2023 Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Massachusetts
With all the nursing programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Our analysis looked at 20 schools in Massachusetts to see which master's degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Massachusetts
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Simmons University the most popular school in Massachusetts for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Simmons University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 1,413 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $60,613 in student loans. Around 89% of those degree recipients were women.
Simmons does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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 80% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 20 schools in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Regis College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Regis College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Weston, Massachusetts that handed out 541 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $37,223 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Regis College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Boston College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in Massachusetts. Boston College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It awarded 1,559 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $41,979 in student loans. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Boston College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 41% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Out of the 20 schools in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, MGH Institute of Health Professions landed the # 4 spot on the list. MGH Institute of Health Professions is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 244 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from MGH Institute of Health Professions accumulate an average of $135,711 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
Since the graduate programs at MGH Institute of Health Professions are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Northeastern University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in Massachusetts. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 4,022 master’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Northeastern accumulate an average of $41,208 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
Northeastern does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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 26% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list. UMass Medical School is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 44 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 84% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at UMass Medical School, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 4% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Full University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester Report
With a ranking of #7, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 761 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from MCPHS University accumulate an average of $69,995 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MCPHS University does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 41% took at least some of their classes online.
Full Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Report
University of Massachusetts - Boston did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 812 students in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from UMass Boston accumulate an average of $35,532 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
UMass Boston does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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 48% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Salem State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Salem State University is a medium-sized public school located in Salem, Massachusetts that handed out 527 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,284 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Salem State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #10, Worcester State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school awarded 286 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,027 in student loans. Around 84% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Worcester State. During the 2020-2021 year, about 54% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Endicott College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Endicott College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Beverly, Massachusetts that handed out 501 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $18,312 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Endicott does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Massachusetts - Lowell ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Located in Lowell, Massachusetts, the fairly large public school handed out 1,361 master’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,756 in student loans. Around 42% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UMass Lowell. In 2020-2021 about 65% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
American International College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. AIC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 375 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $39,529 in student loans. Around 77% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at AIC. In 2020-2021 about 62% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Curry College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Curry is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 91 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $35,010 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Curry does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 23% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. This large public school is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1,752 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,522 in student loans. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UMass Amherst. In fact, around 42% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Fitchburg State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,051 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,116 in student loans. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Fitchburg State does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 77% took at least some of their classes online.
Elms College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 86 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $30,818 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 85% were women.
Elms College does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 39% took at least some of their classes online.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 40 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $21,211 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 78% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Emmanuel Boston does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree nursing programs. UMass Dartmouth is a medium-sized public school situated in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It awarded 455 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from UMass Dartmouth accumulate an average of $35,151 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UMass Dartmouth. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 2,175 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $42,425 in student loans. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in the New England Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 20 schools only.
References
- 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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