Nichols College at a Glance
Nichols College is a four-year private, not-for-profit, coeducational institution offering associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees as well as certificate programs.
Location
Dudley, Massachusetts
President
William Pieczynski
Founded
1815
Mascot
Bison
Student Outcomes
95% of Nichols 2022 graduates were employed or in a graduate program six months after graduation.
First Year Retention Rate
72% (Fall 2023)
Four Year Graduation Rate
60.5% (2018FA Cohort)
Fall 2023 New Students
370
Total 2023 Enrollment
1,265
First-Year Students Living on Campus
85% (Fall 2023)
Student to Faculty Ratio
16 to 1
Number of Alumni
16,092
Employees
370
Radio Station
WNRC 97.5 FM
Endowment 2023
$42 million
2023-24 Cost for Undergraduate Day Student (Tuition/Housing/Meals)
On-campus: $59,325
Off-campus: $51,975
Full-Time Students Receiving
Financial Aid
98% (Excluding parent loans and private loans)
Average debt at graduation:
$37,000
College Rankings
Princeton Review named Nichols a “Best In The Northeast” College in its 2024 Best Colleges: Region by Region report.
Nichols is ranked #118 in the competitive Regional Universities North category of the 2023-24 US News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
Nichols is ranked #129 nationally in the 2023 US News & World Report Best Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings.
Nichols is ranked 8th nationally among undergraduate business schools for salary potential by Payscale.com.
Nichols is ranked 10th nationally as a Best Value Business College by Payscale.com.
Nichols is ranked 2nd most affordable online college in Massachusetts by OnlineColleges.net.
Nichols was awarded “Best Business Education” by the Worcester Business Journal in 2014 and 2016-2024.
The Nichols Sports Management program is ranked 20th nationally by Intelligent.com.
Forbes included Nichols in its list of Best Master’s in Cybersecurity Online Degrees of 2024.
Mission
Within a supportive community, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education
Vision
Nichols College is a college of choice for business and leadership education as a result of its distinctive career-focused and leadership-based approaches to learning, both in and out of the classroom, and through impactful research and professional education.
Academics
Undergraduate Programs
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in: Accounting, Business Analytics, Corporate Finance & Investments, Digital & Social Media Marketing, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business, Hospitality Events & Tourism, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, Real Estate Management, Sport Management, Sport Marketing & Content Creation, and Sport Sales & Strategy.
- Bachelor of Arts with majors in: Communication, Criminal Justice, Criminal Psychology, Economics, and Psychology
Undergraduate +1, +3 Programs
- 4+1 MBA Program
- 4+1 MSC Program
- 4+1 MSOL Program
- 4+1 MSA Program
- 3+1 MSA Program
- 3+3 Law Program in partnership with Umass Law
Undergraduate Online Programs
- Bachelors of Science in Business Administration (BSBA): Accounting or General Business
Graduate Programs
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Executive MBA
- Master of Science in Accounting (MSA)
- Master of Science in Counterterrorism (MSC)
- Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL)
- Dual Degree Programs
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
- Advanced Critical Thinking & Decision Making
- Cybersecurity for the Global Environment
- Data Analytics
- Leadership
- Project Management & Innovative Leadership
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.
- Public Disclosure of Student Achievement
The sport management degree program at Nichols College has received specialized accreditation through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) located in Arlington, VA, USA. The sport management program in the following degree is accredited by COSMA:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Marketing & Content Creation
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Sales & strategy
2024 NECHE Reaccreditation Process
Nichols College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE, formerly NEASC). The College is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation during the 2024-25 academic year, as is required by NECHE every 10 years as a part of the reaccreditation program. Reports and information will be posted on this page.
Public Comments
In keeping with its Policy on Public Comments, the NECHE Commission seeks public comment on accredited institutions during the comprehensive evaluation, which occurs at least once every ten years. To be considered, comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs; the Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve students, faculty, administration, or members of other groups. Comments must include the commenter’s name and contact information along with permission to forward the comment to the institution’s Chief Executive Officer who may, or may not, respond. Anonymous comments will not be accepted. Comments are considered by the Commission along with the institution’s self-materials a semester after the Comprehensive evaluation. Submit comments via email to info@neche.org.