As far as professions go, nursing has been listed among the more rewarding. Year after year, consumers agree that nurses go above and beyond their call of duty in the care of diverse patients and their families. If you would like to join the ranks of nurses who make a difference in the lives of patients, you should consider the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to get a head start in the profession. BSNs enjoy steady employment in diverse health care settings, exceptional salaries and benefits, and the option to pursue continuing education for expanded growth and opportunities.
University of Massachusetts Boston
The bachelor of science program at the University of Massachusetts provides students with a rigorous academic experience and a carefully designed plan of study. Students benefit from mentorship by a world-renowned faculty who believe that nursing is a calling and not a career. They train students to incorporate principles to reduce healthcare disparities, improve quality of life, and inform health policy. Students will have the opportunity to put the theoretical principles into practice through clinical placements in health care institutions such as Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Good Samaritan-Brockton, and the VA Medical Centers, among many others. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses. Admission to the program is competitive.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 123
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
Preprofessional courses – Composition I, Nutrition, Anatomy and Physiology, First Year Seminar, Biology OR Elective, Composition II, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology II, Behavioral Social Science (Psychology), Arts or Humanities Course, Microbiology, Lifespan Growth and Development, Statistics, World Culture or Language
Courses – Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, Introduction to Nursing, Nursing Research, Adult Health, Pharmacology, World Culture or Language, Maternity and Women’s Health, Mental Health, Legal, Ethical & Health Policy, Nursing in Community, Care of Children, Arts or Humanities, Capstone, Leadership and Professional Practice
Admission criteria:
- Must be enrolled as a student at UMB
- Complete the prerequisite courses and achieve the highest possible grades in all course requirements – a GPA of 3.2 or above required
- Attend an advisement and information session
- Submit an application for admission to the Nursing program
- Take and pass the TEAS exam with a minimum of Proficient
- Pass a criminal background check
- Must have health insurance coverage
- Provide documentation of current immunization
- Pass a drug screen
- Obtain a negative TB test
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $7,338.50 per semester for resident students and $17,596 per semester for non-resident students. Students will also need to budget for books, supplies, uniforms, admissions exam, immunizations, background check, drug screen, and insurance. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.umb.edu/
- Address: 100 William T. Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125
- Phone: 617.287.5000
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90%
Connell School of Nursing
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program at Connell School of Nursing receive all the benefits of a diverse liberal arts education as they learn through a curriculum that emphasizes intellectual inquiry and social justice. The program includes theory and hands-on work designed to prepare students to function as generalists in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and community agencies. Faculty will provide opportunities for learning outside the classroom through Boston College athletics, student organizations, and international study and travel. One-third of students study abroad during their junior year and another third of senior students sign up for global clinical experiences. The option to take graduate-level electives is available for juniors and seniors. Clinical experiences are conducted at many of the school’s 85 healthcare partners. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 123
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
General education/prerequisite courses – Professional Development Seminar, Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, Life Science Chemistry, Life Science Chemistry Lab, Anatomy and Physiology II, Anatomy and Physiology II Lab, Statistics
Courses – Pathophysiology, Health Assessment of Health, Health Assessment of Health Clinical, Microbiology + Lab, Introduction to Professional Nursing, Adult Health Nursing Theory, Adult Health Nursing Clinical I, Clinical Pharmacology, Principles of Nutrition, Sophomore Formation Seminar, Adult Health Nursing Theory II, Adult Health Nursing Clinical II, Childbearing Nursing Theory, Childbearing Nursing Clinical, Principles of Evidence-based Nursing, Child Health Theory, Child Health Clinical, Psych-Mental Health Theory, Psych-Mental Health Clinical, Population Health Theory, Population Health Practice, Nursing Synthesis Clinical, Actualizing the Role of Professional Nurse
Admission criteria:
- Must apply for admission to Boston College
- Submit a separate application for admission to the Connell School of Nursing
- Submit a completed School Report and Counselor Recommendation Form from high school or college
- Submit two teacher evaluations as part of the application to Boston College
- Submit a mid-year grade report prepared by a counselor or designated school official
- Provide official high school transcripts and transcripts of completed prerequisite coursework
- Submit ACT/SAT scores for review – optional
- Submit the application fee of $80 or waiver request for an application to be reviewed
- Pass a criminal background check
- Must have health insurance coverage
- Provide documentation of current immunization
- Pass a drug screen
- Obtain a negative TB test
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $62,950 for first-year costs. Mandatory fees for resident students cost $1,296. Books and supplies cost an additional $3,150. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/cson.html
- Address: Maloney Hall, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
- Phone: 617-552-4250
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 92%
Curry College
Curry College provides a caring and innovative educational environment to promote transformative thinking in its Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. The program incorporates the use of specialized courses, clinical placements, state-of-the art-technology, and hands-on training to help students succeed as future nurses. The school’s modern simulation lab is equipped with manikins, standardized patients, and virtual applications to support the development of clinical judgment, compassion, and communication skills. Clinical rotations will be conducted in the Boston metropolitan area at some of the best medical facilities worldwide. Rotations will expose students to the role of the nurse in pediatrics, mental health, maternity and more. Clinical partners include but are not limited to Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. A 6:1 student to faculty ratio for clinical rotations will ensure students have the best experience for learning. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 124
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
General education/prerequisite courses – Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, Anatomy and Physiology II, Anatomy and Physiology II Lab, Chemical Concepts, Chemical Concepts Lab, Microbiology, Human Development, Statistics I
Courses – Preparation for Health Care Professions, Health Assessment, Conceptual Basis for Nursing Practice, Nursing Care of Adults I, Pathophysiology, Simulations in Clinical Judgment and Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions, Pharmacology, Evidence for Nursing Practice, Nursing Care of Adults II, Advanced Simulations Adult II, Nursing Care of Children, Maternity Nursing, Family Centered Simulations, Population Health in the Community, Mental Health Nursing, Community Centered Simulations, Health Policy and Finance, Senior Seminar: Synthesis of Nursing Practice, Progression to Practice
Admission criteria:
- Must apply for admission to Curry College
- Submit a separate application for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Must have a high school diploma or GED – transcripts required
- Submit official transcripts of all college courses including prerequisite courses
- Must have a minimum grade C and a 2.75 GPA on prerequisite courses
- Must obtain a satisfactory criminal background check
- Obtain a negative drug screen
- Must have current CPR certification – CPR for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association
- Must have health insurance coverage
- Must provide documentation of current immunization – MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tdap, TB test, and influenza
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $42,440 per year for students completing 12 to 18 credits per semester. A comprehensive fee for full-time students is additional. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.curry.edu/
- Address: 1071 Blue Hill Ave, Milton, MA 02186
- Phone: 617-333-0500
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 85%
Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College prepares nursing students with knowledge, skills, and competencies to assume entry-level practice as a registered nurse. The program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Experienced faculty will emphasize compassion, responsibility, and ethical practice in nursing. Theoretical and hands-on training will take place in the classroom, high-tech simulation lab, and at clinical sites in the community. Training will support the development of critical thinking, communication, and cultural diversity that affects patients’ beliefs and behaviors. The philosophy of nursing taught will be centered on the Catholic intellectual tradition. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses. They will assume accountability for evidence and knowledge-based nursing practice, care for patients using theoretical knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, nursing, and evidence-based practice, and integrate the concepts of caring that foster a relationship between the caregiver and care recipient.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 124
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
General education/prerequisite courses – Introduction to Nutrition, General Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology I for Nursing Professionals w/Lab, Lifespan Growth and Development, Introduction to Sociology, Anatomy and Physiology II for Nursing Professionals w/Lab, Introduction to Statistics, Introduction to Chemistry for Health Professionals, Microbiology, Nursing Legal, Ethical, and Health Policy, Culture and Diversity in Health Care
Courses – Nursing Seminar I, Nursing Seminar II: History and Theory in Nursing/Service, Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, Pharmacology, Intro to Nursing (Clinical), Nursing Seminar III: End of Life, Adult Health I (Clinical), Nursing Research, Mental Health Nursing , Mental Health Nursing Clinical, Adult Health II, Adult Health II Clinical, Nursing in the Community, Nursing in the Community Clinical, Maternity and Women’s Health/Pediatrics, Maternity and Women’s Health Pediatrics Clinical, Nursing Seminar IV: Leadership and Professional Practice, Transition to Practice, Nursing Synthesis and Capstone (Clinical)
Admission criteria:
- Must submit a completed application for admission to Emmanuel College
- Submit the required essay
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of $60
- Submit official secondary school transcript – including senior grades through the first marking period and GED scores if applicable
- Submit official SAT or ACT results if applicable
- Submit TOEFL score if native language is not English
- Provide two letters of recommendation – one from a secondary school teach in a core academic subject
- Submit an application for admission to the Nursing Department
- Must obtain a satisfactory criminal background check
- Obtain a negative drug screen
- Must have current CPR certification – CPR for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association
- Must have health insurance coverage
- Must provide documentation of current immunization – MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tdap, TB test, and influenza
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $44,488 per year for full-time students. Nursing students will incur additional costs for uniforms, textbooks, background check, admission costs, NCLEX review, CPR certification, and supplies. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.emmanuel.edu/
- Address: 400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115
- Phone: 617-735-9715
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
Regis College
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Regis College is designed for adults who want to provide compassionate, patient-centered care as registered nurses. The curriculum emphasizes sensitivity to the unique needs of diverse patients and leadership in nursing. The school’s state-of-the-art simulation lab along with clinical rotations at some of the best hospitals will prepare students to provide knowledgeable, empathetic care to all patients. Graduates will be prepared to take the state exam to become licensed as a registered nurse.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 124
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
General education/prerequisite courses – Introduction to Nutrition, General Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology I for Nursing Professionals w/Lab, Lifespan Growth and Development, Introduction to Sociology, Anatomy and Physiology II for Nursing Professionals w/Lab, Introduction to Statistics, Introduction to Chemistry for Health Professionals, Microbiology, Nursing Legal, Ethical, and Health Policy, Culture and Diversity in Health Care
Courses – Nursing Seminar I, Nursing Seminar II: History and Theory in Nursing/Service, Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, Pharmacology, Intro to Nursing (Clinical), Nursing Seminar III: End of Life, Adult Health I (Clinical), Nursing Research, Mental Health Nursing , Mental Health Nursing Clinical, Adult Health II, Adult Health II Clinical, Nursing in the Community, Nursing in the Community Clinical, Maternity and Women’s Health/Pediatrics, Maternity and Women’s Health Pediatrics Clinical, Nursing Seminar IV: Leadership and Professional Practice, Transition to Practice, Nursing Synthesis and Capstone (Clinical)
Admission criteria:
- Must complete the nursing prerequisite/co-requisite courses
- Must have a minimum 3.0 (B) cumulative GPA
- Must have a minimum 2.7 (B-) cumulative science GPA in science courses – Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, Microbiology, Chemistry
- Must have a minimum grade of 2.7 (B-) in other courses – Interdependence of Healthcare Professions in the US and Foundations of Nursing
- Attend an interview with the Associate Dean for Prelicensure Nursing or designee
- Must obtain a satisfactory criminal background check
- Obtain a negative drug screen
- Must have current CPR certification – CPR for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association
- Must have health insurance coverage
- Must provide documentation of current immunization – MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tdap, TB test, and influenza
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $46,150 per year for full-time students. Additional costs for uniforms, textbooks, background check, nursing supplies, health exam, and CPR certification are not included. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.regiscollege.edu/
- Address: 235 Wellesley Street, Weston MA 02493
- Phone: 781.768.7000
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 85%
Salem State University
A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree blends academic and experiential learning. Grounded in liberal arts the BSN program prepares students for entry into professional nursing practice and provides the foundation for further study towards an advanced degree in nursing. Students complete clinical practicums in a variety of settings including adult health, maternal child health, and in the community. Graduates will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam to become a registered nurse (RN) and enter professional nursing practice.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 120
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
General education/support courses – General Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology I, Biological Systems, Microbiology and Its Applications, General, Organic and Biological Chemistry, Statistics, Adult and Old Age, Anatomy and Physiology II, Basic College Mathematics, Written Communication Level I, Freshman Seminar, Oral Communication, Personal Growth and Responsibility, The Human Past
Courses – Introduction to Professional Nursing, Health Assessment, Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice, Care of the Adult and Older Adult, Principles of Pharmacology, Health Care of Women and Children, Nursing Research, Mental Health Nursing, Public and Population Health Nursing, Advanced Concepts, Preparation for Professional Licensure, Capstone Preceptorship, Professional Role Concepts and Competencies
Admission criteria:
- Must complete the required 17 College Prep Units – English, Mathematics, Science with Lab, Foreign Language, Social Science, Electives
- Must submit test scores for ACT or SAT – applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a SAT score above 990 (19 on ACT) will receive the highest consideration
- Must provide evidence of adherence to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Immunization Requirements for Health Science students
- Must obtain a satisfactory criminal background check
- Obtain a negative drug screen
- Must have current CPR certification – CPR for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association
- Must have health insurance coverage
- Must provide documentation of current immunization – MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tdap, TB test, and influenza
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $11,675.20 per year for full-time, in-state students and $18,480 for out-of-state students. Additional costs for uniforms, textbooks, and supplies are not included. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.salemstate.edu/
- Address: 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970
- Phone: 978-542-6000
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 78%