How do MSN programs in Massachusetts prepare you for leadership roles in nursing? By offering comprehensive preparation that equips you with the knowledge and skills to excel in nursing management, nursing education, and advanced clinical practice. Nursing master’s programs in the Bay State offer campus and online options, making it easy for you to choose the platform that best fits your existing responsibilities. Once you graduate, you’ll earn $140,350 a year on average, and in just 10 years, your employment opportunities will soar by 47 percent. Sound intriguing? This guide to the 15 best MSN programs in Massachusetts is filled with helpful information.
RN-to-MSN Program Details: Are you an RN with an associate degree or a hospital diploma looking for a quick way to level up your professional skills? Boston College’s RN-to-MSN bridge track takes just 14 months to complete and will prepare you to earn a nurse practitioner certificate in your chosen specialty should you decide to go on to become an advanced practice RN.
This program requires 112 credits—42 general education credits and 70 nursing-related credits. You’ll take classes like “Advanced Health/Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan,” “Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse,” and “Nursing Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Advanced Practice.” When you graduate, you’ll meet the American Association of Critical Care Nurses’ objectives for BSN and MSN education and be prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination. This program accepts new students in the fall and is taught at Boston College’s campus in Chestnut Hill.
MSN Program Details: Like several other MSN programs in Massachusetts, Boston College’s MSN program no longer offers APRN specialties but instead provides a generalist curriculum that will give you a firm foundation in nursing theory should you decide to pursue a nurse practitioner certificate or enroll in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program after you attain your MSN degree. The 31-credit program includes classes like “Examining Diversity in Nursing and Healthcare,” “Nursing Leadership in Complex Healthcare Settings,” and “Foundations of Evidence-based Advanced Nursing Practice,” and offers full-time and part-time enrollment options. Courses begin each fall.
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• According to U.S. News & World Report, Boston College’s nursing master’s program is the top MSN program in Massachusetts.Program Details: Though UMass Lowell’s MSN program utilizes distance learning, you will have to visit the university’s campus in Lowell for intensive skills-building activities at various points in the program. This MSN program in Massachusetts features two specialties: an Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track and a Family Nurse Practitioner pathway. Both specialties entail 45 credits and 750 clinical hours. Full-time students can graduate from this nursing master’s program in two years; part-time students will customize their own study plans with the help of an advisor.
The MSN program accepts new students in the spring and summer. Core nursing courses common to both nurse practitioner curricula include “Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostics,” “Advanced Pharmacology,” and “APRN Care of the Adult.”
You can apply to UMass Lowell’s MSN program with an out-of-state RN license. However, you must have a Massachusetts license by the time you begin practicums because clinical rotations are scheduled at healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area, such as UMass Memorial Medical Center, Boston VA Healthcare System, and Lawrence General Hospital.
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• UMass Lowell’s pass rates on APRN certification exams are 100 percent for AGPCNP graduates and 92 percent for FNP graduates.Program Details: Simmons University offers two ways to earn an MSN with a 48-credit Family Nurse Practitioner concentration. If you enroll full-time in the university’s campus-based program, you can your degree in just two years, while if you enroll full-time in the university’s online option, you’ll earn it in three. This MSN program in Massachusetts also features a 47-credit online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization, which full-time students can complete in three years. The FNP and PMHNP specialties both require a minimum of 672 clinical hours.
All three pathways can be pursued part-time. The online programs start in January, May, and September, but the campus-based program only starts in the fall.
Core nursing coursework for all three NP pathways includes “Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse,” “Advanced Health Assessment Across the Life Span,” and “Health Promotion Global Perspective.” Students enrolled at Simmons University’s campus in Boston will participate in clinical experiences at some of Beantown’s most prestigious medical centers, such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital. Distance learning students will complete practicum training in their own communities with one of Simmons University’s 6,000 clinical partners nationwide.
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• Simmons University also offers a direct entry MSN program for baccalaureate-educated students who aren’t RNs but want to enter the nursing profession at the nurse practitioner level.Program Details: Aspiring nurse practitioners can choose among six APPRN pathways in Northeastern University's master's program: a 43-credit AGPCNP track, a 41-credit NNP track, a 43-credit PMHNP track, a 43-credit AGACNP track, a 47-credit FNP track, and a 41-credit Pediatric NP track. The Pediatric NP track is divided into two subspecialties: a primary care track and an acute care track (which involves an additional 11 credits.)
All six specialties can be pursued online, but the AGACNP and PNP pathways also offer a classroom option. This option may be worth pursuing because of the clinical partnerships Northeastern has formed with top hospitals in the Boston area, such as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, Tufts-New England Medical Center, and Boston Children’s Hospital, where campus-based students will do their clinical rotations. Online students are responsible for identifying their preceptors and clinical sites, subject to the program director's approval.
The AGPCNP and FNP pathways are hybrid programs that require two skills intensives at Northeastern’s Boston campus. Similarly, the online PMHNP pathway entails regular on-site labs. The NNP program is offered entirely as a distance learning platform except for clinical rotations.
All six specialties associated with this MSN program in Massachusetts share a common coursework core that includes classes like “Healthcare System and Professional Role Development,” “Epidemiology and Population Health,” and “Translating Research Evidence into Practice.” The online programs accept new students in the spring and fall. The two campus programs begin coursework in the fall.
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• If you’re interested in pediatric nursing, Northeastern has one of the best MSN programs in Massachusetts because it’s the only university in New England that offers an acute-care PNP curriculum.Program Details: As the ninth-largest nursing school in the United States, University of Massachusetts Boston is proficient at educating nursing professionals with first-rate clinical skills who know how to think critically. UMass Boston’s MSN program utilizes a hybrid format that incorporates distance learning and campus elements. When you apply to this MSN program in Massachusetts, you can choose between two APRN options. The FNP and AGNP pathways both require you to complete 48 credits and a minimum of 600 clinical hours.
You’ll take core nursing courses like “Advanced Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan,” “Health Informatics,” and “Advanced Pathophysiology.” You must hold Massachusetts RN licensure because UMass Boston MSN students do clinical rotations at prestigious healthcare facilities throughout Boston, such as Massachusetts General Hospital, South Shore Hospital, and Bedford Veterans Administration Hospital. You’ll hone your hands-on nursing skills at UMass Boston’s Center for Clinical Education & Research. This top-of-the-line simulation facility uses high-fidelity manikins and sophisticated medical equipment to help students translate nursing theory into clinical practice. Courses begin in the fall.
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• This may be one of the best MSN programs in Massachusetts for students interested in urban healthcare because UMass Boston’s nursing master’s curriculum focuses on the health challenges of those who live in metropolitan settings.Program Details: MGH Institute of Health Professions is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital, so students who pursue their MSN program in Massachusetts will benefit from an excellent education in hands-on clinical skills. The Institute offers five separate MSN pathways and one dual MSN pathway.
As a full-time student, you can enroll in the 48-credit AGACNP track, the 50-credit FNP track, the 48-credit Pediatric NP track, the 48-credit PMHNP track, the 48-credit WHNP track, or the 61-credit dual Adult-Gerontology/Women’s Health NP track and graduate in two or two and a half years. If work or personal obligations lead you to prefer part-time studies, you can enroll in the FNP, PMHNP, or AGACNP tracks and graduate in three years.
These APRN programs are offered at MGH Institute’s campus in Boston. Core nursing courses include “Advanced Pathophysiology,” “Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan,” and “Power, Privilege, & Positionality.” You’ll learn hands-on skills in the Institute’s cutting-edge simulation lab, equipped with more than 20 programmable manikins and four rooms laid out to resemble real-world healthcare settings. You’ll participate in clinical rotations at Massachusetts General Hospital and other healthcare facilities throughout the greater Boston area. This MSN program accepts new students in the fall.
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• Additionally, MGH Institute of Health Professions offers a Direct-Entry MS in Nursing with all six advanced specialty nursing tracks for individuals with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees who aren’t RNs but wish to become nurse practitioners.Program Details: Interested in branching out into the non-clinical side of nursing? Curry College features Nursing Education and Nursing Administration pathways as specialties in its MSN program. The Nursing Education pathway is a 35-credit track with 120 practicum hours, while the Nursing Administration pathway is a 35-credit track with 130 practicum hours. Both specializations require 12 classes in all, utilizing a hybrid platform that combines classroom and online learning. You can earn either degree in 20 months.
Foundational nursing master’s courses include “Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning,” “Health Policy, Systems and Financing,” and “Nursing Theory, Science and Evidence-Based Practice.” Both pathways require a capstone project. This MSN program in Massachusetts accepts new students in the fall, spring, and summer.
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• Curry College also offers an accelerated MSN program for individuals with a non-nursing degree who want to enter the nursing profession at the master’s level.RN-to-MSN Program Details: Though Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is the largest pharmacy school in the nation, it also educates healthcare professionals outside the pharmacy field. The college’s RN-to-MSN pathway is designed for RNs with an associate nursing degree or a hospital diploma who want to become FNPs without enrolling in a BSN program. The program is offered part-time online, making it one of the most convenient MSN programs in Massachusetts for working RNs. You’ll be able to graduate in just three years.
Program Details: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’s traditional MSN program offers two APRN specialties: a 45-credit (675 clinical hours) PMHNP pathway and a 42-credit (750 clinical hours) FNP pathway. Both specialties are offered online but require three campus residencies throughout the duration of the program for orientation, skills evaluations, and graduation. You can graduate in just 24 months from either specialty track.
You’ll take core nursing classes before you begin your specialization studies that include courses like “Professional Role Development for Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Advanced Pathophysiology,” and “Human Diversity, Social and Policy Issues.” You’ll be able to participate in clinical rotations in the area where you already live and work. This MSN program in Massachusetts accepts new students in the spring, summer, and fall.
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• The Wall Street Journal has called Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences the #1 school in the U.S. for elevating the earning power of its graduates.Program Details: When you enroll in the MSN program at Regis College, you’ll have six APRN concentrations to choose from. The AGPCNP, AGACNP, PNP, and WHNP specialties are all 100 percent online, requiring you to complete between 46 credits and a minimum of 600 preceptor hours. The PMHNP pathway entails 49 credits and a minimum of 600 preceptor hours. Full-time students can expect to graduate in 28 months.
All six specialties include a core MSN curriculum with courses like “Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives,” “Health Assessment,” and “Concepts and Challenges in Professional Practice.” This MSN program in Massachusetts expects you to take an active role in identifying clinical sites if you live outside the Boston area; students who live closer to campus will do clinical rotations at some of the Boston region’s finest medical facilities, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Norwood Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital. Regis College accepts new MSN students in the spring, summer, and fall semesters of each year.
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• Regis College-Weston has been designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the prestigious National League for Nursing.Program Details: Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School offers a 30-credit master’s with a specialization in Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership that aims to prepare students for interdisciplinary collaboration at the executive level. This unique curriculum features courses like “Nursing & Interprofessional Leadership,” “Translating & Integrating Scholarship into Practice,” and “Nursing Advocacy to Optimize Health” and culminates with a master’s degree project.
Courses begin in the fall. Full-time students can complete this degree in a single year, and part-time students can complete it in two years.
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• You can pursue this MSN program in Massachusetts online or as a hybrid program offering distance learning plus one evening lecture per week.Program Details: UMass Amherst partners with University Without Walls to offer all three of its MSN concentrations as distance learning options that rely upon asynchronous technology. This makes it one of the best MSN programs in Massachusetts for working RNs who are seeking to expand their professional horizons in a non-clinical fashion since asynchronous technology will allow you to design your study routine around your existing commitments.
The 32-credit Nursing Education pathway includes a minimum of 112 practicum hours. If you choose the Clinical Nurse Leader specialization, you must complete 32 credits and 448 practicum hours. The 36-credit Public Health pathway entails two practicum experiences. Core nursing coursework common to all three curricula includes “Theoretical Components of Nursing Science,” “Advanced Pathophysiology,” and “Introduction to Statistics for Health Research.” Clinical Nurse Leader students must complete a capstone project that expands upon a nursing leadership challenge they confronted during their clinical experience.
This MSN program in Massachusetts can be completed in two years. Courses begin in the summer term. You’ll be able to complete your clinical requirements at a healthcare facility or agency close to your own geographical area.
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• UMass Amherst also offers a 30-credit generalist MSN option for students who are interested in pursuing an APRN certificate or enrolling in the university’s DNP program.Program Details: Interested in working at the intersection of nursing science and the U.S. criminal justice system? Fitchburg State University’s MSN program, with its concentration in Forensic Nursing, will allow you to do just that! The 39-credit pathway is offered completely online except for 420 hours of clinical experience.
In addition to core nursing courses like “Nursing Theory” and “Advanced Clinical Concepts,” you’ll take classes like “Scientific Foundations for Forensic Nursing Interventions” and “Forensic Nursing: Caring for Victims.” All students must complete a capstone project that requires them to integrate nursing theory and research. This MSN program in Massachusetts accepts new students in the fall.
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• Fitchburg State University’s Forensic Nursing program is the only one of its kind in Massachusetts and one of only 17 such programs in the entire United States.RN-to-MSN Program Details: Endicott College doesn’t offer a traditional RN-to-MSN program. Instead, it provides what the college dubs “a pre-master’s pathway” consisting of 13 credits that will help these students meet the criteria for admission into Endicott’s MSN program. These classes include “Applied Statistics” and “Leadership and Management in Nursing.” This program is specifically designed for RNs with ADNs or hospital diplomas who also hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing.
MSN Program Details: Endicott College’s MSN program offers four concentrations designed to help you advance in the nursing profession. The Global Health Nursing, Nursing Education, and Nursing Administration pathways each involve 33 credits; you can complete them online except for practicum experiences and graduate in 18 months. The 46-credit FNP track, delivered through a combination of online coursework and evening classes at the college’s campus in Beverly, includes 600 clinical hours and takes 24 months to complete. Clinical rotation sites for FNP students include community hospitals as well as the larger Boston tertiary care hospitals.
The four concentrations share foundational MSN classes, such as “Roles and Issues for Advanced Nursing Practice,” “Health Policy & Finance: Application for Advanced Practice Nurses,” and “Nursing Research I & II.” All three non-clinical concentrations involve a capstone project. This MSN program in Massachusetts offers flexible entry points throughout the year.
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• Endicott College has small MSN class sizes and favorable faculty-to-student ratios, so students get one-to-one attention from their instructors.Program Details: Though Emmanuel College’s MSN program is delivered via a distance learning platform, its synchronous technology almost makes you feel like you’re sitting in a classroom with your fellow students. This MSN program in Massachusetts features two non-clinical specialties: Nursing Education and Nursing Administration. Before you get to the specifics of your chosen specialty, however, you’ll take 30 credits of foundational nursing master’s courses like “Advanced Application of Nursing Research and Ethical Practice,” “Health Care Policy, Economics, and Population Health,” and “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Theoretical and Experiential Approaches to Care.”
Online classes meet every other week to leave you plenty of time to study at your own pace and attend to the other commitments in your life. You’ll complete your practicums at some of the finest medical facilities in the Boston region, such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Emmanuel College accepts new students into its MSN program in May, July, August/September, and January.
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• While Emmanuel College is a Roman Catholic school, it values diversity in its student body, and its MSN curriculum does not explicitly reflect Catholic teachings.Program Details: UMass Dartmouth is another one of the MSN programs in Massachusetts that, in accordance with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s mandate, no longer offers APRN programs at the master’s level. Instead, UMass Dartmouth offers two non-clinical nursing master’s concentrations: Nursing & Healthcare and Global Public Health. Both tracks require 39 credits and can be accessed online.
Both programs can be completed in three years and start in the fall—though you will have to take a statistical analysis course the summer before you begin your studies. Core nursing courses include “The US Health Care Delivery System,” “Translating Research Evidence for Advancing Nursing Practice,” and “Theoretical Foundations for Advancing Nursing Practice.” Both tracks involve a minimum of 112 practicum hours. Once enrolled in this MSN program in Massachusetts, you can do your practicum in the state where you live.
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• UMass Dartmouth participates in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, which allows MSN-educated nurse educators to write off as much as 85 percent of the loans they used to subsidize their education so long as they serve as full-time nursing faculty for four years following graduation.