2026 Best Value Nursing Practice Schools in Massachusetts

[Nursing Practice](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-practice/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value nursing practice schools.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Practice Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing practice degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nursing Practice Schools
For return on investment in nursing practice, no school beat Bay Path College this year. Set in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,302. Students borrow a median of $29,811 to complete the nursing practice program here. Nursing Practice graduates of Bay Path College earn a median of $59,424 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,811 median debt. Bay Path College admits about 85% of applicants.
Worcester State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing practice schools. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,866. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $26,849. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Worcester State University generally make around $75,249. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #3 makes Fitchburg State University one of the best values for nursing practice. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,346, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $80,228. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Massachusetts Boston one of the best values for nursing practice. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $30,343 in student loans. Nursing Practice graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $95,552 early in their careers. Set against $30,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned it the #5 place for nursing practice. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Nursing Practice graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $92,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #6 among the best values for nursing practice. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $99,349. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms placed #7 among the best values for nursing practice. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chicopee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,325. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $83,775. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #8 among the best values for nursing practice. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $29,548 to complete the nursing practice program here. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $95,758. Set against $29,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Simmons College earned the #9 position for value in nursing practice this year. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,874 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,916. Nursing Practice graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $95,566 early in their careers. Set against $27,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences placed #10 among the best values for nursing practice. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,530. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $34,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $73,671. That is a strong return on a $34,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Endicott College earned the #11 position for value in nursing practice this year. Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beverly. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,650. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing practice program here. Nursing Practice graduates of Endicott College earn a median of $55,361 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing practice schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,702. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $13,250. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $95,349. That is a strong return on a $13,250 median debt. Boston College admits about 16% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.