Best Nursing Schools in New England in 2024 (Online & On-Campus)

If you’re looking to study nursing in the region composed of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut—also known as New England—you’re in luck. There are many reputable and accredited nursing schools in New England for you to choose from. Best of all, the services of highly qualified and motivated nursing school graduates are in very high demand. Many prestigious medical organizations are looking to hire qualified graduates. Here’s our list of the best nursing schools in New England. Whether you’re looking for a nursing school in Connecticut, a nursing program in MA, or become a nursing student in Rhode Island, you’ll be sure to find a great option below.

The 16 Top Nursing Schools in New England

1. College of Our Lady of the Elms | Chicopee, MA

The Elm’s College of Our Lady of the Elms had its first graduating class in 1982. This subdivision of Elm’s College became a school in its own right in 2013. Today, they provide entry-level, degree completion, and advanced nursing programs. These include BSN, MSN, a dual MSN/MBA track and a number of degree completion options.

•  Program length: 4 year
•  Tuition: $36,596
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

2. Maine College of Health Professions | Lewiston, ME

The Maine College of Health Professions is the only college in the state of Maine that offers ADN and RN-to-BSN programs. It provides instruction intended to prepare nursing students for a wide range of medical settings including critical care, long-term care, surgery, mental health, and rehabilitation.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 91%
•  Program length or credit hours: 2 year / 4 year
•  Tuition: $965.00 to $29,812
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

3. University of Vermont | Burlington, VT

Placing a heavy emphasis on nursing as both an art and a science, the University of Vermont’s Department of Nursing places a special emphasis on the behavioral, natural, and nursing sciences. UVDN delivers an interdisciplinary education system, allowing students to learn in international locations.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 92%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

4. University of Massachusetts Amherst | Amherst, MA

First established in 1863, Umass Amherst was Massachusetts’s first college to offer a fully accredited DNP program, and one of the first to offer a doctorate degree program. It was one of the nation’s few legacy universities to embrace online education early. They also host recently renovated facilities including a nursing simulation laboratory with five state-of-the-art simulation rooms, a 16-hospital-bed facility, and two clinical examination rooms.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 95%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Admission requirements: “Applicants must have completed all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better”
•  Tuition: Avg. $13386 per semester
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

5. Endicott College | Beverly, MA

Equipped with fully outfitted laboratories to give medical and nursing students intensive clinical experiences and small class sizes, Endicott College in Beverly, MA offers a number of powerful educational benefits to the students it serves. In addition to its on-campus facilities, EC also gives students access to practical educational opportunities in more than 60 affiliate healthcare organizations.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 86%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Admission requirements: GPA is not considered, rather, Endicott values “background, experiences, and strengths demonstrated in the sum of your application materials…”
•  Tuition: $33,304 per year
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

6. Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, CT

With a strong focus on adhering to its religious roots, Sacred Heart University places a sharp focus on service to the community and community building. They offer a state-of-the-art teaching laboratory that includes a patient simulation system, allowing students to practice in realistic scenarios without the risk of practicing on real patients. This school offers several MSN specializations including nurse educators, nurse managers, and family nurse practitioners.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 95%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Admission requirements: Online Application, Non-refundable application fee, Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, Official transcripts, Personal statement, Two letters of recommendation, Professional resume
•  Tuition: $21,400 per semester

7. University of New Hampshire | Durham, NH

The University of New Hampshire’s Department of Nursing offers a selection of paths to a nursing degree with its traditional 4-year BSN, an MSN with three tracks to choose from, and a direct-entry MSN. This school’s MSN course work offers specializations in evidence-based nursing, clinical nurse leadership, and family nurse practitioner.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 94%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

8. MGH Institute of Health Professions | Boston, MA

MGH became one of the nation’s first four institutions of higher learning to establish an accredited DNP program. It is well known as a center for innovation. In 2013, it established its Global Health Nursing certification and a Mind-Body-Spirit program in 2011. More than 80% of the school’s staff and faculty members possess a doctorate degree.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 90%
•  Admission requirements: TOEFL/ IELTS, Transcripts, Statement of Intent, Recommendation Letters, Resume or CV
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

9. Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT

USA Today lists Quinnipiac University as one of the ten best nursing schools in the nation. With a record-low student to teacher ratio of just 12 to 1, QU is a great place to learn. It’s also interesting to note that QU is not an especially small school. They do not have to have such small class sizes—rather, they insist on it. This school is one of the best nursing schools in New England and offers a nationally renowned BSN program that graduates just 100 students each year. QU graduates enjoy some of the highest rates of employer demand listed.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 90%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Tuition: $24,280 per semester

10. Simmons University | Boston, MA

This tiny nursing school in Boston has an unusually low teacher to student ratio allowing instructors to focus on clinically-based curricula. Simmons University makes its home in the prestigious Longwood Medical Area with its twenty-one celebrated academic and medical institutions. Since it graduated no more than 50 students per year you’ll be sure to have all your questions answered.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 98.5%
•  Admission requirements:
  • Completed application
  • High School Transcript
  • SAT or ACT Test Scores (TOEFL required if English is not your first language)
  • College Essay
  • College Transcript (if applicable)
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation (one teacher, one counselor)
•  Tuition: $1,250 per credit hour

11. Northeastern University | Boston, MA

Part of the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University provides its nursing students with a wide range of practical experience opportunities across its campus and in the broader local medical community. NU has on-campus and online coursework available, and an MSN curriculum with no less than six nurse practitioner specialties.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 92%
•  Admission requirements: SAT or ACT scores are not required and will not be considered. See the application page.
•  Tuition: Avg. $1,300 per credit hour
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

12. Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT holds one of the top spots in the nation for its RN to BSN program. Fairfield is known for taking the life story of their students more seriously than his or her GPA. Students will be admitted on the basis of subjective merit and other hard-to-quantify qualifications.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 90%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Admission requirements: Completed Application for Graduate Admission, A Professional Resume, A Personal Statement of self-evaluation, Official transcripts, Two Recommendation Forms and Letters
•  Tuition: $49,080

13. University of Massachusetts Medical School | Worcester, MA

The Umass Medical School is a long-time presence on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the nation’s top medical schools. It is the only publicly funded nursing school in Massachusetts that focuses solely on educating graduate students.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 96%
•  Admission requirements: Undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher
•  Total Average Student Debt on Graduation: $15,5797
•  Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

14. University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT

Founded in 1942, the University of Connecticut is New England’s only research-oriented school of nursing. This school recently earned the distinction of the NLN Center of Excellence award. UofC ranks among the nation’s 20 best public universities and among the 30 best medical research institutions.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 93%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Admission requirements: 3.0
•  Tuition: $2,226 per unit
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

15. Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA

With its reputation for promoting social justice and diversity, the William F. Connell School of Nursing provides a robust liberal arts education to all of its students with a range of experiences in culturally based healthcare perspectives. Its nursing programs include a BSN, MSN, and CRNA.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 93%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

16. Yale University | New Haven, CT

One of the nation’s premier institutions of higher learning, Yale University has been preparing nurses for practice through its apprentice program, the Yale School of Nursing, since 1923. Their nursing degrees include MSN and DNP programs. Graduates can expect to enjoy some of the highest rates of employer demand in the field.

•  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 94-98%
•  Program length or credit hours: 4 years
•  Tuition: Average $4,000 per semester
•  Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Methodology

The nursing schools in New England were ranked primarily from factors that would best benefit nursing students. These are the number and quality of the school’s nursing programs, how well and how fully the school works with medical facilities to give students practical experience, NCLEX-RN pass rates, tuition, and other nursing student-oriented considerations.

Choosing the right nursing college for you is a deeply personal choice based on your learning style, responsibilities, and financial needs. That said, the best school for you is not necessarily the No. 1 school on any list. Get in touch today to learn more about choosing the right nursing school for you.