RN to BSN in Massachusetts

As a profession, nursing is experiencing unprecedented growth. A revamped healthcare system, a growing patient population and an industry-wide call for RNs to return to school all combine to open up the jobs market for baccalaureate-educated nurses. In Massachusetts, a new staffing mandate restricts all ICU nurses (including in specialty wards) to two patients; this ruling further widens the gap between available jobs and the number of trained nurses who can fill them.

Registered nurses in this state are well-served by preparing themselves to fill these positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts already offers the third highest concentration of nursing jobs in the country, and this statistic stands only to grow in coming years. Read on for a breakdown of available RN to BSN programs in Massachusetts.

RN-to-BSN Programs in Massachusetts

Here we have compiled a comprehensive listing of Massachusetts’s RN to BSN programs. In the summaries below, you will find all the essential program information to help you quickly and easily narrow down your RN to BSN search. NCLEX-RN pass rates are as reported by the school.

American International College
$ 550 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

August 25
  • This program consists of 30 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction, delivered in 7-week sessions.
  • In ten of these classes, students meet once per week in the evenings and complete all assignments online. The four remaining classes are exclusively online.
  • Students who have completed all prerequisite courses can complete the BSN in 15 months, or three semesters.
  • New cohorts begin every fall.
 Hybrid and Online 1000 State Street
Springfield, MA 01109

Anna Maria College
$ 485 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • Students in this program are required to earn 45 credit hours at Anna Maria College.
  • The wholly online program consists of 8-week sequential sessions. Full-time students can complete all coursework in 16 months.
  • There is no clinical component to this program.
  • Due to state regulations, Anna Maria College’s online programs are no longer accepting applications from residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi or Wisconsin.
 Online 50 Sunset Lane
Paxton, MA 01612-1198

Becker College
$ 16,250 per semester

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: February 1
  • Spring: August 1
  • Becker’s 42-hour program is designed to be completed in one to two years, depending on students’ transfer status.
  • Clinical experiences are generally conducted within a 25-mile range of the school, though students occasionally gain approval to meet these requirements in other facilities.
  • This program is rigorous and academic expectations are high. Full-time employment is discouraged.
  • Princeton Review listed Becker among its 2015 Best Colleges.
 Campus 61 Sever St
Worcester, MA 01609-2165

College of Our Lady of the Elms
$ 624 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • Elms’ program is delivered in sequential courses, totaling 31 credit hours in ten classes.
  • All classes meet on Mondays from 3:30 to 9:00 p.m. for nine semesters.
  • Nurses who are employed by Berkshire Health Systems in Pittsfield may exclusively attend classes onsite at Berkshire’s Hillcrest campus.
 Campus 291 Springfield St
Chicopee, MA 01013

Curry College
$ 489 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

July 1
  • Most classes meet once per week in the evening; full-time students can complete the program in three semesters.
  • Curry’s nursing core curriculum delivers 26 credit hours of instruction after prerequisites are met.
  • This private school is conveniently located just outside of Boston, allowing students to gain clinical experience at a wide range of facilities.
 Campus 1071 Blue Hill Ave
Milton, MA 02186-2395

Emmanuel College
$ 1,816 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: April 1
  • Spring: December 1
  • Emmanuel’s program is almost entirely self-study; classes generally meet six times during the semester. The curriculum is self-paced.
  • A total of 48 credit hours toward the BSN must be earned at Emmanuel, 36 of which are nursing core classes.
  • This small Catholic college is located in the heart of Boston.
 Campus 400 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

Endicott College
$ 29,792 per year

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: March 14
  • Spring: December 15
  • Clinical experiences are conducted in a wide range of specialty areas including community health agencies, schools, home care agencies, clinics, public health departments, adult day care programs, wellness centers and metropolitan and local acute care hospitals.
  • Endicott students also enjoy three state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs.
  • All courses are delivered sequentially in increments of 4 to 8 weeks each.
 Hybrid 376 Hale Street
Beverly, MA 01915

Fisher College
$ 450 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • This program is designed to be completed in two years, consisting of four 16-week semesters and one 8-week summer session. Part-time students may take up to five years to finish.
  • Outside of general education classes and nursing prerequisites, Fisher’s curriculum contains 32 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction.
  • Fisher is the only school in Massachusetts that delivers classes in a hospital setting, via its partnership with Brockton Hospital School of Nursing.
 Campus 118 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02116

Fitchburg State University
$ 181 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

  • Rolling Admissions
  • Priority Fall: April 15
  • Priority Spring: December 1
  • Fitchburg’s BSN program was ranked among 2014 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report.
  • 32 credit hours of upper-division nursing classes must be taken at Fitchburg; students who wish to graduate with honors must take 60 hours of classes in total at this university.
  • Full-time students can expect to complete this program in two years.
 Online 160 Pearl St
Fitchburg, MA 01420-2697

Framingham State University
$ 485 resident
$ 3,325 nonresident

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: February 1
  • Spring: December 1
  • Full-time students can complete the upper-division nursing core, consisting of eight classes, in three semesters.
  • All upper-division courses require a practicum experience.
  • The program promotes self-directed learning and professional awareness.
 Campus and Hybrid 100 State Street
Framingham, MA 1701

Labouré College
$ 475 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • Full-time students can complete the BSN at Laboure in two years.
  • Upper-division nursing courses consist of eight classes, including a practicum experience in the student’s field of interest.
  • For about 80% of courses, classes meet 3 to 4 times during the semester; the rest of the coursework is conducted online. Requirements vary in remaining classes, but it is rare to be regularly expected on campus.
 Hybrid 303 Adams Street
Milton, MA 02186

Northeastern University
$ 44,620 per year

Application Deadlines

April 1
  • Northeastern’s 29-hour core nursing curriculum can be completed in as few as three semesters, after prerequisites are met. Part-time students are expected to finish within six semesters.
  • Clinical experiences are conducted at facilities convenient to the student’s home.
  • The university’s School of Nursing boasts the distinguished National League for Nursing’s Center of Excellence in Nursing Education credential.
 Online 360 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

Regis College
$ 37,540 per year

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: April 1
  • Spring: November 1
  • Regis requires that 30 hours of coursework toward the BSN be completed through their institution, 20 hours of which should be upper-division nursing classes.
  • Students in this program may specialize their study plan in public health, gerontology, leadership, informatics, regulatory and clinical research management or health administration.
  • This private Catholic institution is academically competitive; applicants must demonstrate a 3.0 GPA. Admitted candidates must successfully complete one semester of classes before admittance to the nursing program.
 Campus, Online, and Hybrid 235 Wellesley St
Weston, MA 02493-1571

Salem State University
$ 340 resident
$ 424 nonresident

Application Deadlines

  • Rolling Admission
  • Priority Fall: August 1
  • Priority Spring: December 1
  • Priority Summer: May 1
  • This part-time program is designed for working nurses to complete in two years.
  • The core curriculum includes nine sequential upper-division nursing classes and two practicum experiences.
  • While there is no official criteria, most entering students hold a 3.5 GPA or better.
 Campus and Online 352 Lafayette St
Salem, MA 1970

Simmons College
$ 1,247 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: July 31
  • Spring: December 4
  • All online courses are synchronous, interactive and led by full-time professors.
  • After prerequisites are met, the core nursing curriculum is composed of 32 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction.
  • Full-time students can expect to complete the BSN at Simmons in four 14-week semesters; part-time students can extend their study to five semesters.
  • There is no clinical requirement in this program.
 Online 300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-5898

University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$ 15,300 program total

Application Deadlines

  • January Admission: October 1
  • June Admission: February 1
  • All online coursework is asynchronous, meaning that the student is expected to meet assignment deadlines autonomously. Face-to-face classes are taught at the UMass Center at Springfield.
  • Clinical experiences under nursing faculty are arranged at locations convenient to the student’s residence.
  • Full-time students can meet the 30-hour core curriculum requirement in one year.
 Campus and Online 374 Whitmore Building 181 Presidents Drive
Amherst, MA 1003

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$ 912 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Feruary 1
  • The core nursing curriculum can be completed by a full-time student in four semesters.
  • A total of 45 credit hours must be earned at this institution, 28 of which must be upper-division nursing courses.
  • A clinical experience course in community health nursing must be conducted at an approved facility.
  • This program is currently not accepting applicants from residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas, Washington or West Virginia.
 Online 285 Old Westport Rd
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300

University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$ 365 per hour online
$ 335 per hour on campus

Application Deadlines

  • Priority Fall: August 15
  • Priority Spring: January 21
  • This program delivers 30 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction on a part-time schedule.
  • It is suggested that participants in the blended online/campus-based track live within 60 miles of Lowell.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a minimum GPA of 2.7.
  • A clinical practicum must be conducted face-to-face by all students in an approved facility.
 Campus, Online, and Hybrid 1 University Ave
Lowell, MA 01854-5104

University of Massachusetts-Boston
$ 351 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: July 15
  • Spring: December 15
  • The nursing core curriculum, composed of six upper-division classes that total 30 credit hours, can be completed in five semesters.
  • All students are expected to conduct an 84-hour clinical internship at an approved location within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  • Applicants must demonstrate at least a 2.75 GPA.
  • While a wholly online degree track is available, this option is offered exclusively to Massachusetts residents.
 Campus and Online 100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 2125

Worcester State University
$ 130 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

April 1
  • The core nursing curriculum, which begins in the fall of each year, requires three semesters to complete.
  • A total of 31 credit hours are delivered sequentially, followed by a clinical practicum.
  • In addition to clinical experiences at the prestigious UMass Medical Center, nursing students enjoy a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab.
 Campus and Hybrid 486 Chandler St
Worcester, MA 01602-2597

Please contact the RN to BSN program in Massachusetts that you are interested in enrolling in to confirm details and to learn more. If you run an accredited RN to BSN program in Massachusetts that is not listed above; please reach out to us with program information and proof of accreditation. Thank you!

State Commitment to RN to BSN Education Paths

The Future of Nursing campaign is a nationwide effort to bring the country up to the standards of nursing as outlined in the 2010 Institute of Medicine Report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. As a part of the effort, Massachusetts has formed a State Action Coalition with the singular objective of achieving the goals set forth by the campaign. Having at least 80% of the nursing workforce hold a BSN degree is an integral part of this initiative and we have outlined below the ways in which Massachusetts is actively progressing on this front.

  • Education
  • Leadership
  • Practice & Care
  • Interprofessional Care
  • Diversity
  • Data
Education

What is being done to increase the number of Massachusetts RN’s with a BSN?

Work is underway to design and implement models of seamless academic progression across educational levels.

Are students enrolled via identified promising models of education progression?

Yes. RN to MSN Programs; State or Regional Competency Based Programs; and other methods.

Leadership

What programs are being implemented to prepare nurses to lead change to advance health?

There is a statewide nursing leadership institute in place and the AC is actively working to get nurses onto decisionmaking boards.

Practice & Care

Is the Coalition working to remove barriers to RN level of care?

Yes. The AC is completing a whitepaper on the issue after completing interviews with professionals in the field.

Are they advancing state policy to remove barriers to care provided by APRNs?

Yes. The AC is developing a white paper to address barriers and ideal practice.

Interprofessional Care

Is the state working to improve communication, transparency, and cooperation between healthcare providers?

No specific plans announced.

Diversity

How are they improving diversity of the nursing workforce and care provided?

The AC actively reaches out to minority populations at colleges and universities.

Data

What steps are being taken to remove gaps in workforce and health care data?

Since 2010, the Board of Registration in Nursing has been collecting workforce demographic data upon licensure renewal.

Contact Info

David Cedrone

Associate Commissioner
Economic and Workforce Development, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
Email
617-994-6904

Sharon Gale

Chief Executive Officer
Organization of Nurse Leaders of MA & RI
Email
781-272-3500

Patricia Crombie

Project Director
Email
617-686-4375

Source: Campaign for Action

For a detailed progress report and additional workgroup contact information, please see the Massachusetts Action Coalition page and their Action Coalition Status Report (opens as PDF).

Massachusetts Licensing

Massachusetts is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). A Massachusetts nursing license is only valid within Massachusetts. For licensing information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services.

licensure map

Nursing Employment Outlook

Nursing Supply and Demand Projections

Source: "The Future of the Nursing Workforce," US HRSA, accessed June 2015.

What Nurses Make on Average in Major Cities

Source: BLS OES, May 2013. Accessed May 2014. Some data not provided.

Additional Information


Other State RNtoBSN Information

Looking for other RN-BSN information in a nearby state? We’ve got you covered:

Connecticut RNtoBSN Information
Maine RNtoBSN Information
New Hampshire RNtoBSN Information
Rhode Island RNtoBSN Information
Vermont RNtoBSN Information