5 Easiest Nursing Schools To Get Into in Massachusetts 2025

There are multiple ways to approach nursing education and licensing in Massachusetts. You can attend a community college for an associate degree and become a registered nurse (RN), or pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for greater job opportunities.

Either way, nursing schools have very competitive admissions processes, presenting a difficult obstacle for prospective nurses. We'll show you how to overcome tough admissions prospects by introducing the easiest nursing schools to get into in Massachusetts.

How Competitive Are Nursing Schools in Massachusetts?

The admission standards for nursing programs can be lenient or strict depending on where you apply. Some universities, like the University of Massachusetts Amherst, accept only 12% of applicants. Other community colleges and universities are among the easiest nursing schools to get into in your state.

Our list of universities includes some of the easiest nursing degrees, where you can still expect a solid education that will prepare you for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

What Are the Admissions Requirements for Massachusetts Nursing Schools?

The nursing school requirements for direct entry can be challenging. Pre-nursing students should focus on completing as many prerequisite courses as possible for the best chance of gaining acceptance. It's also not enough to pass your classes either. Most nursing programs only admit students with a grade point average (GPA) higher than 3.0.

Nursing Schools With the Highest Acceptance Rates in Massachusetts

Check out this list of Massachusetts nursing programs with the highest acceptance rates. This includes some of the easiest RN to BSN programs online for remote learners and mid-career nurses.

1. MCPHS University

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University has a 98% acceptance rate, along with a 96% pass rate for graduates who take the NCLEX-RN exam. Its college of nursing also has a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, which family practitioners can pursue at a full-time or part-time pace through online delivery or at its campus in Boston.

MCPHS also has a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) for nurse practitioners seeking the highest positions in their field.

• Estimated tuition cost: $925 per credit hour (in-state); $1,012 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 98%
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

2. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) - Dartmouth offers four ways to earn a BSN degree or second-degree BSN. The latter is an advanced program for non-nursing majors who wish to enter nursing for the first time. This accredited institution has seven undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and nursing certifications you can complete 100% online.

• Estimated tuition cost: $702 per credit hour (in-state); $1,295 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 92%
• Accreditation: CCNE

3. Salem State University

Salem State University offers a traditional BSN degree, an accelerated BSN, an RN-to-BSN bridge program, and a way to obtain a bachelor's degree for licensed practical nurses (LPN). Even if you have no patient-care experience and majored in the liberal arts, you can pursue the accelerated second-degree option, designed to help non-nursing majors make a career change and specialize in high-demand areas like mental health, pediatric, or public health advocacy.

• Estimated tuition cost: $529.50 per credit hour (in-state); $838.20 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 90%
• Accreditation: CCNE

4. Regis College

Regis College allows remote learners to complete most of its nursing degrees fully online, including multiple DNP tracks. This university offers nursing students the chance to earn a high-quality education at every degree level, beginning with an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN). Although the tuition rates are fairly high, you can offset some or all of the expenses by exploring Regis' financial aid options for nursing majors.

• Estimated tuition cost: $975 per credit hour (in-state); $1,088 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 89%
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

5. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

The University of Massachusetts-Lowell has both on-campus and online versions of its BSN programs, including a flexible RN-to-BSN program. This is also one of the more affordable institutions for nursing in a state where courses often cost between $900 and $1,000 per credit hour. You can also finish UMass-Lowell's bridge program within just 12 months.

• Estimated tuition cost: $610 per credit hour (in-state); $1,465 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 85%
• Accreditation: CCNE

How We Rank Schools

Here's how we rank the easiest nursing programs to get into in Massachusetts. These degree programs must have nursing accreditation, high acceptance rates, and a strong program reputation.

• Accreditation: This list only includes nursing programs with academic accreditation from either CCNE or ACEN.
• Acceptance rates: These programs all have high acceptance rates (85% or higher).
• Program reputation: These RN degree programs have a high NCLEX pass rate, a variety of nursing courses, and opportunities to develop clinical experience.

What Can I Expect From a Nursing Degree Program?

These degrees can be very challenging since they feature difficult nursing curricula with in-person courses, online coursework, and hands-on laboratory training at state-of-the-art facilities. Almost every school of nursing offers real-world clinical placements for students upon completion of their programs. If you enroll in an accelerated BSN, then expect to devote full-time effort to rigorous courses over a shorter enrollment period.

FAQs About the Easiest Nursing Programs To Get Into

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about BSN, RN, and MSN programs in Massachusetts. These address your concerns regarding coursework difficulty, online programs, GPA requirements, and more.

Is Nursing School Hard?

Nursing education is often rigorous because it involves a challenging curriculum that includes health sciences, mathematics, and hard sciences. This also consists of common obstacles for first-time students, such as chemistry, algebra, statistics, physics, and anatomy.

Read More: Can I Be a Nurse If I Am Bad at Math?

Are Online Nursing Schools Easier Than Traditional Programs?

Many nursing students report having less difficulty with online programs than with traditional BSN degrees. While different schools vary in coursework difficulty, you can make classes easier by taking them at your own pace. Several private institutions and colleges offer self-paced nursing prerequisites online, which are individual courses you can take at a slower speed for tough subjects.

What Is the Lowest GPA To Get Into Nursing School?

Most nursing schools will not admit students who have less than 2.5 cumulative GPA. They usually require you to earn at least a ''C'' in pre-nursing classes as well.

This is true for both transfer students and high-school graduates seeking direct entry. Fortunately, you can avoid struggling with a low GPA if you get tutoring for the hardest nursing classes or take them online through a self-paced program.

What Is the Career Outlook for Nurses in Massachusetts?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates solid growth in nursing jobs in the near future. The nursing career outlook across the country is strong, especially in areas with nursing shortages. This field could experience 6% growth in nursing jobs between 2023 and 2033.

What Is the Hardest Nursing School To Get Into in Massachusetts?

Northeastern University may have the toughest admissions standards because it admits just 7% of applicants. Boston College also accepts fewer than 20% of applicants. Every school from the rankings accepts at least 85% of applicants, but you can also earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) by enrolling in a Massachusetts community college, which typically accepts all applicants.

How Many Colleges for Nursing Are in Massachusetts?

There are 56 nursing colleges in Massachusetts. This includes 26 institutions that offer a BSN degree, along with 22 that grant master's degrees or doctorates. This does not include non-accredited nursing programs.

Easiest Nursing Schools To Get Into Near You

We invite you to learn more about nursing school by exploring all of our other articles on bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, nursing certifications, master's degrees, and more. Learn.org can help you launch your healthcare career faster with a plethora of information on online degree programs.