University of Massachusetts-Boston

The University of Massachusetts-Boston is a public university in Boston and part of the University of Massachusetts System that includes six campuses across the state. The university was founded in 1852 as Boston State College. A wide variety of programs are offered through the eleven schools and colleges at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Nursing is one of the most popular areas of study at the university, with over 13% of undergraduates majoring in nursing. The university is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is ranked in the top 200 universities in the country according to US News & World Report.

The university offers seven nursing programs accredited by the CCNE, including three tracks for earning a BSN. The BSN programs include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN. The RN to BSN program is designed to be completed in 3 to 5 semesters. Graduate-level programs include MSN, DNP, PhD, and BSN to PhD programs. The traditional BSN program may take 2.5 to 4 years to complete and includes clinical work at local clinics and hospitals through the more than 200 partnerships that the university has with healthcare facilities in the area. The clinical placements include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Updated on: 07 Nov, 2025

Program Length & Format

12-month
54 credits across 12 nursing courses
Hybrid delivery: online didactic coursework with in-person clinical placements and on-campus simulation
In-person clinical placements require commuting to the greater Boston area; out-of-state applicants must relocate
Pre-licensure program holds Full Approval Status from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field with a minimum of 68 prior credits
Cumulative baccalaureate GPA minimum 3.0
Prerequisite GPA minimum 3.3
All prerequisite courses must be completed by the application deadline
F-1 visa holders are not eligible to apply to the ABSN program

Entrance Exams

TEAS scores optional
If submitted, recommended minimum score: 75 on each TEAS section
Accepted TEAS formats: TEAS at PSI, TEAS at ATI, remote proctored TEAS

Prerequisites

Courses requiring grade C or higher:
- Introductory Sociology or Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
Courses requiring grade C+ or higher (no time limit):
- Human Growth & Development through the Lifespan (3 credits)
- Nutrition (3 credits)
Courses requiring grade C+ or higher, with lab, completed within 10 years:
- Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credits)
- Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credits)
- Microbiology with lab (4 credits)

Deadlines

Fall semester start (September): application deadline May 1
Spring semester start (January): application deadline September 1
Summer semester start (May): application deadline February 1
Applicants receive admission decisions via email approximately one month after each deadline

Application

Official college transcripts from all institutions attended; bachelor’s degree must be conferred by the application deadline (Fall applicants with May graduation must have degree conferred by June 1)
$60 application fee
CED or WES evaluation required for foreign coursework
Two written essays: one 500-word prompt and one 250-word prompt
Two recommendation letters
Accelerated Nursing Prerequisite Form submitted via Beacon Gateway after application
Mandatory in-person orientation at UMass Boston and online virtual orientation if accepted

Selection Process

Typical applicant volume: over 300 per cycle
Approximate seats per cohort: 48
acceptance rate: ~15%
Admission decision factors include GPA thresholds and completion of prerequisites

Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition rate for 2024–2025 Academic Year: $650 per credit
Program nursing credits: 54 total; total nursing tuition = 54 credits × $650 per credit (tuition and fees subject to change)

Clinical & Simulation Lab

Clinical placements in greater Boston area and regional Massachusetts hospitals
Typical clinical assignment load: approximately 8–12 hours per week each semester
On-campus simulation training at UMass Boston Center for Clinical Education and Research (CCER) several times per semester
Clinical clearance documentation required prior to clinical start; clearance items updated each enrollment cycle

Graduation Criteria

Maintain cumulative UMass Boston GPA of 2.50 (77%) or higher each semester in the program
Minimum grade of C+ required for major courses; lecture grade of C+ or higher plus PASS for lab/clinical components to pass a course
Total degree requirement: 123 credits including up to 71 transfer credits from prior bachelor’s and 54 UMass Boston nursing credits
Residency requirement: all 54 nursing credits must be completed at UMass Boston
No more than eight courses taken pass/fail may apply toward the degree; maximum one pass/fail course per semester

Credit Transfer

Up to 71 transfer credits accepted from prior bachelor’s degree toward 123-credit degree
All 54 nursing major credits must be completed at UMass Boston; no major courses may be taken outside the program

International Students

Foreign coursework requires CED or WES evaluation
Students on F-1 visas are not eligible to apply to the Accelerated Nursing program

Contacts

Current ABSN students: Allison Christiansen, Program Assistant
ABSN application and credit transfer questions: George Goldman, Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions: phone 617.287.6100