10 Cheapest RN to BSN Programs Online in Massachusetts 2025

<p>To obtain registered nursing (RN) licensure in Massachusetts, you can earn either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Because associate degrees take less time, many students earn their ADN and RN licensure and then go back to school to complete their BSN. </p> <p>While a BSN isn't a requirement to work as an RN, having a BSN can lead to working in more advanced nursing roles and open the door to graduate programs, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). However, it can be tricky for working nurses to find the time or money to go back to school. </p> <p>To make these programs more accessible, many schools offer <a href="https://learn.org/articles/affordable_online_degrees_rn_to_bsn.html">affordable RN to BSN programs online</a>. Keep reading to discover affordable RN to BSN online programs in Massachusetts. </p> <h2 id="section---MostAffordableOnlineRNToBSNProgramsInMassachusetts">Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs in Massachusetts</h2> <p>Over a dozen Massachusetts colleges and universities offer <a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_rn_to_bsn_massachusetts.html">online RN to BSN programs</a>, but not all are affordable. Below, we've featured the cheapest RN to BSN programs online in Massachusetts. </p> <h3 id="section---1.FitchburgStateUniversity">1. Fitchburg State University</h3> <p>Fitchburg State University is a public institution in Fitchburg, MA. It offers an online RN to BSN program that helps registered nurses prepare for leadership roles or graduate studies. </p> <p>The program includes coursework on evidence-based practice, community health, healthcare policy, and patient care for vulnerable populations and concludes with a capstone course. </p> <p>Students who have all prerequisites and general education courses completed can finish within 12 months, making this one of the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/shortest_rn_to_bsn_online.html">fastest RN to BSN programs online</a>. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $311 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> Fitchburg State accepts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) </li></ul><h3 id="section---2.UniversityOfMassachusettsDartmouth">2. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth</h3> <p>At the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, RNs can earn their baccalaureate degree in just 31 credit hours. Courses in the RN to BSN program cover topics like health assessment, population health, nursing leadership, and healthcare informatics. </p> <p>UMass Dartmouth, a public research university, is located in Dartmouth, MA. Online courses run in a seven-week format, and some do require in-person practicums. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $359 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> UMass Dartmouth offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and CCNE </li></ul><h3 id="section---3.WestfieldStateUniversity">3. Westfield State University</h3> <p>Westfield State University offers an online bachelor's degree completion program for registered nurses. Westfield State is a public university in Westfield, MA. </p> <p>Students can complete the program full-time in 12 months, but part-time options are available as well. Nursing courses focus on professional nursing, health assessment, nursing research, community health, and more. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $361 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> Westfield State offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private student aid. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and CCNE </li></ul><h3 id="section---4.UniversityOfMassachusettsBoston">4. University of Massachusetts Boston</h3> <p>The online RN to BSN program at the University of Massachusetts Boston prepares RNs to further their nursing careers. Core courses cover topics like health assessment, nursing research, community health, and evidence-based practice. The program concludes with a capstone. </p> <p>UMass Boston, located in Boston, is a public research university. Its bridge program allows online students to finish in just three semesters. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $370 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> UMass Boston accepts aid through FAFSA and private organizations. It also offers institutional aid. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and CCNE </li></ul><h3 id="section---5.LaboureCollegeOfHealthcare">5. Laboure College of Healthcare</h3> <p>Laboure College of Healthcare is a private, nonprofit school focused on healthcare and health sciences in Milton, MA. It offers a fully online RN to BSN for registered nurses. </p> <p>Classes run for seven weeks and focus on population health, healthcare informatics, nursing leadership, and more. BSN students studying full-time can finish in 16 months, and six start dates are available each year. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $384 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> Laboure College accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and CCNE </li></ul><h3 id="section---6.UniversityOfMassachusettsLowell">6. University of Massachusetts Lowell</h3> <p>Students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell can learn to enhance patient care, move into leadership roles, or prepare for advanced nursing degrees through an online RN to BSN program. The flexible program can be completed in just one year. </p> <p>UMass Lowell, a public research university, is located in Lowell, MA. In addition to a capstone course, students take courses on nursing care, pharmacology, community health, and more. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $385 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> UMass Lowell offers institutional aid, including scholarships for community college transfer students. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and CCNE </li></ul><h3 id="section---7.CurryCollege">7. Curry College</h3> <p>Curry College offers an RN to BSN program online and in a cohort model. Curry College is a private school in Milton, MA. </p> <p>The degree program includes courses on health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and community health. Students conclude the program with a professional development seminar. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $390 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> Curry College offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private student aid. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and CCNE </li></ul><h3 id="section---8.RegisCollege">8. Regis College</h3> <p>The RN to BSN degree completion program at Regis College is designed for registered nurses with an associate's degree who are inspired to further develop their nursing competencies and expand their career opportunities. The program takes just 12 months to complete. </p> <p>Regis College, located in Weston, MA, is a private Catholic school. Its nursing program does not require clinical hours and includes courses on population health, evidence-based practice, health assessment, and nursing leadership. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $399 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> Regis College accepts aid through FAFSA and private organizations. It also offers institutional aid. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) </li></ul><h3 id="section---9.BayPathUniversity">9. Bay Path University</h3> <p>Bay Path University is a private, nonprofit institution in Longmeadow, MA. It offers an online RN to BSN for registered nurses who want to advance into leadership roles. </p> <p>This program offers multiple start dates each year and typically takes about two years to complete. Courses are six to seven weeks long and cover topics like healthcare systems, nursing informatics, health assessment, and population health. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $410 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> Bay Path University accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and ACEN </li></ul><h3 id="section---10.EndicottCollege">10. Endicott College</h3> <p>Through Endicott College, nursing students can complete their BSN online through the Cummings School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Most students can finish within 15 to 16 months. </p> <p>Endicott College is a private, nonprofit school located in Beverly, MA. The nursing program includes core nursing practice courses, as well as internships, seminars, and senior thesis projects. </p> <ul><li><b>Average tuition cost:</b> $418 per credit hour </li><li><b>Financial aid:</b> Endicott College offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs. </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> NECHE and CCNE </li></ul><h2 id="section---HowWeRankSchools">How We Rank Schools</h2> <p>To choose the programs listed above, we focused on: </p> <ul><li><b>Accreditation:</b> All institutions are regionally accredited, and all nursing schools are either ACEN or CCNE-accredited. </li><li><b>Affordability:</b> We focused on the least expensive options in Massachusetts, with all programs costing less than $450 per credit hour. </li><li><b>Program reputation:</b> In addition to choosing accredited programs, we only looked at schools that are public or nonprofit, private institutions. </li></ul><h2 id="section---HowToPayForYourNursingDegree">How To Pay for Your Nursing Degree</h2> <p>The best way to pay for your nursing degree is through financial aid. All students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which determines eligibility for need-based programs. There are multiple <a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_colleges_accept_fafsa_massachusetts.html">online schools that accept FAFSA</a> in Massachusetts. </p> <p>In addition to federal and state aid, many schools offer financial aid options (e.g., scholarships and grants) to students. Nursing students can also look for aid through employer-sponsored organizations or private programs. </p> <h2 id="section---FAQsAboutCheapOnlineRNToBSNPrograms">FAQs About Cheap Online RN to BSN Programs</h2> <p>Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about online RN to BSN programs. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsTheAverageCostOfRNToBSNOnlineNursingProgramsInMassachusetts">What Is the Average Cost of RN to BSN Online Nursing Programs in Massachusetts?</h3> <p>The majority of online RN to BSN programs in Massachusetts are less than $500 per credit, but a few go above that. Most require between 30 and 40 credit hours. Depending on the program you choose, you could finish your program for less than $10,000. </p> <p>The cost of your program depends on the school, but it also depends on your transfer credits. If you've already completed all general education, prerequisite, and elective courses, you'll pay less. </p> <h3 id="section---HowDoOnlineRNToBSNProgramsWork">How Do Online RN to BSN Programs Work?</h3> <p>In an online RN to BSN program, you'll receive around 60 credits for your associate degree and usually another 30 or so for having your RN license. This leaves you with 30 credits left to earn. </p> <p>Most online RN to BSN programs offer courses in an asynchronous format, meaning you don't have to log in at a set time. However, some require a few synchronous courses. </p> <p>Many also require students to complete a certain number of clinical hours, which have to be completed in person. Some replace this requirement with a capstone project or thesis assignment. </p> <h3 id="section---HowLongAreRNToBSNProgramsInMassachusetts">How Long Are RN to BSN Programs in Massachusetts?</h3> <p>A typical RN to BSN program in Massachusetts takes somewhere between one and two years to complete. It depends on the program you choose, whether you study full-time or part-time, and the number of credits you need. </p> <p>Full-time programs finish faster but are often more rigorous. While part-time programs take longer, they're often the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/easiest_rn_to_bsn_online.html">easiest RN to BSN programs</a>. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsTheCheapestRNToBSNOnlineProgram">What Is the Cheapest RN to BSN Online Program?</h3> <p>In Massachusetts, the cheapest online RN to BSN program comes from Fitchburg State University, which charges $311 per credit hour. At 32 credit hours, that's a total of $9,952 before textbooks and additional costs. </p> <h2 id="section---PursueANursingEducationOnline">Pursue a Nursing Education Online</h2> <p>Find your ideal RN to BSN program by exploring the online options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual programs to learn more about admission requirements, enrollment, and financial aid.</p>