With many colleges and universities within the city and surrounding area, Boston is an international center of higher education and a center for medicine. The city’s economic base includes research, manufacturing, finance, and biotechnology. As a result, the city is a leading finance center, ranking 12th in the Zen top 20 Global Financial Centers. The city was also ranked number one for innovation, both globally and in North America, for a variety of reasons. Boston has one of the highest costs of living in the United States,though it remains high on world livability rankings, ranking third in the US and 36th globally. If you are searching for a great place to attend college- Boston would be the place. There are a total of 52 institutions of higher education in the defined region, including 7 junior colleges, 14 colleges that primarily grant baccalaureate and master’s degrees, 8 research universities, and 23 special-focus institutions. Of these, 50 are non-profit organizations while 3 are for-profit businesses, and 48 are private ventures while 5 are public institutions.

Boston is home to the extremely prestigious Harvard University. Harvard University is an American private Ivy League research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country. Harvard’s history, influence, and wealth have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world. The university comprises eleven separate academic units—ten faculties and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study—with campuses throughout the Boston metropolitan area. Harvard’s 210-acre main campus is centered on Harvard Yard in Cambridge, approximately 3.4 miles northwest of downtown Boston. The business school and athletics facilities, including Harvard Stadium, are located across the Charles River in Allston and the medical, dental, and public health schools are located in the Longwood Medical Area. eight U.S. presidents have been graduates, and 75 Nobel Laureates have been student, faculty, or staff affiliates. Harvard is also the alma mater of sixty-two living billionaires, the most in the country. The Harvard University Library is the largest academic library in the United States, and one of the largest in the world.

Boston is also home to Berklee College Of Music. Berklee College Of Music is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip hop, reggae, salsa, and bluegrass. As of today, 87 Berklee alumni have received 205 Grammy Awards, popular music’s highest honor. Students at Berklee are exposed to a range of instruments, musical styles, and career options, so they can explore possibilities and find their own paths. Toward that end, Berklee offers student musicians courses of study toward a fully accredited four-year baccalaureate degree or professional diploma. Students may combine many of Berklee’s 12 majors, depending on the nature of the program. The dual major program requires a five-year course of study and is available to both degree and diploma candidates.Majors offered in Berklee are Composition, Contemporary Writing and Production, Electronic Production and Design, Film Scoring, Jazz Composition, Music Business/Management, Music Education, Music Production and Engineering, Music Therapy, Performance, Professional Music, and Songwriting. Starting Spring 2012, Berklee offers Global Studies Program students currently enrolled in Berklee College of Music in Boston. The program takes Berklee students to Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain to study courses that range in 2 areas: International Music Business and Mediterranean Music.

Not only that but in Boston you will also find the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. The Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology is one of New England’s oldest colleges of engineering and technologies. The college was established with funds in Benjamin Franklin’s will. The college is proud of its long tradition of educating students for technical careers. The school offers their students technical education combined with the core communication and analytical skills that will prepare them to build a viable career. Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology is committed to access and opportunity for all students, and provides the academic support and advising to help students reach their goals.