Massachusetts has one of the most extensive and distinguished healthcare education systems in the world. From globally renowned medical schools to affordable community college allied health programs, the state offers pathways into virtually every healthcare profession.
Medical Schools (MD)
Harvard Medical School (Boston). Degree: MD. Accreditation: LCME. Class size: approximately 165. Tuition: approximately $67,000/year. Clinical rotations at Mass General, Brigham and Women’s, Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston Children’s, Dana-Farber, and other Harvard-affiliated hospitals. Apply through AMCAS®. Website: hms.harvard.edu.
Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston). Degree: MD. Accreditation: LCME. Class size: approximately 200. Tuition: approximately $68,000/year. Clinical rotations at Tufts Medical Center and affiliated sites including Maine Medical Center. Emphasis on community health and primary care. Apply through AMCAS®. Website: medicine.tufts.edu.
Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine (Boston). Degree: MD. Accreditation: LCME. Class size: approximately 175. Tuition: approximately $65,000/year. Clinical rotations at Boston Medical Center (the largest safety-net hospital in New England) and affiliated sites. Strong commitment to serving underserved communities. Apply through AMCAS®. Website: bumc.bu.edu/busm.
UMass Chan Medical School (Worcester). Degree: MD. Accreditation: LCME. Class size: approximately 125. In-state tuition: approximately $32,000/year (one of the most affordable medical schools for state residents). Out-of-state tuition: approximately $62,000/year. Mission to train physicians for Massachusetts communities with emphasis on primary care and underserved areas. Clinical rotations at UMass Memorial Health, Baystate Medical Center, and community sites. Apply through AMCAS®. Website: umassmed.edu. See our Physician career page.
Osteopathic Medical School (DO)
Massachusetts does not currently have a COCA-accredited DO medical school within the state. Massachusetts students interested in the DO pathway apply to schools in neighboring states (UNECOM in Maine, Touro in New York, NYIT-COM in New York) or nationally. See our DO Pathway page.
Dental Schools
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (Boston): DMD. Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (Boston): DMD. One of the largest dental schools in the country. Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine: DMD. All CODA-accredited. Apply through AADSAS®. See our AADSAS® guide and Dentist career page. Massachusetts has three dental schools, more than most states, providing Boston-area students with exceptional access to dental education and clinical training.
Physician Assistant (PA) Programs
Massachusetts has numerous PA programs: Bay Path University (Longmeadow): MS PA. Boston University: MS PA. MCPHS University (Boston/Worcester): MS PA. MGH Institute of Health Professions (Boston): MS PA (affiliated with Mass General). Northeastern University (Boston): MS PA. Springfield College: MS PA. Tufts University: MMS PA. UMass Lowell: MS PA (newer program). All ARC-PA accredited. Apply through CASPA®. See our CASPA® guide and PA career page.
Nursing Programs
BSN Programs: UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, Salem State, Framingham State, Fitchburg State, Worcester State, Bridgewater State, and other state universities. Private: MGH Institute of Health Professions, Northeastern, BU, BC, Simmons, Regis, Curry College, Endicott, and many others. Accelerated BSN: Programs at MGH Institute, Northeastern, BU, Simmons, Regis, and others for second-degree students. Graduate Nursing (MSN, DNP): MGH Institute, Northeastern, BU, BC, UMass campuses, and others offer NP, CNS, CNM, and CRNA specializations. See our RN career page and NP career page.
Physical Therapy (DPT) Programs
Boston University: DPT. Northeastern University: DPT. MGH Institute of Health Professions: DPT. UMass Lowell: DPT. Springfield College: DPT. American International College (Springfield): DPT. Simmons University: DPT. All CAPTE-accredited. Apply through PTCAS. See our PTCAS guide and PT career page.
Pharmacy (PharmD) Programs
MCPHS University (Boston/Worcester): PharmD. One of the oldest pharmacy schools in the country. Northeastern University: PharmD (includes co-op). Western New England University (Springfield): PharmD. All ACPE-accredited. Apply through PharmCAS®. See our PharmCAS® guide and Pharmacist career page.
Public Health Programs
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: MPH, MS, DrPH, PhD. One of the top-ranked public health schools globally. BU School of Public Health: MPH, MS, DrPH, PhD. Tufts University: MPH and MS programs through the School of Medicine and Friedman School of Nutrition. UMass Amherst: MPH. UMass Lowell: MPH. See our Public Health career page.
Allied Health and Other Programs
Speech-Language Pathology: MGH Institute, BU, Northeastern, UMass Amherst, Worcester State, Bridgewater State, and others. Occupational Therapy: BU, Tufts, Worcester State, Bay Path, Salem State, and others. Respiratory Therapy: Northeastern, MCPHS, and community college programs. Radiologic Technology: Multiple community colleges (Massasoit, Bunker Hill, Quinsigamond, and others). Medical Laboratory Science: UMass Dartmouth, MCPHS, and hospital-based programs. Dental Hygiene: MCPHS, Mount Ida (now part of UMass Amherst), and community college programs. EMT/Paramedic: Community colleges and private training organizations across the state. See our career pages for each profession.
How to Use This Directory
This directory provides a starting point. Visit official program websites, attend information sessions, contact admissions offices, and review current tuition, curriculum, board pass rates, and employment outcomes before applying. For programs in neighboring states, see our Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island education program directories.
Veterinary and Other Graduate Programs
Veterinary Medicine: Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (Grafton, MA) is the only veterinary school in New England and one of the most highly regarded in the country. See our Veterinarian career page. Genetic Counseling: Boston University and Brandeis University offer MS programs in Genetic Counseling (ACGC-accredited). See our Genetic Counselor career page. Health Administration: BU, Brandeis (Heller School), and other institutions offer MHA and MBA/MPH programs. See our Healthcare Administrator career page.
Social Work: Boston University, Boston College, Simmons University, Salem State, Bridgewater State, UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, and Springfield College offer MSW programs preparing graduates for LICSW licensure. See our Clinical Social Worker career page. Psychology: Doctoral programs (PhD and PsyD) in clinical psychology are available at Harvard, BU, BC, Tufts, UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, Clark University, Suffolk University, William James College, and others. See our Psychologist career page.
Massachusetts’s healthcare education system is so comprehensive that students can pursue virtually any healthcare career without leaving the state. For the few professions where Massachusetts does not have a local program (osteopathic medicine, optometry, podiatry), the NEBHE Tuition Break and proximity to programs in neighboring New England states ensure that out-of-state options are accessible and affordable. The sheer concentration of programs in the Boston area also means that students can attend information sessions, open houses, and campus visits at multiple schools in a single day, making informed program comparisons easier than in states where programs are spread across vast distances.
When evaluating Massachusetts healthcare programs, look beyond reputation and consider factors that directly affect your education and career: clinical rotation quality and diversity, board exam pass rates, employment placement rates, class size and student-to-faculty ratio, research opportunities within the program, and total cost of attendance after financial aid. A program that ranks slightly lower on national lists but provides better clinical training, smaller classes, and more affordable tuition may be the better choice for your specific goals and circumstances. Use this directory as a starting point and verify all details directly with programs before applying.
References
LCME. “Accredited Programs.” LCME, 2025. https://lcme.org/. Accessed March 2026.
ARC-PA. “Accredited Programs.” ARC-PA, 2025. https://www.arc-pa.org/. Accessed March 2026.
CAPTE. “PT Programs.” APTA, 2025. https://www.capteonline.org/. Accessed March 2026.
Mass.gov. “Health Professional Licensing.” Mass.gov, 2025. https://www.mass.gov/. Accessed March 2026.