As the second of the original colonies established at the dawn of the United States, the state of Massachusetts has a long and storied history linked to the very foundation of this country. It was at Plymouth Harbor that the Mayflower docked in 1620, and Massachusetts’ own John Hancock was the first to sign the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Massachusetts is also the first state to offer a working railroad and subway in the 19th century.
In honor of the 13 founding colonies, and the progress made in Massachusetts in particular, we profile 13 incredible colleges and universities in the state that continue this reputation of advancement as a prime spot for inspiring meetings and events.
According to a recent article in U.S. News & World Report, residents of the state put a premium value on education, as Massachusetts reports the highest percentage of residents in the nation with a college degree. And really can you blame them when you have incredible offerings like Boston University? Here, students and guests can enjoy picturesque buildings like The Castle, an elegant Tudor Revival mansion that was a former residence hall but now serves as a stunning location for special events. The first floor features the Great Hall, the Music Room, the Library, and the Dining Room accommodating up to 64 people for a seated dinner and up to 120 people for a reception. During the summer, there is also an outdoor terrace that can be accessed, providing views of the Charles River.
Mount Holyoke College in the town of South Hadley is another prime spot for meetings and events, consistently rated as one of the most beautiful campuses by the Princeton Review. As one example, the flexible Willits-Hallowell Conference Center & Hotel has 8,000 square feet of meeting space and 20 hotel rooms; it offers a fireplace in the living room and a large wall of windows overlooking a courtyard and waterfall.
Here are more of our favorite campuses in Massachusetts:
| Nichols College Dudley, MA  | Hampshire College Amherst, MA  |
| Fitchburg State College Fitchburg, MA  | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA  |
| Misselwood Events at Endicott College Beverly, MA  | Boston University Boston, MA  |
| Springfield College Springfield, MA  | Salem State University Salem, MA  |
| Wheaton College Norton, MA  | Curry College Milton, MA  |
| Boston College Connors Center Dover, MA  | Anna Maria College Paxton, MA  |
| Emmanuel College Boston, MA  | |