Best colleges for nursing in Massachusetts
Worcester State University ranks first in Massachusetts for nursing value (#79 nationally, value score 70.7): graduates earn $92,133 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $13,866 a year.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 17 Massachusetts colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026
Best nursing colleges in Massachusetts
Worcester State University ranks first in Massachusetts for nursing value (#79 nationally, value score 70.7): graduates earn $92,133 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $13,866 a year. 17 Massachusetts colleges qualify. At the median one, nursing graduates earn $93,248 and the average net price is $22,548 a year.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025
What the data shows
Key findings
- 17 Massachusetts colleges qualify. At the median one, nursing graduates earn $93,248 and the average net price is $22,548 a year.
- The highest nursing earnings in the state are at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($97,773), ranked #3 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
- The lowest average net price among them is at Salem State University-Massachusetts: $12,921 a year.
- Median earnings
- $93,248
- National: $85,171
- Median net price
- $22,548
- National: $18,014
- Median federal debt
- $25,000
- nursing graduates
- Public colleges
- 8 of 17
- in this list
17 colleges
The Massachusetts ranking
Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
- Earnings
- $92,133
- Net price
- $13,866
- Federal debt
- $17,846
- Graduation rate
- 57%
- Rank in Massachusetts 2
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · #101 nationally
68.2Value- Earnings
- $91,003
- Net price
- $17,850
- Federal debt
- $20,000
- Graduation rate
- 91%
- Rank in Massachusetts 3
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Chicopee, MA · Private nonprofit · #103 nationally
67.9Value- Earnings
- $97,773
- Net price
- $16,237
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 63%
- Earnings
- $92,187
- Net price
- $13,803
- Federal debt
- $19,224
- Graduation rate
- 53%
- Rank in Massachusetts 5
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · #125 nationally
66.3Value- Earnings
- $94,867
- Net price
- $38,930
- Federal debt
- $11,150
- Graduation rate
- 90%
- Rank in Massachusetts 6
Salem State University-Massachusetts
Salem, MA · Public · #157 nationally
63.8Value- Earnings
- $95,550
- Net price
- $12,921
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 49%
- Earnings
- $93,248
- Net price
- $16,484
- Federal debt
- $21,000
- Graduation rate
- 49%
- Rank in Massachusetts 8
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA · Public · #181 nationally
62.1Value- Earnings
- $93,650
- Net price
- $17,362
- Federal debt
- $26,636
- Graduation rate
- 69%
- Rank in Massachusetts 9
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA · Public · #203 nationally
60.2Value- Earnings
- $95,648
- Net price
- $22,548
- Federal debt
- $18,750
- Graduation rate
- 51%
- Rank in Massachusetts 10
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · Public · #243 nationally
56.8Value- Earnings
- $90,309
- Net price
- $22,857
- Federal debt
- $23,120
- Graduation rate
- 81%
- Rank in Massachusetts 11
Weston, MA · Private nonprofit · #286 nationally
53.8Value- Earnings
- $94,329
- Net price
- $25,506
- Federal debt
- $26,919
- Graduation rate
- 71%
- Earnings
- $93,307
- Net price
- $39,219
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 74%
- Earnings
- $92,960
- Net price
- $43,891
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 61%
- Earnings
- $92,783
- Net price
- $30,155
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 50%
- Rank in Massachusetts 15
American International College
Springfield, MA · Private nonprofit · #466 nationally
41.1Value- Earnings
- $95,137
- Net price
- $24,178
- Federal debt
- $31,000
- Graduation rate
- 38%
- Rank in Massachusetts 16
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA · Public · #487 nationally
39.6Value- Earnings
- $86,150
- Net price
- $20,319
- Federal debt
- $26,250
- Graduation rate
- 49%
- Earnings
- $88,554
- Net price
- $26,309
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 46%
Method: the same value score as the national nursing ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.
Questions about nursing colleges in Massachusetts
What are the best colleges for nursing in Massachusetts?
By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Massachusetts colleges for nursing are Worcester State University (value score 70.7), Northeastern University (value score 68.2) and College of Our Lady of the Elms (value score 67.9). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.
Which Massachusetts college has the highest earnings for nursing graduates?
College of Our Lady of the Elms: its nursing graduates have median earnings of $97,773 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
What is the most affordable nursing college in Massachusetts on this list?
Salem State University-Massachusetts has the lowest average net price of the ranked Massachusetts colleges, $12,921 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.
How many Massachusetts colleges are ranked for nursing?
17 Massachusetts colleges have a nursing bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Massachusetts.