2023 Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region
Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region ranking. This report analyzed 90 schools in the New England Region to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in the New England Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Mount Wachusett Community College the best school in the New England Region for nursing students working on their degree. MWCC is located in Gardner, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 687 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $10,512 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from MWCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,608 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 90 schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 5,297 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Yale accumulate an average of $62,951 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Yale, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $64,868 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fairfield University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region list. Fairfield U is located in Fairfield, Connecticut and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,793 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Fairfield U accumulate an average of $37,156 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $670.After graduating from Fairfield U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $59,065 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 90 schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bay State College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the very small private for-profit school handed out 137 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $30,266 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Bay State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,982 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Boston College is a great place for nursing students. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5,067 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $38,475 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $843, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Boston College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,535 during the early year of their career.
New England Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 838 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,894 in student loans. During the early years of their career, New England Tech graduates make an average of $46,207 annually.
North Shore Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region list. Danvers, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 887 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from North Shore Community College accumulate an average of $11,884 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from North Shore Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,262 during the early years of their career.
Quinnipiac University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. Quinnipiac is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hamden, Connecticut. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3,108 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Quinnipiac accumulate an average of $43,715 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $1,061 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Quinnipiac graduates make an average of $61,041 annually.
Gateway Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region ranking. Gateway Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in New Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 763 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Gateway Community College accumulate an average of $6,908 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Gateway Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,822 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #10, Sacred Heart University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,886 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Sacred Heart accumulate an average of $36,009 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $828 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Sacred Heart graduates make an average of $51,043 annually.
Bunker Hill Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,329 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,987 in student loans. During the early years of their career, BHCC graduates make an average of $39,456 annually.
Springfield Technical Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. This small public school is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 851 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,275 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, STCC graduates make an average of $37,255 annually.
Granite State College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region list. GSC is a small public school situated in Concord, New Hampshire. It awarded 586 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from GSC accumulate an average of $18,250 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, GSC graduates make an average of $50,184 annually.
Bristol Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region ranking. Fall River, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,055 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,783 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Bristol, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,963 during the early years of their career.
Fisher College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region ranking. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 271 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,276 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $529 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Fisher College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,513 during the early years of their career.
Greenfield Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region ranking. Greenfield Community College is located in Greenfield, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 274 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Greenfield Community College accumulate an average of $8,805 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Greenfield Community College graduates make an average of $46,181 annually.
Beal College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region list. Located in Bangor, Maine, the very small private for-profit school handed out 175 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,195 in student loans.After graduating from Beal College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,440 during the early years of their career.
Northern Essex Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region list. NECC is located in Haverhill, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 669 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $11,560 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, NECC graduates make an average of $39,221 annually.
Rivier University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the New England Region ranking. Rivier University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Nashua, New Hampshire that handed out 677 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Rivier accumulate an average of $34,857 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $383, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Rivier, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,251 during the early years of their career.
River Valley Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Claremont, New Hampshire, the very small public school handed out 203 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,750 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, NH Community Technical College - Claremont graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,352 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #21, Massasoit Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Brockton, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 837 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Massasoit Community College accumulate an average of $10,174 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Massasoit Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,161 during the early years of their career.
Northeastern University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Northeastern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,235 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $40,741 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $463 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Northeastern graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $63,894 during the early year of their career.
NHTI-Concord’s Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. NHTI is located in Concord, New Hampshire and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 689 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $16,100 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, NHTI graduates make an average of $39,871 annually.
Community College of Rhode Island did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Warwick, Rhode Island, and it awarded 2,161 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,941 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, CCRI graduates make an average of $38,557 annually.
University of Maine at Presque Isle landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. UMPI is a small public school situated in Presque Isle, Maine. It awarded 272 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,900 in student loans.After graduating from UMPI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,478 during the early years of their career.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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.