Number of Colleges/ Universities Ranked in the top 100

Whether a student is seeking an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree, or a doctorate, attracting top-tier candidates to postsecondary institutions is an essential component in creating an innovation ecosystem. After analyzing the 2018 overall university rankings from U.S. News & World Report, it can be concluded that Massachusetts and New York both house 10 “Top 100” colleges/universities within their borders, the most in the region. New Jersey is home to three.

Of the 10 ranked universities in Massachusetts, seven are located within a 10-mile radius of Boston and are ranked within the Top 40 universities in the country. The close proximity of numerous Massachusetts universities located within a major urban city provides an ideally centralized location for competition to spur and thrive, ultimately stimulating an innovation ecosystem. By comparison, New Jersey’s three top-ranked universities are geographically dispersed.