Massachusetts Nursing Programs

Top Nursing Schools in
Massachusetts — 2026

Compare the best BSN, MSN, ADN, and RN programs in Massachusetts. Tuition costs, NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and unique program highlights for prospective nursing students.

7 programs listed BSN · ADN · MSN Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing Compact legislation pending

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Nursing Programs in Massachusetts

BSN · On-Campus
Boston College
BSN Program — Boston

Boston College's Connell School of Nursing consistently ranks among the nation's top 25. Clinical placements span Brigham and Women's, Boston Children's, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

$28,000/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
95%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
University of Massachusetts Amherst
BSN Program — Amherst

UMass Amherst's College of Nursing is Massachusetts's largest public nursing program, known for its strong research culture and community health focus.

$16,000/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
92%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
Boston College
BSN Program — Chestnut Hill

Elite Jesuit university nursing with Boston's extensive hospital clinical network

$60,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
94%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
University of Massachusetts Amherst
BSN – Traditional — Amherst

Flagship public university BSN in Massachusetts

$22,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
92%NCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
Bunker Hill Community College
ADN Program — Boston

Urban Boston ADN with highly diverse student population and clinical network

$8,500 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
89%NCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
Quinsigamond Community College
ADN Program — Worcester

Central Massachusetts ADN with UMass Memorial Health clinical placements

$8,000 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
88%NCLEX Pass
MSN · Hybrid
Simmons University
MSN – NP Tracks — Boston

Women-focused university with strong NP and health equity programs in Boston

$38,000/yrAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
N/ANCLEX Pass

About Nursing Programs in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to some of the most prestigious healthcare institutions in the world, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess, concentrated in the Boston metro along with strong systems in Worcester and Springfield. The state's academic medical centers make it a magnet for nurses seeking research, teaching, and specialty practice.

Students can pursue community-college ADN programs, BSN degrees at the University of Massachusetts system and many respected private universities, accelerated second-degree options, and a deep bench of MSN and advanced-practice programs. Given the prevalence of academic medical centers, a BSN is especially valuable for new graduates competing for Boston-area hospital roles.

Licensure is handled by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. An important planning note: Massachusetts has enacted Nurse Licensure Compact legislation but has not yet implemented it, so for now Massachusetts nurses hold a single-state license, and out-of-state nurses must apply by endorsement. Check with the board for the current implementation status.

Licensing authority: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not yet. Massachusetts has enacted Nurse Licensure Compact legislation but has not completed implementation, so Massachusetts nurses currently hold a single-state license. Confirm the latest status with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
Complete an approved ADN or BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for licensure through the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
It helps. With so many academic medical centers and Magnet hospitals concentrated in the Boston area, a BSN strengthens new-graduate applications, though ADN routes remain a valid, more affordable starting point.
The state's concentration of world-renowned teaching hospitals offers exceptional clinical placements, new-graduate residencies, and specialty and research opportunities.
About two years for an ADN and four for a BSN, with accelerated BSN options finishing in roughly 12 to 18 months for second-degree students.
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