2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts
Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. This report analyzed 15 schools in Massachusetts to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for nursing students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Bay State College the best school in Massachusetts for nursing students working on their associate degree. Bay State College is a very small private for-profit school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 76 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $29,500 to cover tuition and fees at Bay State College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $21,802 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Bay State College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 15 schools in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Bunker Hill Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,125 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,280 in tuition and fees if they attend BHCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,224. On average, associate degree students take out $11,644 in loans while pursuing their degree.
BHCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 15 schools in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Springfield Technical Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. STCC is located in Springfield, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 719 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $5,520 in tuition and fees if they attend STCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,728. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,676 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since STCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bristol Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. This medium-sized public school is located in Fall River, Massachusetts, and it awarded 904 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,280 in tuition and fees if they attend Bristol full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,224. On average, associate degree students take out $9,022 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Bristol does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at North Shore Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Massachusetts. This small public school is located in Danvers, Massachusetts, and it awarded 734 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend North Shore Community College full time pay an average of $5,352 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,920. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,225 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Shore Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.
Massasoit Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Brockton, Massachusetts, the small public school handed out 739 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $5,376 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Massasoit Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,320. On average, associate degree students take out $10,174 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Massasoit Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #7, Cape Cod Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Cape Cod Community College is located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 348 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $5,592 in tuition and fees if they attend Cape Cod Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,536. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,292 in student loans.
Cape Cod Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Berkshire Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. BCC is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 188 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $5,492 in tuition and fees if they attend BCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,108. On average, associate degree students take out $15,282 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at BCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 69% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #9, Greenfield Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Greenfield Community College is a public institution located in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 168 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Greenfield Community College is $5,642. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,762. Associate Degree recipients from Greenfield Community College accumulate an average of $10,587 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Greenfield Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.
Roxbury Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 133 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Roxbury Community College is $6,096. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,088.
If you are interested in distance education, Roxbury Community College is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Quinsigamond Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 898 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend Quinsigamond Community College full time pay an average of $5,830 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,774. On average, associate degree students take out $17,562 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Quinsigamond Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 41% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, Northern Essex Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Northern Essex Community College is a small public school located in Haverhill, Massachusetts that handed out 470 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,688 in tuition and fees if they attend NECC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,472. Associate Degree recipients from NECC accumulate an average of $12,741 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NECC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Middlesex Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Bedford, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school awarded 727 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $6,098 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Middlesex Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,170. Associate Degree recipients from Middlesex Community College accumulate an average of $9,676 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Middlesex Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Quincy College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Quincy College is located in Quincy, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 301 associate degrees to qualified students.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,344 to cover tuition and fees at Quincy College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $15,248 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Quincy College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 82% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Holyoke Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the small public school handed out 555 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend Holyoke Community College full time pay an average of $5,570 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,514. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,235 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Holyoke Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 15 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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