Best Online Healthcare Programs in Worcester, MA (2026)

Worcester, Massachusetts has a population of about 205,501. The city’s median household income is $67,544 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 34.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited healthcare programs within 100 miles of Worcester, with tuition ranging from $11,286 to $61,106 per year. In the Worcester, MA metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Medical and Health Services Manager at a median $119,480 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Healthcare Schools to Worcester

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer healthcare programs. Distances are calculated from Worcester city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Bancroft School of Massage TherapyWorcester, MA1.5 miContact school for pricing
Worcester State UniversityWorcester, MA1.8 mi$11,286 - $21,586
Quinsigamond Community CollegeWorcester, MA3.1 miContact school for pricing
Anna Maria CollegePaxton, MA7.1 mi$43,064 - $61,106
Spa Tech Institute-WestboroWestborough, MA8.9 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts healthcare page.


Healthcare Wages Near Worcester

Worcester is part of the Worcester, MA metro area (BLS area code 49340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Massachusetts statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Medical and Health Services Manager$119,480Worcester, MA$116,566
Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar$94,360Worcester, MA$92,059
Medical Records Specialist$56,350Worcester, MA$54,976
Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant$48,880Worcester, MA$47,688
Healthcare Social Worker$75,580Worcester, MA$73,737
Epidemiologist$104,920MA statewide$102,361

Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Worcester at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population205,501Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$67,544Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+34.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)102.5 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Healthcare-related employment in Worcester County72,626 workers, 9,350 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Worcester-Area Cities With Healthcare Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited healthcare programs are near Worcester, MA?

Our directory lists 5 healthcare programs within 100 miles of Worcester. The closest is Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in Worcester, MA (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Spa Tech Institute-Westboro (8.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Worcester?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Worcester are: Medical and Health Services Manager ($119,480), Epidemiologist ($104,920), Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar ($94,360). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Massachusetts statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Marlborough instead of Worcester?

Marlborough, MA is 14.4 miles from Worcester and has its own set of local healthcare programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Worcester an affordable place to study healthcare?

Worcester’s median household income of $67,544 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Worcester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Massachusetts public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.