Best Online Nursing Programs in Boston, MA (2026)
Boston, Massachusetts has a population of about 663,972. The city’s median household income is $94,755 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 54.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 90 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Boston, with tuition ranging from $45,538 to $63,512 per year for indexed programs. In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Midwife at a median $161,580 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Boston
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 90 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Boston. Distances are calculated from Boston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roxbury Community College | Roxbury Crossing, MA | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs | Boston, MA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northeastern University | Boston, MA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| MCPHS University | Boston, MA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Simmons University | Boston, MA | 1.6 mi | $45,538 - $63,512 | – |
| Emmanuel College | Boston, MA | 1.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Boston, MA | 2.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fisher College | Boston, MA | 2.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston, MA | 3.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions | Boston, MA | 4.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Boston
Boston is part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area (BLS area code 14460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Massachusetts statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $102,440 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $94,589 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $78,670 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,641 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | MA statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $161,580 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $149,197 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $138,890 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $128,246 |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,110 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $42,576 |
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.
Boston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 663,972 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $94,755 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 54.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Suffolk County | 106,832 workers, 196 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Boston-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Cambridge, MA – 4.3 mi away (110,651 pop)
- Somerville, MA – 5.0 mi away (81,322 pop)
- Quincy, MA – 5.7 mi away (93,688 pop)
- Chelsea, MA – 5.9 mi away (39,699 pop)
- Watertown, MA – 5.9 mi away (35,025 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Boston, MA?
Our directory has 90 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Boston. The closest is Roxbury Community College in Roxbury Crossing, MA (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is MGH Institute of Health Professions (4.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Boston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Boston are: Nurse Midwife ($161,580), Nurse Practitioner ($138,890), Registered Nurse ($102,440). 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 Cambridge instead of Boston?
Cambridge, MA is 4.3 miles from Boston and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Boston an affordable place to study nursing?
Boston’s median household income of $94,755 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Boston 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.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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