2027 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England

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Conference of New England

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College Raptor’s Hidden Gem rankings highlight under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names, but they're bringing serious academic heat. Hidden Gems are based on College Raptor’s overall national rankings and must meet the following criteria:

Receive fewer than 10,000 applications per year.
Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students.
Offer 5 or more unique majors
Have a 20% acceptance rate or higher.
Rank within the top half of College Raptor’s overall rankings.

For more information on methodology behind our college rankings, check out our ranking methodology breakdown.

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Rank	Institution	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Endicott College	71.21	1,200 – 1,350	41394	57286	#1 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Endicott College Beverly, MA Located in Beverly, Endicott College accepts 71% of applicants. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 96% of students attending Endicott College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 71.2% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $41,394 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,286
2	Roger Williams University	88.2	1,150 – 1,320	38779	53845	#2 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Roger Williams University Bristol, RI Found in Bristol, Roger Williams University’s acceptance rate is 88%. Undergraduates have to send in $55 to apply. About 100% of students attending Roger Williams University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more Acceptance Rate 88.2% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $38,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,845
3	Wentworth Institute of Technology	87.83	1,210 – 1,460	35604	71868	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA Based in Boston, Wentworth Institute of Technology accepts 88% of applicants. They require $50 for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. 83% of students decide to stay at Wentworth Institute of Technology after completing their first year....Read more Acceptance Rate 87.8% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $35,604 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $71,868
4	Gordon College	90.01	1,110 – 1,350	25299	45839	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Gordon College Wenham, MA Gordon College opened as the Boston Missionary Training Institute in 1889, receiving its current moniker just over 80 years later. With 35 areas of study and awarding up to Post-master's certificates, many students opt for the Business Administration and Management, General program....Read more Acceptance Rate 90.0% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $25,299 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,839
5	Western New England University	83.48	1,090 – 1,310	27056	51771	#5 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Western New England University Springfield, MA Based in Springfield, Western New England University’s acceptance rate is 83%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 97% of students attending Western New England University will receive institutional grant aid. They receive $30,597 on average. The first year retention rate is 74%....Read more Acceptance Rate 83.5% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $27,056 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,771
6	Maine Maritime Academy	96.15	1,090 – 1,290	23618	93944	#6 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME Located on a peninsula on the Bagaduce River and Penobscot Bay, the Maine Maritime Academy is a non-federal maritime training school. Students aren’t required to join the military after graduation. Many study Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. A non selective school, 27% of those accepted enroll. Acceptance Rate 96.2% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $23,618 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $93,944
7	Nichols College	80.84	1,030 – 1,240	32337	47830	#7 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Nichols College Dudley, MA Most programs at Nichols College focus on business – in fact, Business/Commerce, General is the most commonly chosen out of 18 available programs and majors. Although the school has Universalist roots, it’s nonsectarian today. The Bisons participate in the Conference of New England....Read more Acceptance Rate 80.8% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $32,337 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,830
8	Husson University	81.43	1,070 – 1,280	21005	41554	#8 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Husson University Bangor, ME Husson University opened as a branch of Shaw Business College in 1898. It was Husson College by 1947, and became a university in 2008. Popular majors include Business Administration and Management, General, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse....Read more Acceptance Rate 81.4% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $21,005 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,554
9	Johnson & Wales University-Providence	88.44	920 – 1,180	32057	35802	#9 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Conference of New England Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI Based in Providence, Johnson & Wales University-Providence accepts 88% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 100% of students at Johnson & Wales University-Providence will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more Acceptance Rate 88.4% SAT Score 920 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $32,057 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,802