Nursing in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 74 nursing schools running 87 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 90.5%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $104,550; nurse practitioners, $142,440. Massachusetts has enacted the nurse licensure compact but has not implemented it yet. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Massachusetts
73 of Massachusetts’s 87 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 89.1% — 2.6 points above the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 90.5%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 24 | 85% (19 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 27 | 90% (23 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. 8 programs tied at 100% — the five with the most nursing graduates are shown. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburg · Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Program100%
- Worcester State UniversityWorcester · Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Program100%
- Assumption UniversityWorcester · Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Program100%
- Bay State College, Associate Degree Registered Nurse ProgramAssociate Degree Nursing Program100%
- Curry College (AE-MSN)Milton · Registered Nurse Entry Level Graduate Program100%
What Nurses Earn in Massachusetts
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Massachusetts is $7,000 above the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $10,140 above the $132,300 national NP median.
| Massachusetts | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $104,550 | $142,440 |
| Median hourly | $50.27 | $68.48 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $80,310 | $111,950 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $174,510 | $207,710 |
| Employed in state | 88,200 | 8,070 |
Licensing in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact, but it is not in effect yet and NCSBN lists no implementation date. Until it is, a Massachusetts license covers Massachusetts only, and nurses holding another state's compact license cannot use it here.
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Massachusetts board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: Roster as of July 8, 2026; pass rate CY2025 first-time (NCSBN data, Board 2012-2025 report).
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has 74 nursing schools running 87 board-approved programs — 60 RN programs and 27 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Massachusetts?
The median Massachusetts RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 90.5%, and the average across programs was 89.1% — 2.6 points above the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Massachusetts?
Registered nurses in Massachusetts earn a median of $104,550 a year ($50.27 an hour), $7,000 above the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $142,440 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Massachusetts a compact nursing state?
Massachusetts has enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact, but it is not in effect yet and NCSBN lists no implementation date. Until it is, a Massachusetts license covers Massachusetts only, and nurses holding another state's compact license cannot use it here. Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.