Best Nursing Schools in Massachusetts

Emmanuel College's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Boston blends rigorous coursework with hands-on clinical rotations at leading hospitals, covering mental health, maternity, pediatrics, and community health. A capstone clinical mentored by a professional nurse caps the curriculum, which develops critical thinking, cultural competency, and communication skills. Accredited by the CCNE and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, the program has shaped nursing education for over 40 years. Graduates are prepared for RN licensure and beyond, with 100% reporting career readiness and a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2024.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• Capstone required
• Clinical placements at Boston's top healthcare sites
• 100% of graduates prepared for career
• CCNE accredited program
• 40+ years of nursing education leadership
• Capstone experience with professional nurse mentor
• Clinical rotations in mental health, community, maternity, pediatrics
• Faculty show concern for individual students
• Boston location enriches academic experience

Middlesex Community College’s ADN program in Bedford offers an affordable, campus-based pathway to RN licensure. Students complete rigorous coursework in pharmacology, fundamentals, and lifespan patient care, paired with hands-on clinical rotations. Admission requires a minimum 2.5 GPA, a C or better in required science courses, and a passing TEAS score. The curriculum emphasizes safety, evidence-based practice, and professional growth. A military-friendly institution, Middlesex provides financial aid and scholarship opportunities. The program has achieved a perfect 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate for 2022, 2023, and 2024, reflecting strong preparation. Graduates are equipped for entry-level nursing roles or further educational advancement.

• Campus-based program
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• 2.5 GPA required
• TEAS test required
• Hands-on clinical experiences
• Focus on safety
• Evidence-based practice
• Professional development
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships possible

Westfield State University's BSN program combines academic theory with hands-on clinical training, starting as early as sophomore year. Students gain experience in the simulation lab and study areas like lifespan nursing, community health, psychiatric nursing, and leadership. Seniors complete a capstone preceptorship with practicing nurses. The program is test-optional with no entrance exam required, making admissions accessible. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and have achieved impressive pass rates—100% in 2023 and 2024, and 92% in 2022—with 100% employment after licensure. Accredited by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and CCNE, it's a top-value choice.

• Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, Commission of collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• No entrance exam required
• Test optional
• 100% job placement rate
• 2.5 GPA minimum
• Capstone required
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• Small class sizes
• 100% senior student internship placement

The BSN at Endicott College is a full-time, campus-based program in Beverly, MA, totaling 126 credits. The curriculum integrates liberal arts with nursing theory, launching clinical experiences during the sophomore year with a low 1:6 faculty-to-student ratio. Students rotate through health assessment, adult care, childbearing families, psychosocial nursing, and acute care, plus internships at leading Boston hospitals and a senior capstone. ACEN-accredited, the program reports a 99% job placement rate and NCLEX pass rates reaching 100% in 2023-2024 (91% in 2022). Admission is test-optional, requiring no SAT/ACT scores, with a 3.0 minimum GPA and prerequisites. A Fifth Year Master's pathway is available.

• ACEN accredited
• No entrance exam required
• Exams: SAT, ACT
• Test optional
• 126 total credit hours
• 100% licensure pass rate
• 99% job placement rate
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required
• Capstone required

Greenfield Community College's Associate in Science in Nursing is an intensive four-semester program blending liberal arts with clinical nursing courses across pediatric, maternity, medical-surgical, and mental health. Students gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations in diverse healthcare settings, complemented by a state-of-the-art simulation lab and dedicated faculty. The TEAS entrance exam is required for admission. Graduates achieve strong NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates, with 97% in 2023 and 100% in 2024, along with a 100% job placement rate within six months. ACEN accredited, the program offers RN-BSN articulation agreements and LPN advanced placement, providing a seamless pathway to further education or immediate practice.

• ACEN accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• 4-Semester program
• Complete in in two years
• Apply by 2027-02-17
• 97% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• 2.0 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required

Greenfield Community College's Associate in Science in Nursing program with a maternity concentration focuses on maternal-newborn nursing while also covering pediatric, medical-surgical, and mental health. This four-semester, 70-credit curriculum combines liberal arts with clinical nursing courses, featuring supervised clinical rotations in obstetrics and other settings. The TEAS entrance exam is required. The program's NCLEX-RN pass rates are outstanding: 97% of 2023 graduates and 100% of 2024 graduates passed on their first attempt. Graduates report 100% employment within six months. ACEN accredited and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, the program provides RN-BSN articulation agreements, LPN advanced placement options, and is held in high regard throughout the state.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing accredited
• 4 concentration options
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• $9,884 total program tuition
• 4-Semester program
• 70 total credit hours
• 97% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• 2.0 GPA minimum

For those specializing in medical-surgical nursing, Greenfield Community College's Associate in Science in Nursing offers a dedicated med-surg track. The four-semester curriculum integrates liberal arts with clinical instruction in medical-surgical, pediatric, maternity, and mental health nursing, emphasizing care for adults with acute and chronic conditions. Admission requires the TEAS entrance exam. Recent graduates achieved exceptional NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates, including 100% in 2024, and the program reports 100% job placement within six months. ACEN accreditation ensures educational quality. With RN-BSN articulation agreements and LPN advanced placement options, graduates can seamlessly enter practice or pursue a bachelor's degree. Faculty hold MSN degrees, and prerequisite coursework includes anatomy and physiology.

• ACEN accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• 4-Semester program
• Complete in in two years
• 97% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• 2.0 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN

Boston College's four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) provides a liberal arts-infused curriculum spanning anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and adult health, with clinical rotations at top Boston facilities such as Brigham and Women's and Boston Children's. Unique to the program are the Seacole Scholars living-learning community, undergraduate research fellowships, and study abroad—around a third of juniors choose international sites. The Roman Catholic, Jesuit tradition shapes its emphasis on holistic, ethical patient care, and the school is military-friendly. U.S. News ranks the BSN #13. Its 2024 first-time NCLEX pass rate was 98%. No ACT or SAT requirement is specified for admission; the university does not publicly mandate these exams.

• 4-Year program
• 98% licensure pass rate
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Seacole Scholars living-learning community
• Undergraduate Research Fellows program
• Study abroad junior year
• Clinical placements at major hospitals
• One-on-one faculty mentorship
• 448 undergraduate nursing students
• Global clinical experiences

Assumption University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing, offered through the Froelich School of Nursing, is a 4-year campus-based program that integrates a strong liberal arts foundation with 56 credits of dedicated nursing coursework. Students explore subjects from pathophysiology to public health, gaining clinical experience at renowned facilities including UMASS Memorial and Saint Vincent's Hospital. The curriculum emphasizes Catholic healthcare ethics, preparing compassionate, patient-centered practitioners. State-of-the-art simulation labs with high-fidelity mannequins enable realistic practice, while the annual hands blessing ceremony signifies the transition to clinical training. Admission requires a 3.2 GPA, prerequisite courses, and one recommendation; no ACT or SAT requirement is specified. The 2024 NCLEX-RN pass rate was 96%, with program-reported outcomes of 100% for the Class of 2025 and a 97.8% three-year aggregate.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• 4-Year program
• 127 total credit hours
• 100% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• 3.2 GPA minimum
• 1 letters of recommendation (minimum)
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available

Worcester State University offers a campus-based Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that prepares students for registered nursing practice. The curriculum integrates medical-surgical, pediatric, mental health, and community health nursing, with emphasis on clinical judgment, evidence-based care, and cultural sensitivity. Students gain practical experience through simulation labs and clinical rotations at UMass Memorial Health and community health centers. The program is accredited by the CCNE and holds the #1 ranking in Massachusetts from RegisteredNursing.org. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN, with pass rates of 91% in 2022, 97% in 2023, and 96% in 2024. Career opportunities span hospitals, clinics, and public health, and the degree serves as a foundation for advanced nursing education.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Clinical placements at UMass Memorial Health
• Simulation labs and hands-on practice
• Student-led National Student Nurses' Association
• Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society chapter
• Clinical rotations in hospitals and rehab centers
• Curriculum covers medical-surgical, pediatrics, mental health
• Clinical placements at community health centers

Massasoit Community College's full-time, ACEN-accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program blends liberal arts, science, and nursing theory with clinical experiences in varied healthcare settings. The curriculum emphasizes the nursing process, critical thinking, and culturally competent care for diverse populations. Admission is competitive, requiring the TEAS exam, CPR certification, immunizations, and a background check; students must maintain at least a 78% average in nursing courses. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, and recent pass rates have been strong at 94% (2022), 99% (2023), and 93% (2024). The program also facilitates transfer to four-year BSN programs, promoting lifelong learning and professional development.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• Full-time enrollment
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• NCLEX-RN licensure preparation
• ACEN accredited program
• CORI/SORI background check
• Health insurance and immunizations
• CPR certification required

This part-time evening LPN-to-RN advanced placement track at Massasoit Community College offers licensed practical nurses a direct route to an associate degree and registered nurse licensure in three semesters. With advanced placement credit for LPN knowledge, the cohort-based curriculum delves into clinical judgment, holistic care planning, communication, and technical skills needed in contemporary healthcare environments. Designed for working professionals, evening classes permit continued employment while studying. Teaching emphasizes evidence-based practice and care for diverse populations, including health promotion and disease prevention. Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN; Massasoit's ADN pass rates have ranged from 93% to 99% across 2022-2024, reflecting strong preparation for licensure.

• 3-Semester program
• Part-time available
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Evening classes
• Advanced placement for LPNs
• Holistic care planning
• Clinical judgment skills
• Prepares for RN role
• Diverse population focus
• Technical skills development

At North Shore Community College, the Nurse Education Associate in Science degree is a campus-based pathway to registered nursing. Coursework combines hybrid online learning, seminars, simulation labs, and direct clinical practice in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and community agencies. The ACEN-accredited curriculum develops clinical judgment, while scholarships and transfer agreements support further education. Graduates post a 98% NCLEX pass rate for 2024, up from 96% in 2023, and report 100% job placement. A full-time schedule in Danvers helps students build professional networks. This program is designed for those starting their nursing careers and leads to RN licensure eligibility.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
• 98% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Scholarships available
• Hybrid curriculum with online and clinical
• Clinical education at various healthcare facilities
• Careers in hospitals, clinics, long-term care
• Transfer agreements with four-year institutions
• Located in Danvers, MA

For licensed practical nurses seeking RN licensure, North Shore Community College offers an Advanced Placement LPN to RN Option within its Nurse Education program. This full-time, on-campus day track at Danvers condenses the Associate in Science curriculum by building on existing LPN knowledge through a hybrid format with seminars, simulation, and clinical experiences across diverse healthcare settings. ACEN accreditation ensures a solid foundation, and the program has sustained exceptional outcomes: 98% NCLEX pass rate in 2024 and 100% job placement. LPNs can access the Community College Nursing Scholarship and transfer to four-year colleges after graduation, making this a practical next step for career advancement.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
• Full-time enrollment
• 98% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Scholarships available
• Full-time day program at Danvers campus
• Streamlined pathway for LPNs
• Hybrid competency-based curriculum
• Community College Nursing Scholarship