Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing, Greater Lowell Technical School and Southeastern Technical Institute are the top Practical Nursing programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $72,230, College Scorecard. Greater Lowell Technical School, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School and Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Massachusetts: 58, 55 and 48 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 Massachusetts colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 584 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing Billerica Public · Certificate | $72,230 | 32 | 80% | — | $9,397 |
| 2 | Greater Lowell Technical School Tyngsboro Public · Certificate | $67,281 | 58 | 100% | — | $8,859 |
| 3 | Southeastern Technical Institute South Easton Public · Certificate | $62,482 | 32 | 74% | — | $14,499 |
| 4 | Greenfield Community College Greenfield Public · Certificate | $56,658 | 30 | 31% | — | $12,123 |
| 5 | Monty Tech Fitchburg Public · Certificate | $53,902 | 45 | 67% | — | $10,711 |
| 6 | Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School Franklin Public · Certificate | $53,693 | 48 | 70% | — | — |
| 7 | Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner Public · Certificate | $62,720 | 28 | 24% | — | $14,435 |
| 8 | Diman Regional Technical Institute Fall River Public · Certificate Small program | $55,341 | 15 | 75% | — | $10,182 |
| 9 | North Shore Community College Danvers Public · Certificate | $55,336 | 35 | 18% | — | $13,119 |
| 10 | Charles H McCann Technical School North Adams Public · Certificate Small program | $54,802 | 17 | 100% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Massachusetts
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Lowell Technical School Tyngsboro Public | 58 | $67,281 |
| 2 | Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School Bourne Public | 55 | Not reported |
| 3 | Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School Franklin Public | 48 | $53,693 |
| 4 | Monty Tech Fitchburg Public | 45 | $53,902 |
| 5 | Southeastern Technical Institute South Easton Public | 32 | $62,482 |
| 6 | Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing Billerica Public | 32 | $72,230 |
| 7 | Greenfield Community College Greenfield Public | 30 | $56,658 |
| 8 | Charles H McCann Technical School North Adams Public | 17 | $54,802 |
| 9 | Diman Regional Technical Institute Fall River Public | 15 | $55,341 |
| 10 | Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District Upton Public | 15 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 7 Massachusetts colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Public | 100 |
| North Shore Community College | Danvers | Public | 35 |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Public | 28 |
| Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill | Public | 25 |
| Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield | Public | 21 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Public | 20 |
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | Public | 8 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Greater Lowell Technical School (58 graduates a year), Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School (55 graduates a year) and Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School (48 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 Massachusetts colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing leads among Practical Nursing programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $72,230, College Scorecard. Greater Lowell Technical School and Southeastern Technical Institute follow. By degrees awarded, Greater Lowell Technical School is the largest, with 58 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing tops the list at $72,230. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Massachusetts is $47,700 (median $46,680), across about 38,130 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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