Nichols College at a Glance
About Us
Nichols College transforms ambitious and open-minded students into confident business leaders who make a difference in their professions, their communities and in the lives of others.
Founded in 1815, we boast a unique and relevant curriculum grounded in experiential learning, with a strong liberal arts foundation, and are among just six percent of institutions worldwide accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Nichols At-A-Glance
Nichols College is a four-year private institution offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business and the liberal arts.
Location
Dudley, Massachusetts
President
William Pieczynski
Founded
1815
Mascot
Bison
Student Outcomes
95% of Nichols 2025 graduates were employed or in a graduate program six months after graduation.
First-Year Retention Rate
74% (Fall 2024 cohort returning Fall 2025)
Four Year Graduation Rate
64% (2019FA cohort)
Fall 2025 New Students
292
Total 2025 Enrollment
1,106 Undergraduates (240 graduate students)
First-Year Students Living on Campus
85% (Fall 2025)
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
16:1
Number of Alumni
16,307
Number of Employees
331
Radio Station
WNRC 97.5 FM
Endowment June 2025
$34 million
2025-26 Cost for Undergraduate Day Student (Tuition/Fees/Housing/Meals)
On-campus: $66,035
Off-campus: $49,615
Full-Time Students Receiving Financial Aid
98% (Excluding parent loans and private loans)
Average debt at graduation
$32,709
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
Nichols College offers a relevant, business-centered education grounded in the liberal arts. Learning in this kind of practical, career-focused environment means every student will develop the critical thinking abilities, capacity to analyze data, cultural perspectives and communications skills that are required of leaders in a global economy–or the head of a beloved family business.
Nichols College Rankings
- Princeton Review named Nichols a “Best in the Northeast” college in its 2025 Best Colleges: Region by Region report.
- Nichols is ranked #118 in the competitive Regional Universities North category of the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
- Nichols is ranked 9th 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 was voted “Best Business Education” by the Worcester Business Journal in 2014 and 2016-2026.
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 underwent a comprehensive evaluation during the 2024-25 academic year, as is required by NECHE every 10 years as a part of the reaccreditation program.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nichols College
Explore more about our school:
Nichols College’s roots as an educational institution date to 1815, when the former Nichols Academy was founded in Dudley, MA. The College has transformed significantly over two centuries into the 4-year, AACSB-accredited institution it is today.
Nichols College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE, formerly NEASC). The College underwent a comprehensive evaluation during the 2024-25 academic year, as is required by NECHE every 10 years as a part of the reaccreditation program.
Nichols College offers 23 majors, 24 minors and five certificate programs in relevant, career-focused academic programs in business and the liberal arts.
