Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology

About Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology

Franklin Cummings Tech is a specialized, career-oriented institution rather than a comprehensive university. It traces its establishment to Benjamin Franklin’s bequest for trade education in Boston and opened in 1908. The college subsequently adopted the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology name while using Franklin Cummings Tech as its public-facing short name. It remains separately accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, which recognizes associate and limited bachelor’s degree authority. The institution’s central purpose is technical and trade education linked to economic advancement. Its program mix concentrates on fields such as automotive technology, biotechnology, information technology, construction management, engineering technology, opticianry, business management, and electrical engineering. This relatively narrow scope is useful for applicants who already have a clear occupational direction, but students seeking extensive choices in humanities, social sciences, or research-based graduate education should look elsewhere. A major institutional change occurred in January 2026, when Franklin Cummings Tech moved from Boston’s South End to a newly constructed campus at 1011 Harrison Avenue in Nubian Square, Roxbury. The new building is designed around hands-on technical instruction and consolidates teaching laboratories, student support, and career-focused activity. Applicants should therefore use the Roxbury address rather than the former Berkeley Street location when arranging a visit. The college is operating and enrolling students; no evidence of closure, merger, or loss of institutional recognition was found.

Undergraduate applicants complete the college’s online application and submit an official high-school transcript or official GED/HiSET results. Franklin Cummings Tech is test-optional, so SAT or ACT scores are not generally required. Requirements vary by program: some technical majors expect particular mathematics or science preparation, and certain programs publish minimum GPA or physical and safety-related conditions. Applicants should review the 2026-2027 catalog requirements for their chosen major rather than relying on a college-wide assumption. The current undergraduate admissions page lists February 1 as the priority application date for fall applicants, May 1 as the tuition-deposit date, and August 1 as the payment-plan deadline. The catalog describes rolling review, but not every program admits a January cohort. These dates and program availability should be reconfirmed for the intended start term. International applicants have additional requirements, including evaluated secondary-school credentials, evidence of English proficiency where applicable, and financial documentation. The catalog advises international students to submit all materials sufficiently early for immigration processing and states that institutional financial assistance is not offered to international students. Transfer applicants should arrange official postsecondary transcripts and request a formal credit evaluation. Accepted students may also need a final graduation transcript, required immunization documentation, and a tuition deposit before registration is complete.

Academics emphasize applied learning in a deliberately concentrated set of technical fields. Current degree offerings include associate programs in automotive technology, biotechnology, computer information technology, construction management, engineering technology, and opticianry. Engineering Technology includes pathways or concentrations such as building energy management and mechatronics, while Computer Information Technology includes a cybersecurity concentration. The college also advertises bachelor’s study in Business Management and Electrical Engineering. Certificate options include HVAC&R Technology and Practical Electricity. Program formats differ, so applicants should examine the curriculum for their intended credential rather than assuming a uniform four-year structure. Business Management has both a four-year hybrid route and a two-year online completion option for students who already hold an associate degree. Other programs use laboratories, shops, technical projects, and major-specific equipment. The new Roxbury building supports instruction in areas including automotive systems, engineering technology, HVAC, cybersecurity, mechatronics, and clean energy. Career integration is part of the academic model. Franklin Cummings Tech operates co-op and registered-apprenticeship opportunities through which eligible students can obtain paid experience in their field while progressing toward a credential. Career preparation also includes employer events and individualized support. Availability and sequencing can vary by major, especially for January entry, so prospective students should confirm the start term, delivery format, prerequisites, equipment requirements, and co-op eligibility directly with admissions. The supplied database’s broad list of conventional university subjects does not reflect the institution’s current, focused program inventory.

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit technical college founded in 1908
• Currently accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
• Offers certificates, associate degrees, and a limited selection of bachelor’s degrees
• Opened its purpose-built Roxbury campus in January 2026

Student Life & Environment

Student life is organized around a small, commuter technical-college environment rather than residence halls, varsity-centered traditions, or a large university campus. The college explicitly states that it does not offer on-campus housing. Most students live with family or rent independently, and the institution provides general housing-search resources without endorsing or arranging particular properties. The Student Affairs operation combines community activities with practical support. The Kraft Center for Student Success provides coaching and connections to academic, personal, and stability-related resources. Health and wellness support, disability accommodations, campus safety services, and student-success advising are also identified in current institutional materials. These services may be especially relevant to students balancing study with employment, commuting, or family responsibilities. Student organizations include the Franklin Honor Society, Franklin Leaders, Peer Mentors, a Student Veterans Association chapter, and Women in Tech & Trades. Activities emphasize leadership, belonging, teamwork, and civic engagement. Because the organization list can change, applicants seeking a particular club should verify that it will be active during their enrollment year. Overall, the experience is likely to appeal most to students who value close occupational cohorts, structured support, and career activity, while those prioritizing residential life should account for the absence of college housing.

Location & Surroundings

Franklin Cummings Tech now operates its main campus at 1011 Harrison Avenue in Nubian Square, Roxbury, within Boston. The purpose-built, 68,000-square-foot facility opened in January 2026 and replaced the former South End campus on Berkeley Street. Its teaching spaces were designed for applied programs, including automotive, HVAC, engineering technology, cybersecurity, mechatronics, and clean-energy instruction. Nubian Square places students in an active Boston neighborhood with access to employers, community organizations, and the wider metropolitan area. The college encourages public transportation and directs students to current MBTA information. It does not provide official student parking and discourages driving to campus, so prospective commuters should test their route and travel time before enrolling. Housing requires separate planning because the college has no residence halls. Students commonly live with family or rent in the region, where costs and commute times can vary substantially. Applicants relocating to Boston should include rent, transportation, and move-in expenses in their personal budget rather than relying only on the college’s billed charges.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026-2028, the college lists full-time associate-degree tuition at $9,500 per semester, or $19,000 per academic year. Business Management bachelor’s tuition is listed at $9,821 per semester. Degree-seeking students are also charged a $300-per-semester technology fee and a $150-per-semester student-activity fee. Students enrolled for at least nine credits are billed for health insurance unless they document comparable coverage and complete the waiver process. Tools, laptops, technical textbooks, laboratory items, and course fees vary considerably by major. The 2026-2027 catalog estimates associate students’ direct institutional charges at $22,885, including tuition, health insurance, technology, and activity fees, before program-specific tools or supplies. It separately budgets $17,500 for living expenses, books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous costs. These indirect amounts are planning estimates rather than charges paid to the college, and actual Boston-area expenses may differ. Eligible students seeking aid must submit the FAFSA each year. Packages can include federal and state grants, institutional scholarships, loans, and work-study, but the college does not promise to meet every student’s full demonstrated need. Career and Co-op Services assists with career exploration, résumés, internships, employment searches, and further-education planning. Students can also meet employers through career fairs, showcases, interview days, site visits, and paid co-op or apprenticeship pathways. Applicants should compare projected net price and borrowing with the employment requirements of their particular field rather than relying on institution-wide outcome claims.