* Four-year colleges vs. two-year colleges: Including community colleges drastically increases the number.
* Public vs. private: Both public and private institutions are considered colleges.
* Undergraduate vs. graduate-only institutions: Some institutions focus solely on graduate-level education.
To get a precise number, you would need to define your criteria and meticulously search state-level higher education databases for each of the six New England states (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut). You'll find the number is well over 100, likely closer to 200 or more depending on your definition.