New Ranking Places MCPHS Among State’s Safest College Campuses

MCPHS has been ranked among the safest college campuses in Massachusetts by Niche.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) has been ranked among the safest college campuses in Massachusetts, placing No. 2 in Niche’s 2026 safety rankings.

The annual rankings evaluate colleges and universities using a combination of U.S. Department of Education data, student reviews, and crime and health statistics from the FBI and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Safety rankings are based in part on rates of assaults and drug- and alcohol-related arrests.

MCPHS trailed only Bay Path University in Longmeadow, MA, in the statewide rankings.

Niche, a ranking and review platform known for profiling schools and colleges across the United States, evaluates institutions annually on measures including academics, admissions, campus life, and student experience.

The recognition comes as MCPHS continues to emphasize student safety and wellness through campus policing, emergency preparedness, and health programming.

Like other colleges that receive federal financial aid, MCPHS is required under the Clery Act to publicly share information about crime on and around campus. The University releases annual safety reports that include crime and fire statistics and keeps data from the previous three calendar years available on its website, alongside housing safety information required by state law.

Campus safety at MCPHS is overseen by a Public Safety department staffed by 25 Special State Police Officers. Officers, including supervisors and command staff, are sworn under Massachusetts law and have authority to make arrests for criminal offenses committed on University property.

The University also offers a 24-hour campus escort service, allowing students and employees to request accompaniment from school buildings or parking lots to destinations on MCPHS property.

In addition to policing and emergency response, MCPHS hosts ongoing health, safety, and wellness initiatives across its three campuses for students, staff, and faculty. Student organizations regularly sponsor community outreach efforts, including medication safety drives, alcohol awareness programming, and public health fairs.

The Center for Health and Wellbeing provides workshops focused on stress management, sleep health, and resilience, as well as relaxation programming during exam periods. Faculty, staff, and students can also participate in emergency preparedness training, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program through the Colleges of the Fenway consortium.

As part of its health sciences curriculum, MCPHS also requires students to maintain certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Basic Life Support (BLS), training designed to prepare future healthcare professionals to respond to medical emergencies.