Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Simmons University, College of Our Lady of the Elms and MGH Institute of Health Professions are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Simmons University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,096, College Scorecard. Regis College, University of Massachusetts-Boston and Simmons University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Massachusetts: 590, 447 and 410 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Massachusetts colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 5,614 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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 | Simmons University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,096 | 410 | 72% | $24,848 | $27,916 |
| 2 | College of Our Lady of the Elms Chicopee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,775 | 149 | 68% | $21,982 | $27,000 |
| 3 | MGH Institute of Health Professions Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,868 | 266 | — | — | $32,000 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,452 | 147 | 83% | — | $29,548 |
| 5 | Westfield State University Westfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,136 | 51 | 54% | — | $26,900 |
| 6 | Salem State University Salem Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,641 | 145 | 50% | — | $28,500 |
| 7 | Fitchburg State University Fitchburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,228 | 132 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,034 | 300 | 62% | $35,358 | $34,000 |
| 9 | American International College Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,889 | 46 | 46% | $23,595 | $37,500 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,672 | 447 | 49% | — | $30,343 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenfield Community College Greenfield Public · Associate degree | $75,914 | 30 | 31% | — | $15,625 |
| 2 | Springfield Technical Community College Springfield Public · Associate degree | $75,769 | 71 | 32% | — | $17,135 |
| 3 | Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Medford Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $75,598 | 59 | — | — | $30,500 |
| 4 | Laboure College of Healthcare Milton Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $69,451 | 243 | 100% | — | $31,885 |
| 5 | Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing Brockton Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $69,052 | 37 | 33% | $25,162 | $26,750 |
| 6 | Middlesex Community College Bedford Public · Associate degree | $75,351 | 46 | 23% | — | $15,988 |
| 7 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester Public · Associate degree | $74,992 | 143 | 22% | — | $26,789 |
| 8 | Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner Public · Associate degree | $74,618 | 58 | 24% | — | $22,175 |
| 9 | Northern Essex Community College Haverhill Public · Associate degree | $74,427 | 24 | 21% | — | $17,125 |
| 10 | Holyoke Community College Holyoke Public · Associate degree | $73,404 | 53 | 29% | — | $20,880 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Massachusetts
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Regis College Weston Private not-for-profit | 590 | $78,481 |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public | 447 | $79,672 |
| 3 | Simmons University Boston Private not-for-profit | 410 | $85,096 |
| 4 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston Private not-for-profit | 300 | $80,034 |
| 5 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston Private not-for-profit | 270 | $78,713* |
| 6 | MGH Institute of Health Professions Boston Private not-for-profit | 266 | $81,868 |
| 7 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 251 | $78,713* |
| 8 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit | 212 | $78,934 |
| 9 | Endicott College Beverly Private not-for-profit | 185 | $78,594 |
| 10 | Curry College Milton Private not-for-profit | 151 | $79,242 |
ShowHide the other 36 Massachusetts colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Regis College (590 graduates a year), University of Massachusetts-Boston (447 graduates a year) and Simmons University (410 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Massachusetts colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Simmons University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,096, College Scorecard. College of Our Lady of the Elms and MGH Institute of Health Professions follow. By degrees awarded, Regis College is the largest, with 590 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Simmons University tops the list at $85,096. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Massachusetts is $117,960 (median $104,550), across about 88,200 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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