Nursing Schools in Massachusetts

Holyoke Community College (HCC) is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. This public community college was established back in 1946. This school even has the distinction of being the first community college in all of Massachusetts. It has been serving the needs of the community for many decades and offers students many programs to pursue. Students can enroll in courses to pursue various associate degrees, and there are also many certificate programs. HCC has a transfer program as well for students who want to earn credits to transfer over to a four-year university. The success of HCC in the community has lead to the school having an exceptionally high rate of graduates, and it continues to provide students with the best educational opportunities possible.

The HCC nursing program offers students the chance to pursue the practical nursing certificate program or the associate degree in nursing program. HCC has designed the nursing program to help support and nurture the nurses of the future. Nursing students will be able to enjoy multimedia-equipped classrooms that offer great simulation experiences. Students will receive thorough training in order to prepare for the NCLEX licensure exam. This program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. The associate of science in nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. 

MGH Institute of Health Professions is a privately-run institution in Boston, Massachusetts and is part of the Partners Health Care. It is a graduate university that was founded by the Massachusetts General Hospital. Some of the main areas of study include Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, Communication Sciences, Occupational Therapy, and Nursing. The institute started as the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing in 1873 and was operated by Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1980, the program began accepting students for graduate degree programs and received its current name. The undergraduate offerings are limited, as the institute primarily focuses on graduate-level studies. 

MGH Institute of Health Professions offers seven nursing programs. These programs include accelerated BSN and MSN programs for those with a degree in an unrelated field. The accelerated BSN program takes 16 months to complete and most students are employed within their field within 3 to 6 months after graduation. These classes also have a low 6:1 student to faculty ratio. Registered nurses may apply for the RN to MSN program. The institution also offers the traditional BSN program, MSN program, and a DNP program, along with a BSN to DNP program. All programs are accredited by the CCNE, while the master’s programs are also accredited by the ACEN. 

Massasoit Community College (MCC) is located in Brockton, Massachusetts. MCC was established in 1966, and it currently serves over 7,000 students. The school has several associate degree programs for students to consider. There are many different areas of study, and the school also has many certificate programs that students can look into. MCC has many one-year or short-term certificate programs as well as job skills training courses that can help students to advance their careers. This school also has an athletics department and competes as part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Students can enjoy a very complete college experience at this community college.

The MCC nursing program allows students to pursue an associate in science degree in nursing. Students can pursue this program by either taking full-time courses, or they can enroll on a part-time basis. LPN to associate degree advanced placement options are also available. The curriculum of this nursing program involves many classroom experiences and clinical programs. The clinical portions of the nursing program will take place at local hospitals and health agencies in partnership with MCC. The MCC nursing program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Nursing in Education (ACEN). 

North Shore Community College (NSCC) is located in Danvers, Massachusetts. This public community college was established in 1965. This is a large school that serves over 16,000 students and it has a number of different programs for students to pursue. There are more than 80 associate degree and certificate programs available at NSCC. The school is completely accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It offers students the chance to pursue many different educational paths while receiving top-notch instruction. The school also has many partnerships that will allow students to transfer credits over to a four-year university.

NSCC has several options for prospective nursing students to consider as well. This school has both a practical nursing program and an associate degree nursing program. The associate degree in nursing program is known as the nurse education path. There are options for existing LPN's to receive advanced placement in this program too. The nursing education program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Anna Maria College is a private institution in Paxton, Massachusetts with a low 11:1 student to faculty ratio. The college is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The Sisters of Saint Anne founded the college in 1946. The original campus was in Marlborough and then moved to its current location in 1952. It now sits on 192 acres of land in Paxton. The college offers 35 undergraduate programs and 21 graduate programs to the 1,500 students that enroll each year. Along with on-campus classes, the college offers several online courses, including the RN to BSN nursing degree program. 

Anna Maria College offers three BSN programs that were accredited by the ACEN in 1989. Traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN programs are available. The college also offers an MSN program and is accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. As part of the religious affiliation, the college places a focus on spirituality in nursing that is included throughout the curriculum. The BSN programs have a foundation in liberal arts courses. Upon completion of the prerequisite courses, students begin the core nursing curriculum. The nursing students are responsible for arranging clinical experiences at local clinics. 

Simmons College is a private college in Boston, Massachusetts. It was established in 1899 as a liberal arts college for women. The undergraduate programs remain centered on women. However, the graduate programs are co-ed. The college has one of the lowest student-to-faculty ratios. For every faculty member, there are just seven students. This gives students more one-on-one time with their instructors. Despite being a women’s college foremost, Simmons College has always been very inclusive. In 1914, the first African-American student graduated from Simmons College. In 2014, the college released an explicit policy accepting transgender students. In 2018, Simmons College decided to rename itself Simmons University, after restructuring the organization of the school.

Simmons College School of Nursing offers a wide range of nursing programs, including the traditional BSN program, and LPN to BSN, RN to BSN, accelerated BSN, MSN, RN to MSN, accelerated MSN, DNP, and PhD programs, all of which are accredited by the CCNE. The school has close working relationships with several area teaching hospitals and research facilities, including the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Students receive clinical experience working at these locations and through simulated training at a simulation lab. Students choosing to apply to the MSN program may choose between an on-campus program and an online-only program. 

Northeastern University (NU) is a private university in Boston. It was established in 1808 as the Evening Institute for Younger Men and was housed in the Huntington Avenue YMCA in Boston. In 1916, the institute became Northeastern College. After the college began offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, the name was changed to Northeastern University. It is tied for 40th place in the National Universities category in the 2018 edition of the US News & World Report university rankings. It was also ranked as the top school for internships by the Princeton Review in 2017 and 2018 and the 6th most innovative school. 

Nursing students have several paths to earn a BSN. Available programs include a BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN program. The university also offers MSN, RN to MSN, accelerated MSN, and several DNP and PhD programs, which all have current accreditation by the CCNE. The traditional BSN program is intensive and typically takes five years to complete. The accelerated BSN program is for students that already possess a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing, and takes about 16 months to complete. Both the traditional and accelerated BSN programs include clinical placements at Boston-area hospitals and prepare students to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. 

Bristol Community College (BCC) is located in Fall River, Massachusetts. This two-year community college was established in December of 1965. This is a very large community college that serves many students throughout the area. BCC offers more than 150 degree and certificate programs. There are a number of different associate degree options available to students, and the school also has agreements in place to allow students to work toward a bachelor degree in certain areas. This is a fully-featured school that truly offers students a good college experience. There is an athletics department that was established in 2008, offering various men's and women's sports. It is a part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

The BCC nursing program allows students to pursue an associate in science in nursing degree. This program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and is also fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The nursing program at BCC has enjoyed great success over the years. The thorough education that nursing students receive at this school translates into high graduation percentages and great success rates for those who take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The school consistently scores numbers that are above the national average, making it a good choice for nursing students who want to have the best chances of success. 

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. 

The College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private college in Chicopee, Massachusetts. This is a small college, with just over 500 students enrolled during the Fall 2016 semester. The student to faculty ratio is just 10:1. The college is also referred to as Elms College. It is a Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1928 and affiliated with the Sisters of St. Joseph. The college began as a preparatory school for girls and only began admitting male students during the 1998-1999 school year. The campus is about two miles from the Springfield metro area and includes 14 buildings, including the Center for Natural and Health Sciences. This center was the first academic building added to the campus in over 30 years.

The College of Our Lady of the Elms School of Nursing offers students three paths to earn a BSN, including traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN programs. Students receive their clinical experience through partnerships with local healthcare centers and hospitals. The school also has their own simulation labs. These programs were accredited by the CCNE in 2000 and the accreditation remains current. There is also an ADN program. The school boasts excellent NCLEX-RN exam pass rates. In fact, the class of 2018 had a 100% pass rate and 95% employment rate after graduation.

Cape Cod Community College (Four Cs) is located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. This school was established in 1961, and it serves many students every single year. Four Cs has both credit and non-credit programs that students will be able to pursue. There are a variety of different associate degree programs as well as courses that will award students with academic certificates. The college even has many transfer options for students who wish to transfer earned credits over to a four-year university. There are on campus bachelor and master degree programs that are offered in partnership with larger universities in the area.

The Four Cs nursing program allows students to pursue their associate in science in nursing degree. This is designed to be a two-year program, and it has many options to make things easier on students. There are both day and night courses available with options for LPNs to enter in at the second year of the program. There is an RN-BSN partnership program that this school offers, too. Successful graduates can transfer their credits over to one of several participating schools that offer BSN programs. The CCCC nursing program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). 

Curry College is a private college in Milton, Massachusetts. The college was founded in 1879 as the School of Elocution and Expression. Alexander Graham Bell once served on the school board. The school became Curry College in 1943 in honor of the founders of the school. The original location of the school was on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. It was moved to a suburban location in near Milton in 1952. The college now offers 25 undergraduate programs and 4 master’s degree programs. The campus is located near the Blue Hills Reservation and covers 131 acres of land.

Curry College School of Nursing offers six nursing programs, including four BSN programs. The BSN programs include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, and LPN to BSN. The remaining two programs include MSN and ADN programs. These programs are accredited by the CCNE. Curry College first began offering nursing programs in 1977 after Boston Children’s Hospital School of Nursing merged their resources with the college. The college continues to offer the first nursing program in the state to be accredited by the CCNE. Students will enjoy small class sizes and clinical experience at world-renowned teaching hospitals, as the college is located in the Boston metro area.