15 Best Online RN to BSN Programs in MA

Massachusetts Online RN to BSN

The best online RN to BSN Programs in MA are for working nurses interested in a quick path to an undergraduate degree. Nursing in New England is a career path with enormous benefits, especially in Massachusetts.

One of the nation’s wealthiest states also has one of the best healthcare systems in the nation, with affordable health insurance for all citizens and some of the most cutting-edge, well-supported hospitals and clinics in the world. From the state’s major cities (especially Boston, one of the USA’s foremost metropolises) to the quaint rural villages and farms, nursing colleges in MA are working to provide some of the best-trained, most capable nurses in the US.

Methodology: Ranking the Best RN to BSN Online Nursing in Massachusetts

To rank the top RN to BSN Massachusetts has to offer, TopRNtoBSN sought out fully online, hybrid, and low-residency programs in the Bay State. From the initial pool, editors selected only regionally accredited programs known for quality and job market reputation. These were then ranked according to their scores in three areas:

Cost (from current IPEDS data)
Reputation (from Niche student reviews)
Graduate Employment (from College Scorecard statistics)

By bringing together these factors, TopRN narrowed down the programs that are most likely to show students real results – not just a solid education, but strong job market success and career advancement, along with the convenience and affordability of online learning.

1. University of Massachusetts Amherst

The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at the UMass Amherst offers an RN to BSN. This program is for Registered Nurses accredited associate degree who want to earn a bachelor’s degree. The RN to BSN online program is one of the most comprehensive nursing colleges in MA. UMass Amherst’s online tuition costs are the same for resident and non-resident students. Additionally, students with an associate degree in nursing can complete the RN to BSN in a year for full-time students and two years at a part-time pace.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst was established in 1863 by a land grant and holds the distinction of the flagship school of the University of Massachusetts system. US News & World Report ranks UMass Amherst as one of the top public research universities in the nation and one of the best for nursing in Massachusetts. It’s the best RN to BSN Massachusetts has to offer.

Location: Amherst, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN BSN program.

2. UMass Lowell

The Solomont School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell offers an RN to BSN online. This degree program is for RNs with an accredited associate degree in nursing. The RN to BSN Massachusetts program can be completed on-campus, online, or a hybrid of the two. UMass Lowell’s flexible course delivery methods allow busy nursing professionals an opportunity to build their credentials for career advancement.

The University of Massachusetts at Lowell is a research university that was established in 1894. UMass Lowell is the second-largest public university in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts at Lowell maintains an acceptance rate of around 60%. The school’s online programs had a student enrollment of more than 28,000 students. For nursing in Massachusetts, UMass Lowell is one of the best choices for working professionals and one of the best nursing colleges in MA.

Location: Lowell, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN)

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN BSN program.

3. Westfield State University

Westfield State University’s RN to BSN online degree offers a hybrid (blend of an online and on-campus) course delivery method for Registered Nurses wanting to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Students can complete the RN to BSN online degree program full-time or part-time in 12, 15, or 24 months. Additionally there are two start dates in September and January. WSU accepts up to ninety credits from other regionally accredited colleges and universities.

Noted educational reformer Horace Mann founded Westfield State University in 1838. It was the first coeducational college in the country that had no barriers regarding gender, race, or economic circumstances. Westfield State University holds the distinction as a Military Friendly School by Advanced Military Magazine. Westfield State University seeks to nurture curious intellects to think critically and civically in the sort of RN to BSN Massachusetts needs most.

Location: Westfield, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN BSN program.

4. UMass Dartmouth

The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth’s RN to BSN online program is for licensed Registered Nurses who wish to build on their current education and nursing experience in Massachusetts. The online RN to BSN Massachusetts program requires degree candidates to complete 31 online credit hours to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Program applicants must present an unencumbered nursing license for the state in which they reside. UMass D has long ranked among the top 50 online BSN programs in the country, and one of the finest nursing colleges in MA.

The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth opened in 1895. According to the Global Reporting Initiative, UMass Dartmouth is the first institute of higher learning in the world with an A+ sustainability report. The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth’s graduate nursing programs ranks among the best in the country, according to US News & World Report.

Location: Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN BSN program.

5. Laboure College of Healthcare

The online RN to BSN at Laboure College of Healthcare is an excellent choice for professional nursing practice students. Laboure College offers students the one of the most affordable accredited online programs for nursing in Massachusetts. Its six different start dates add convenience and flexibility. Additionally, the RN to BSN program allows up to 90 transfer credits from prior college coursework. And the seven-week coursework allows degree candidate to finish their degree in about 16 months.

Location: Milton, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Cost: $375 per credit

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online bachelor’s degree program.

6. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg State University’s RN to BSN online program can be completed entirely online in as little as a year. FSU’s undergraduate nursing program prepares graduates with a solid fundamental background in the ethical, professional and legal standards of the nursing profession. BSN graduates are prepped to apply more refined analytical skills and stronger clinical reasoning abilities to advance closer to their career goals. To complete the RN to BSN degree, candidates must complete 32 credit hours to graduate.

Fitchburg State University was established in 1894 as a normal school by the Massachusetts state legislature, but today it is known as one of the better nursing colleges in MA. A nursing major is one of the most competitive majors offered by FSU. Students attending Fitchburg State University study in a small college environment and can participate as a resource for the overall needs of nursing in Massachusetts.

Location: Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE

Cost: $311 per credit

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online bachelor’s degree program.

25 Best Nurse Residency Programs Post-BSN

7. Northeastern University

Northeastern University’s RN to BSN online program offers licensed Registered Nurses the chance to earn a baccalaureate degree in as little as three semesters for full-time students and six semesters for part-time students. The RN to BSN degree program can be completed online through Northeastern University’s new, innovative distance learning format. Degree candidates seeking to earn a BSN degree must also complete a clinical competency internship.

This private university first opened in 1898. Northeastern University operates with one main campus in the Fenway area of Boston and three branch campuses in South End, Back Bay, and Roxbury. Northeastern University supports a cooperative educational model that integrates professional experience with traditional classroom studies, for everything from business to nursing in Massachusetts. The Bouve College of Health Sciences is widely seen as one of the best nursing colleges in MA.

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN

8. Salem State University

The College of Health and Human Services offers Salem State University’s RN to BSN online degree program for licensed Registered Nurses who hold a diploma or Associate’s degree when applying for admission. Students entering the program must hold an unencumbered, valid Massachusetts RN license. Part-time degree candidates can complete their all online degree in as few as two years, getting them practicing nursing in Massachusetts quickly.

Salem State University was established in 1854 as Salem Normal School. The 115-acre campus is fifteen miles north of downtown Boston. The school has five interrelated campuses and a maritime facility in Salem Harbor.

Location: Salem, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN

9. University of Massachusetts Boston

The University of Massachusetts at Boston’s RN to BSN online degree is a flexible 5-semester program designed by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences in conjunction with the College of Advancing and Professional Studies. While all coursework is online, students are encouraged to attend an orientation on UMass Boston’s campus. The program requires a service learning project in the student’s home area, rather than a clinical internship. Additionally, the school has transfer agreements with many area schools like Cape Cod Community College.

The University of Massachusetts at Boston was originally established as Boston State College in 1852. The school officially joined the University of Massachusetts in 1964. UMass Boston holds the distinction of being the only public institute of higher learning in Boston. The University of Massachusetts at Boston is home to ten colleges and a student body that exceeds 16,000. UMass Boston has been ranked one of the best values in Massachusetts, and one of the top nursing colleges in MA.

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for nursing in Massachusetts.

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN

10. Emmanuel College

The Maureen Murphy Wilkens School of Nursing & Clinical Sciences at Emmanuel College offers an online RN to BSN program. Students with a valid, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in Massachusetts can complete it entirely online. Degree candidates have the flexibility to design the coursework to fit with the scheduling requirements. The RN to BSN seven-week accelerated courses permit students to complete their BSN degree in as little as 16 months. Students have an opportunity to complete their practicum hours in some of the most esteemed medical facilities in Boston and in Italy through the school’s proprietary program.

Emmanuel College is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts school that was established in 1919. It was the first Catholic school for women in New England but is currently coeducational. The school was honored to have John F. Kennedy as a member of the school’s advisory board for nearly twenty years.

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN program.

11. Bay Path University

The American Women’s College offers Bay Path University’s RN to BSN online degree program, available entirely online to in-state and out-of-state degree candidates. BPU’s RN to BSN is offered exclusively to women who hold an unencumbered Registered Nurse license in the state or commonwealth where they reside. The degree’s coursework is prepared by experts from some of the largest nursing employers in the region, which helps students refine their professionalism and leadership abilities that result in improved healthcare. RN to BSN degree candidates finishes their studies with the help of trusted advisors and dedicated faculty members.

Bay Path University was established in 1897, and The American Women’s College division has supported adult women students in pursuit of undergraduate degrees since 1999. The American Women’s College has been recognized with awards from the Lumina and Gates Foundations, the Online Learning Consortium, the Department of Education’s Reimagine Higher Education Challenge, and various higher education publications, for its quality online curriculum, its wraparound support services, and advising practices, and its use of data to increase completion and graduation rates. All students complete Bay Path’s signature Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders (WELL) program, and nursing students complete customized WELL courses that align with nursing accreditation frameworks. For nursing in Massachusetts, Bay Path is a pace-setter, with one of the best RN to BSN programs in Massachusetts.

Location: Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Accreditation: the RN to BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN program.

12. American International College

The American International College’s RN to BSN online degree program can be completed exclusively online. The RN to BSN program requires 30 credits to graduate and is designed to be completed in only 15 months. Coursework advances the student’s skills regarding leadership, informatics, and advocacy work for vulnerable parts of the population, among others. Students graduating from the RN to BSN program are prepared to attain professional achievements and personal satisfaction nursing in Massachusetts.

The American International College is a private institute of higher learning that was established in 1885. The school’s urban campus is home to three colleges: the School of Health Sciences, the School of Business, Arts and Sciences, and the School of Education. AIC is among the top nursing colleges in MA.

Location: Springfield, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN

13. Anna Maria College

Anna Maria College’s RN to BSN online degree is an innovative program from the School of Professional Studies that can be completed exclusively online. This RN to BSN program is for those who already hold a valid, unencumbered Registered Nursing license in the state in which they reside. The program’s curriculum refines the student’s current knowledge and experience by adhering to the concepts of the Massachusetts Core Competencies. Graduates finish the coursework ready to serve the nursing community’s needs for compassion and safety in all medical environments.

Anna Maria College is a Catholic liberal arts school that was established in 1946. AMC’s 190-acre campus is situated near Worcester, MA. Anna Maria College’s RN to BSN program is designed to engage students in practical real-world professional skills. Graduates often continue their nursing education by transitioning to a graduate nursing degree program in some of the strongest nursing colleges in MA. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) fully accredits Anna Maria College for nursing in Massachusetts education.

Location: Paxton, Massachusetts

Accreditation: ACEN and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Nursing

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN

14. Curry College

Curry College’s RN to BSN online degree program offers a generous transfer policy (up to 90 credits) for degree candidates entering the RN to BSN Massachusetts program. In fact, the requirement that students hold a valid Registered Nurse license provides an automatic credit of 34 credit hours. Earning a Bachelor’s in Nursing in Massachusetts broadens the depth of a student’s knowledge and experience. Curry College acts a bridge between a diploma (or Associate Degree in Nursing) and an accredited undergraduate degree.

Curry College was founded in 1879 on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. The college’s 131-acre campus is now located seven miles from Boston, in the town of Milton. Curry College’s mission is to provide academic excellence with a touch of personal attention.

Location: Milton, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN program.

15. Fisher College

Fisher College offers joint admissions RN to BSN program with the Brockton Hospital School of Nursing and Quincy College. This pathway provides graduates of the two schools the ability to seamlessly complete a BSN degree at Fisher College. Students can transfer up to 90 credits and complete the program in five semesters. The rolling admissions calendar lets new students start every 8 weeks. Classes are in terms of eight weeks and sixteen weeks and students work at their own pace entirely online.

Location: Brockton, Massachusetts

Accreditation: CCNE

More: Visit the school to learn more about this online RN to BSN program.

Are Nursing Colleges in MA Expensive?

It isn’t uncommon to find compilations of nursing colleges in MA outlining the best ranking nursing programs, but few are focusing on which are the most affordable. There are consistent rises in educational costs for nursing schools in New England, and students are presented with fewer options for obtaining their degrees without experiencing significant expenditures. However, there are solutions including pursuing the cheapest RN to BSN online to help reduce much of these costs and associated fees.

When researching nursing colleges in New England, students will find the average tuition costs range between $8,700 and $30,492 for nursing colleges in MA. For those who would like to pursue a certificate program at nursing schools in New England, the tuition rates typically range between $3,555 and $24,050. Students working on an RN to BSN Massachusetts will experience higher tuition rates when attending nursing colleges in MA, but it’s possible to reduce those costs when enrolling in the cheapest RN to BSN online. It’s possible to find these online courses for $332 per credit hour.

Are There Many Nursing Schools in Boston, Massachusetts?

Boston is home to some of the greatest, world-class hospitals in the United States. Plus, no city in the world has a pure concentration of elite, influential, and innovative colleges and universities than metropolitan Boston (Harvard, MIT, and Boston University are just the start of a list that includes more than 50). Many of the best nursing schools in New England are concentrated in Boston.

Therefore, it’s an optimal location for students to attend nursing schools in Boston. Many students spend their time working on clinical rotations in these hospitals, like UMass Boston nursing, for example. Also Boston College is one of the top-ranking nursing schools in the nation, BC offers something for students at all levels.

Can You Find Accelerated BSN Nursing Programs in MA?

Students who have a degree in another field and are looking to make a switch can pursue a degree in nursing using accelerated nursing programs in MA. Entering the workforce quickly throughout the state of Massachusetts is possible no matter if students are opting for accelerating their BSN or to pursue the direct-entry MSN program.

There are currently nine schools accelerated nursing programs in MA for students who want their BSN. Five schools in Massachusetts are offering accelerated MSN, entry-level Masters, and direct-entry MSN programs. Under many circumstances, students can take these courses online while working simultaneously. There are some accelerated nursing programs in Massachusetts. For example, MGH Institute of Health Professions is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. And it offers an accelerated BSN and accelerated MSN.

How Much Do Nurses Make in Massachusetts?

Nursing salaries vary widely in Massachusetts depending on experience and specialty. The average salary for a registered nurse (RN) ranges from $71,467 to $87,494. The median annual salary for an RN in Massachusetts is $104,850, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists, may earn significantly more. For example, the median salary for a nurse anesthetist in Massachusetts is $204,690.

Type	Massachusetts
CNAs	$41,390 per year (BLS)
LPNs	$68,170 per year (BLS)
RNs	$104,150 per year (BLS)
Nurse Midwives	$143,870 per year (BLS)
Nurse Practitioners	$138,700 per year (BLS)
Nurse Anesthetists	$204,690 per year (BLS)