National Nurses Week is May 6–12! In honor of the incredible nurses who’ve been working so hard to keep people healthy during the pandemic and the profession itself, we’ve compiled a list of amazing health and medicine colleges in New England—most of them offer Nursing programs if you aspire to be like our pandemic heroes.
All the colleges and universities on this list are located in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont and have fantastic health care and health sciences programs. The best part? You can connect with any of them right from this page! Just click the green “Connect me” button below any listing to have your CollegeXpress profile information sent directly to the school, then they’ll reach out to you.
Castleton University
Castleton University is a public comprehensive university in Castleton, Vermont—12 miles west of Rutland. The University offers more than 75 programs of study, including Exercise & Sports Science; Forensic Psychology; Health Promotion; Health Science, Pre-Athletic Training (MSAT), Pre-Health Professions; Nursing; Physical Education, and Psychological Science. Students benefit from a first-rate classroom education paired with hands-on opportunities to improve skills, gain valuable experience, and bolster résumés while earning a degree.
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private coeducational university with three campuses in Hamden, Connecticut—a main campus, one for upperclassmen, and a center for professional programs. With a total enrollment of 9,746 students, the University offers an average class size of 20 and a 15:1 student-faculty ratio. Students can major in Athletic Training, Athletic Training/Physical Therapy, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Science Studies, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Radiologic Sciences or join one of many dual-degree programs.
Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is a private coeducational university—and the largest Catholic university in New England—located in Fairfield, Connecticut. With a total enrollment of more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the University offers students from all 50 states and 40 countries a 14:1 student-faculty ratio. Students benefit from the Center for Healthcare Education and numerous clinical experiences across the University's health and sciences programs, which include a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, and Nursing; a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy; a Doctor of Physical Therapy; and more.
University of Connecticut
The University of Connecticut is a comprehensive public university in Storrs, Connecticut—only 30 miles from Hartford. With a total undergraduate enrollment of 19,133, the University offers a 16:1 student-faculty ratio across its 10 undergraduate schools and colleges. UConn offers majors in Allied Health, Exercise Science, Dental Medicine, Medicine, Nursing, Nutritional Science, and more, as well as an Office of Undergraduate Research for health science research opportunities that enhance the educational experience.
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a comprehensive public university in Durham, New Hampshire—50 miles north of Boston. With 14,784 students, the University offers a 17:1 student-faculty ratio across five colleges. UNH has a 100% pass rate for Medical Laboratory Science majors taking the American Society for Clinical Pathology boards and for Nursing majors taking the NCLEX exam, with students going on to become dentists, diagnostic product developers, genetic counselors, health care administrators, medical laboratory technicians, nurses, and more.
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Westworth Institute of Technology is a private coeducational institution in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 students on campus, WIT offers an average class size of 20 students and many state-of-the-art, hands-on learning resources. Students can major in less traditional health programs like Biological or Biomedical Engineering or cross-register for health programs at any of the College of the Fenway, which Wentworth maintains a partnership with to enhance students’ opportunities for experiential learning experiences, academic resources, classes and programs, and extracurriculars.
Western Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University is a comprehensive public university with two campuses in Danbury, Connecticut. With 5,631 students, WCSU offers a 12:1 student-faculty ratio as well as over 100 scholarships for students in any program. Students can major in Health Education, Health Promotion Studies, or Nursing—which is offered as RN-to-BS, master’s, and doctoral programs—and pursue their EdD in Nursing Education or Master of Health Administration through graduate studies.
Western New England University
Western New England University is a comprehensive, coeducational private university in Springfield, Massachusetts—90 miles west of Boston. With 2,500+ undergraduates, WNE offers a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, an average class size of 18 students, majors in Health Sciences and Health Studies, and three pre-professional programs in Pre-physician Assistant, Pre-optometry, and Pre-pharmacy. If they meet certain requirements, students applying to Pre-pharmacy are assured a seat in the University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program through the Early Assurance Program.
Interested in learning about more great schools for health care? Check out the featured schools on our Health & Medicine School Profiles page!