
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology is a private, career-focused college in Boston with roots in Benjamin Franklin's bequest to the city. The institute opened in 1908 to provide practical technical education, a purpose that remains central to its identity.
The institution was long known as Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. It later adopted its current name in recognition of support from the Cummings Foundation. Its history helps explain why its academic offerings concentrate on applied technology and preparation for technical work rather than a broad liberal-arts curriculum.
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology organizes its education around technical and career-oriented programs, rather than a large collection of separately named schools. Prospective students should compare programs by credential, curriculum, hands-on requirements, and the jobs or further study for which each is designed.
Its offerings have included programs in automotive technology, electrical technology, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, and engineering-related technologies. The institute offers credentials at the certificate, associate-degree, and bachelor's-degree levels, but not every subject is available at every level. Applicants should use the current program catalog to check course sequences and whether a program requires particular equipment, scheduling, or prior coursework.
The institute is in Boston, Massachusetts. Its location gives students access to a large metropolitan labor market, but it also makes commuting time and transportation costs important parts of an enrollment decision.
Because campus locations can change, applicants should confirm the address where their specific classes and labs will meet before planning a commute. Boston-area public transit may be practical for some students; others will need to account for parking arrangements and travel between work, home, and campus. Logan International Airport serves the region, though it is less relevant to most students' everyday travel.
The institute's stated educational purpose centers on accessible, applied education that prepares students for technical careers. That emphasis is reflected in its concentration of occupational programs and hands-on learning.
A prospective student can evaluate that mission in concrete terms: whether a program teaches the skills required for a particular occupation, includes appropriate lab work, and leads to a credential employers or transfer institutions recognize. A stated commitment to career preparation should not be read as a promise of employment or a particular salary.
Name of the institution
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of TechnologyLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Four-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1908Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.