseas.
University of Massachusetts Boston has been accredited by the Commission since 1972 and was last reviewed in 2015. Its accreditation by the Commission encompasses the entire institution.
For the past year and a half, University of Massachusetts Boston has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the institution. Following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action.
The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution to:
Public Comment on University of Massachusetts Boston
New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100
Burlington, MA 01803-4514 E-mail: info@neche.org
Public Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments. Public Comments must be received by 3/23/2025. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.
Rankings
Consistently ranked in the top-tier of universities in America by several leading ratings outlets, UMass Boston's academic excellence, diversity, and urban location are among several factors that set the university apart.
With undergraduate, graduate, and online programs that continue their upward trajectories in the rankings, several have taken their places among the best in the country.
Some of our recent rankings:
2025
According to U.S. News and World Report, UMass Boston is:
- #57 for Best Online Bachelor's Programs
- #94 for Undergraduate Psychology Programs
- #44 for Social Mobility - National Universities
- #26 for Undergraduate Nursing (BSN) Program
- #53 for Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- #145 for Undergraduate Computer Science
- #176 for Undergraduate Business Programs
- #214 for National Universities
- #116 for Top Public Schools
- #19 for Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA)
- #85 for Best Online Master's in Education Programs
- #27 for Best Online Master's in Education Programs for Veterans
- #75 for Best Online MBA Programs
- #49 for Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans
2024
According to U.S. News and World Report, UMass Boston is:
- #50 for Best Online Bachelor's Programs
- #87 for Part-time MBA
- #46 for Best Graduate Education Schools
- #52 for Best Nursing Schools: Master's
- #90 for Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- #186 for Graduate Biological Sciences
- #136 for Graduate Chemistry
- #56 for Graduate Clinical Psychology
- #120 for Graduate Computer Science
- #155 for Graduate Earth Sciences
- #111 for Graduate Psychology
- #70 for Best Graduate Public Affairs Programs
- #17 for Rehabilitation Counseling
- #140 for Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA)
- #58 for Best Online Master's in Education Programs
- #18 for Best Online Master's in Education Programs for Veterans
- #102 for Best Online MBA Programs
- #65 for Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans
2023
According to U.S. News and World Report, UMass Boston is:
- #35 for Best Online Bachelor's Programs
- #67 Undergraduate Nursing
- #66 Master of Nursing
- #78 Doctor of Nursing Practice
- #43 Graduate programs in education
- #111 Graduate programs in psychology
- #79 Graduate programs in sociology
- #63 Master’s program in public affairs
- #56 Doctor of clinical psychology
- #17 Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling
- #98 Part-time MBA program
- #120 Graduate programs in computer science
- #186 Biological Sciences
- #136 Chemistry
- #155 Earth sciences
- #59 Undergraduate Engineering
- #102 Online MBA
- #35 Online Bachelors
- #43 Online Master's in Education
- #72 Online Graduate Business Programs (Excluding MBA)
- #14 Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans
- #89 Online Master's in Nursing Programs
2022
- According to U.S. News and World Report, UMass Boston is:
- #43 in the country for undergraduate nursing
- #19 for ethnic diversity
- #36 for social mobility
- #62 for computer science
- #112 overall among public universities
- #227 overall best national universities
- U.S. News also ranked UMB's graduate programs among the best in the country:
- #48 for graduate programs in education
- #63 for master's of nursing
- #69 for master’s programs in public affairs
- #86 for doctor of nursing practice
- #79 for sociology
- The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranked UMB #8 in the country for environment, citing outstanding diversity and inclusion.
- Niche ranked UMass Boston:
- #3 best public university in Massachusetts
- #6 best college for nursing in Massachusetts
- #18 college with the best professors in Massachusetts
- #53 best college for information technology in America
- #28 most diverse college in America
- UMB's business program was ranked as Tier 1 by CEO Magazine
- Intelligent awarded UMass Boston's online master's programs Best for Accelerated Programs
2021
- U.S. News and World Report ranked UMass Boston as:
- #113 overall among public universities
- #36 for social mobility
- U.S. News also ranked UMB's graduate programs:
- #62 for graduate programs in education
- #66 for master's of nursing
- #72 for master's programs in public affairs
- Forbes ranked UMass Boston on their annual list of top colleges in America, including their rankings for:
- Public colleges and universities
- Caliber of research
- Best value colleges
2020
- QS Quacquarelli Symonds, in its inaugural ranking of top universities, ranked UMass Boston:
- #9 in Massachusetts
- #79 overall in the country
- Diversity, employability, and internationalization were each key factors in the ranking
- 24/7 Wall Street said UMass Boston was the 3rd most diverse four-year college in the U.S.