How many Massachusetts colleges and universities are there, where can I find a list?

There's no single, universally agreed-upon number of colleges and universities in Massachusetts. The count depends on how you define "college" and "university," and whether you include community colleges, private institutions, and specialized schools.

You won't find one definitive list that everyone accepts. However, you can find comprehensive lists by searching through these resources:

* Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE): Their website is a good starting point. While they may not have a single, readily downloadable list of *every* institution, they will have listings of public colleges and universities, and likely links to data that could help you compile your own list.

* The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): This federal agency collects data on all colleges and universities in the U.S. Their website allows you to search and filter by state (Massachusetts), which will give you a substantial list.

* Online directories: Websites like Peterson's, US News & World Report, and Niche all maintain databases of colleges and universities, allowing you to filter by state. These lists might not be entirely exhaustive, but they provide a considerable number of institutions.

By combining information from these sources, and making decisions on what constitutes a "college" or "university" in your criteria, you can create your own list and arrive at a number. Keep in mind that the number will vary depending on your definition.