Maryland Nursing Programs and Degrees Guide
The following guide is designed to provide you with essential information on the many nursing programs available in the state of Maryland. Maryland’s colleges and universities afford students the opportunity to concentrate in such diverse areas as clinical nurse specialist, health systems management, public health nursing, nurse educator, and nurse practitioner. Johns Hopkins University also offers several Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs that can be completed online. Students who seek flexibility may want to consider an online bachelor’s or master’s in nursing program.
Quick Facts
- 28 schools with nursing programs in Maryland are in our database (see below).
- 16 colleges and universities offer associate’s degrees or certificates in nursing.1
- 13 colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing.1
- 11 colleges and universities offer master’s or advanced degrees in nursing.1
- 1 school ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.2
- No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors in 2018.3
- 4 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s programs.4
- 2 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.4
Top-Ranked Schools with Nursing Programs in Maryland
Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges 2018*
- Salisbury University (#98 in-state, #77 out-of-state)
*Institution-wide ranking.
US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s
- Johns Hopkins University (#4)
- University of Maryland-Baltimore (#13)
- Salisbury University (#176 tie)
- Stevenson University (#176 tie)
US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Johns Hopkins University (#2)
- University of Maryland-Baltimore (#8 tie)
Continue reading below to learn more about nursing programs offered in Maryland.
NCLEX Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Nursing Schools in Maryland
The following table allows you to easily compare not-for-profit Maryland nursing schools on a variety of factors. Click on the arrows in the top row to sort the table. In addition to seeking a program that leads to licensure in your desired area of nursing, it’s advisable to consider accreditation as a factor in your decision. If you are considering education beyond the associate’s level, know that a degree from a school that holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a common requirement for admission to master’s degree, ADN/LVN and RN to BSN, and specialized certificate programs. You should also check to ensure that the school you are considering is approved or accepted by the Maryland Board of Nursing (https://mbon.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx).
| School | ADN or LVN Program | BSN Program | Graduate Nursing Program | ACEN/CCNE Accred.* | NCLEX-PN First Time Pass Rate** | # Taking | NCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rate^ | # Taking | Net Price^^ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 87.50% | 16 | 86.59% | 82 | $9,688 |
| Anne Arundel Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 17 | 87.97% | 133 | $14,501 |
| Baltimore City Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 6 | 78.85% | 52 | $5,951 |
| Bowie State University | No | Yes | Yes | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 71.64% | 67 | $12,248 |
| Carroll Community College | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 13 | 83.52% | 91 | $5,022 |
| Cecil Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 4 | 94.12% | 51 | $7,082 |
| Chesapeake Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 83.05% | 59 | $4,784 |
| College of Southern Maryland | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 10 | 85.19% | 81 | $8,570 |
| Community College of Baltimore County-Dundalk | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 93.75% | 32 | 80.80% | 250 | $8,376 |
| Coppin State University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 76.47% | 85 | $9,043 |
| Frederick Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 81.82% | 11 | 90.12% | 81 | $5,381 |
| Frostburg State University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $13,019 |
| Hagerstown Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 11 | 90.12% | 81 | $6,191 |
| Harford Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 2 | 87.70% | 122 | $3,224 |
| Hood College | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $24,373 |
| Howard Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 11 | 89.47% | 133 | $7,239 |
| Johns Hopkins University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 89.24% | 288 | $28,334 |
| Montgomery College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 76.22% | 143 | $7,729 |
| Morgan State University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 43.33% | 30 | $15,407 |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | No | Yes | Yes | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 82.61% | 23 | $19,902 |
| Prince Georges Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 5 | 59.83% | 177 | $7,986 |
| Salisbury University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 92.86% | 84 | $17,495 |
| Stevenson University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 86% | 100 | $26,681 |
| Towson University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 82.54% | 189 | $14,696 |
| University of Maryland (BSN) | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 87.60% | 250 | N/A |
| University of Maryland (MSN) | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 84.09% | 44 | N/A |
| University of Maryland University College | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $12,429 |
| Washington Adventist University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 42.86% | 7 | $16,699 |
| Wor-Wic Community College | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 22 | 82.72% | 81 | $7,961 |
*The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits ADN/ASN/BSN programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits BSN/MSN/DNP programs.5,6
**NCLEX-PN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^NCLEX-RN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^^The National Center for Education Statistics calculates net price from the total estimated cost of attendance, including includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses, for in-state students minus the average financial aid award (such as grants and scholarships).
Schools in Maryland with Nursing Degrees
Associate’s in Nursing Programs
Prince George’s Community College
Prince George’s Community College offers an Associate of Science in Nursing program that emphasizes safe and effective care across health care settings. The program can be completed as either a direct entry option for those without prior nursing experience or as an LPN to RN bridge program. Core courses for the registered nurse include Reproductive Health, Nursing Care of Children and Families, and Management of Care and Professional Issues. Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) has an articulation agreement with Stevenson University that allows RN graduates to transfer credits earned towards a BSN. PGCC also maintains a licensed practical nursing program. The RN and LPN programs at PGCC are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Carroll Community College
Carroll Community College offers three pathways towards earning an associate’s degree in nursing for prospective registered nurses: The Associate of Science Registered Nurse Track for direct entry; the Associate of Science Registered Nurse Track for Licensed Practical Nurses; and the Associate of Arts Registered Nurse Arts and Sciences Track or ATB track, which is recommended for those intending to transfer to a bachelor’s degree nursing program. Courses common to all tracks include Health Assessment, Medication Administration, and Nursing Concepts. For those pursuing the BSN transfer pathway, Carroll Community College has articulation agreements with Frostburg University, Stevenson University, and Towson University. Carroll Community College also offers a practical nursing certificate program. All nursing programs at Carroll are approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program requires undergraduates to complete 59 credits of core college coursework before entering the nursing major. The first two years of the 120 credit program are generally spent on prerequisites while the final two years are dedicated to the nursing curriculum, including mandatory clinical rotations. Nursing coursework covers health assessment, adult health nursing, informatics and technology, and psychiatric and mental health nursing. Students also gain hands-on experience in one of the university’s 26 high-tech simulation labs. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Towson University
Towson University’s four-year, 120 credit undergraduate nursing program leads to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Students may only be admitted to the nursing major once they have completed 42 credits and the necessary science and English pre-requisites. Nursing majors will complete a menu of core and elective nursing courses focusing on pathopharmacology, health assessment across the lifespan, and cultural diversity in healthcare. Clinical rotations, which provide students with real-world experience, are an integral part of the nursing curriculum with students working at such partner sites as the Baltimore County Department of Aging, Children’s National Medical Center, Holy Cross Hospital, and Maryland General Hospital. Students may want to become involved on campus by joining the Nursing Student Association.
Master’s in Nursing Programs
Bowie State University
Graduate students at Bowie State University may choose between a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in family nurse practitioner or nurse educator. Both programs prepare students for advanced nursing roles. Clinical rotations totaling 600 hours are mandatory for both concentrations. Successful applicants to the program must possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), must hold a current registered nurse’s license in Maryland, and must provide proof of CPR certification. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center National Certification Examination and, those graduates with two years of work experience will be qualified to take National League for Nursing exam.
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University awards the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in a dozen concentrations, including clinical nurse specialist, health systems management, public health nursing, and nurse practitioner (family, adult-geriatric, adult-gerontology, family primary care, and pediatric primary care). Dual degrees – the MSN and Master of Public Health and the MSN and Master of Business Administration – are also available. The MSN program allows students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another discipline and who want to enter the nursing field to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in an accelerated, full-time format, beginning either in the fall or spring. Graduates of the MSN: Entry into Nursing Practice program will have earned the necessary credentials to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), gaining the necessary license to become a registered nurse. The MSN programs generally require a minimum of two years for completion on a full-time basis. Part-time study is permitted. The clinical nurse specialist and health systems management concentrations are both offered online. Clinical rotations are mandatory regardless of the MSN program. The doctoral programs – DNP and PhD – prepare clinical and research leaders respectively to advance the practice of nursing and improve health locally and globally. For a complete list of program options at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, including master’s degree, DNP, PhD, and post-degree certificate options, visit their programs page.
Student Reviews
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Cecil Community College
1 Seahawk Dr
North East, MD 21901
(410) 287-1000
https://www.cecil.edu/
Student Review: “The program at Cecil College is an excellent program that prepares nursing students to work in whatever field that they like. The faculty are knowledgeable and have a wide range of nursing experiences that they share with the class. The clinical facilities that are utilized are friendly, helpful, and challenging. Clinical experiences are reinforced with the nursing theory courses. The faculty also bring in guest speakers to speak about cancer, dialysis, healthcare policy, and healthcare management. They also hold several small conferences and professional workshops to give you as much real-world knowledge as possible and to enable you to network. The only con is that during the final semester the faculty sit down at the end and choose which of the students who fell below the 76% pass rate get to pass. It’s an entirely subjective process with no rhyme or reason. I would recommend the program because it did prepare me to work as a nurse as soon as I exited school. The program is widely respected in the area which helps with landing employment after school.” – Student at Cecil Community College
Chesapeake College
1000 College Cir
Wye Mills, MD 21679
(410) 822-5400
https://www.chesapeake.edu/
Student Review: “The nursing program I attended was intense. Even as an extension of a community college it was highly rated and the nurses it produced are some of the best. I was working while attending college and was told over and over by my teachers that would not work for them. They said they needed my full attention on the program and with academic classes, labs, and clinicals it was easy to see why. It was completely unfair to me that they made the program in such a way that working was almost impossible. You had to be at the school or the clinical site from 5am in the morning until after 5 pm in the evenings between all the different lectures and labs and such. It was very disheartening and exhausting. Yes, I do feel like I learned a lot and was proud of that but at the same time, I feel they could have made more of an effort not to look down so much on the students paying their own ways. The program had amazing dummies to practice on that were so realistic it was awesome. The clinicals were ok. I feel like the nurses could have paid much more attention to us and treated us better with more learning opportunities.” – Student at Chesapeake College
Towson University
8000 York Rd
Towson, MD 21252
(410) 704-2000
https://www.towson.edu/
Student Review: “The nursing program has had its ups and downs. I will say that the actual courses are very helpful and can prepare students for their careers. The problem that I’ve run into, is the sheer amount of students competing to be considered for the program. Many times it’s not completely about scores and GPA’s. Sometimes people were just lucky or unlucky. I had to wait a whole year to be considered. Once in the program, I was content. Many of the professors were helpful and knowledgeable. Some of the professors were also nurses, so they couldn’t put much care into teaching. For the most part, the program is worth it, but there are ways to make it more efficient.” – Student at Towson University
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
(301) 405-1000
https://www.umd.edu/
Student Review: “There are many places that set a man on his path. For me, the time as a student in the University of Maryland’s Nursing Program was one of them. Being a foreign student made things a bit tougher for me but the professors understood my situation and helped me adjust. With time, things got easier for me and this place had imprinted its mark on my future since my current employer in Europe looked highly towards by education accomplishments. In other words, I am who I am thanks to this program and I would definitely recommend it to someone else that is considering it. I have nothing to disapprove with the teaching techniques or curriculum of this program.” – Student at University of Maryland
Student Review: “Getting accommodated in a new country was hard for me. As a foreign student, with English as my second language, I had more difficulties than most my fellow students. Coming to the United States with not too much money, I had to find a place to live as well, so I was fortunate to be given a room in the Student Housing Corp of the University of Maryland in Baltimore. After a few months, my English speaking skills had improved and I felt at home. The teachers were extremely patient and the practice programs (especially the ones in Annapolis) were realistic and educative. There were several expenses that I think the University should have supported (like transportation to clinical sites) but I found ways to support my studies. After graduating, I have moved to the United Kingdom and got a satisfying job in the same field, a job that made me the person I am today, so I am very thankful for the opportunity I was given and totally recommend this University.” – Student at University of Maryland
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. New York, Penguin Random House, 2018.
4. US News Top Graduate Nursing Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
5. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm
6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp
7. Maryland Board of Nursing: https://mbon.maryland.gov/Pages/education-nclex-stats.aspx