Best RN Programs in Maryland: 2026 Rankings

The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers an entry-into-nursing BSN designed for students who complete their first two years of prerequisites at a partner institution before transferring into the upper-division program. The program runs at two locations: the Baltimore main campus and the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. Curriculum is structured around competency-based education aligned with the AACN Essentials framework, with simulation integrated into every clinical course and a two-part professional development series spanning the first and final semesters. DC residents admitted to the Shady Grove site pay Maryland in-state tuition rates. Accreditation is through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

At a Hakia Score of 87.6, UMSON ranks first among Maryland BSN programs in this analysis. In-state tuition runs $5,212.50 per full-time semester; out-of-state students pay $21,422.50 per semester. The school reports a top-10 U.S. News ranking for its BSN, though prospective students should verify current-year standings directly. The 61-credit upper-division sequence can be completed in as little as two years for full-time students who arrive with all prerequisites satisfied. This program fits students who want a research-intensive public flagship environment and are prepared to meet the prerequisite credit requirement of at least 59 credits before they even begin nursing coursework.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN immediately after completing the degree. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The program's emphasis on resiliency, wellness, and workforce retention is built into the curriculum structure rather than offered as an elective add-on, which sets it apart from standard BSN formats.

Towson University offers a pre-licensure BSN that requires a minimum of 120 credits for graduation, though most students complete more given the program's departmental requirements. The major is screened and competitive: students spend their first two years on Core Curriculum and prerequisite science coursework, then apply during their sophomore year for admission to the upper-division nursing major that begins in the junior year. The program explicitly accommodates students who hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree, directing them toward either the undergraduate nursing major or the Entry-Level Master of Science (ELMS) pathway. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN after completing degree requirements.

Towson's NCLEX first-time pass rates, reported by the Maryland Board of Nursing by fiscal year, have consistently outpaced the Maryland average: 91.03% in 2025 versus the state average of 89.74%, and 95.92% in 2024 versus 90.57%. With an 82% admit rate at the university level and a 69% graduation rate, the program draws a broad applicant pool but the nursing major itself is described as highly competitive with limited seats. In-state tuition is $7,530 per year; out-of-state students pay $25,622. The Hakia Score of 82.0 puts Towson second in Maryland. This program suits students who want a large public university environment with a verifiable track record of licensure outcomes.

Enrollment across Towson stands at 19,401 students, making it the largest institution in this Maryland cohort. Registered nurses nationally earn a median wage of $97,550 per year per BLS OEWS data. The combination of competitive admission screening, documented NCLEX pass rates above the Maryland average for six consecutive years, and moderate in-state tuition gives Towson a clear value case for Maryland residents.

Salisbury University School of Nursing offers a Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1st B.S.N.) structured as a two-step admissions process: applicants are first admitted to the university, then apply separately to the nursing program, typically in the spring of sophomore year through NursingCAS. New cohorts start every fall only. The program is gated and competitive; the school receives more applications than available seats each cycle. Competitive applicants generally hold a minimum 3.0 GPA and strong grades across eight required prerequisite science and health courses, including Chemistry I and II, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Nutrition, Pathophysiology, and Developmental Psychology. Applicants with three or more of those eight courses still pending at initial review are automatically waitlisted.

With an 87% university-level admit rate and a 68% graduation rate, Salisbury presents a tradeoff worth naming: the university admits broadly, but the nursing program itself is selective at the program level. In-state tuition is $7,860 per year, and out-of-state tuition is $18,950, making it the lowest out-of-state price point among the four programs in this ranking. The Hakia Score of 81.7 places Salisbury third in Maryland. Students who arrive well-prepared in the prerequisite sciences and apply by the January 15 priority deadline have the strongest path to a seat. Drug testing and background checks are required by clinical partner agencies, and felony convictions may limit clinical placement eligibility and Maryland RN licensure.

The program is listed as offering online delivery in the IPEDS data, though the traditional BSN page describes an in-person, cohort-based format. Prospective students should confirm current delivery mode directly with the School of Nursing. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN upon degree completion. National median RN pay is $97,550 per year per BLS.

Stevenson University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing runs on a direct-admission model: students accepted to the university are simultaneously accepted to the nursing program. There is no separate nursing application, no sophomore-year screening, and no waitlist process for admitted students. The program has run for more than 30 years and claims over 4,000 graduates. Clinical coursework begins in the third year through partnerships with MedStar Health, LifeBridge Health, GBMC, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the University of Maryland Medical Center. Small class sizes and small clinical groups are cited as structural features of the program. The BSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing.

The tradeoff here is price. Stevenson is a private nonprofit, and tuition is $37,734 per year regardless of residency. That is more than four times Towson's in-state rate and nearly double Salisbury's out-of-state rate. The 79% admit rate and 68% graduation rate are comparable to the public programs in this group, but the cost picture is meaningfully different. The Hakia Score of 80.9 places Stevenson fourth in this Maryland ranking. Students choosing Stevenson are trading lower cost for the certainty of direct admission and a smaller, more mentorship-oriented environment from the first semester.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN after completing all degree requirements. The program lists top employers as Johns Hopkins Hospital, GBMC, MedStar Health, LifeBridge, and the University of Maryland Medical Center. National median RN pay is $97,550 per year according to BLS OEWS. Transfer students and students pursuing a second bachelor's degree in nursing are also accommodated; the program page notes additional requirements apply for those pathways.

Hood College's BSN sits within its School of Behavioral and Health Sciences and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program is built around small-cohort instruction: the average class size is 15 and the student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. Students train in a simulation lab and complete clinical fieldwork in real-world settings. Hood's location in Frederick gives students direct proximity to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. healthcare networks for clinical placements and networking.

Tuition runs $46,700 per year (the same for in-state and out-of-state students, as a private institution), so cost is the clearest tradeoff here. The program posts a 57% graduation rate and a 78% admit rate, giving it a Hakia Score of 73.6. That profile fits a student who wants small-group instruction and easy metro access but can offset private-school sticker price with the scholarships Hood reports awarding to 100% of its students. CCNE accreditation is confirmed on the program page.

Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS. Hood positions graduates to enter that market through clinical networks in two major metro areas, with the institutional backing of a campus that the school reports ranks among U.S. News's top 20 Best Value schools.

Bowie State University offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which issued a Continuing Accreditation decision. The program has operated for close to 30 years and emphasizes a liberal arts-based curriculum that integrates social sciences, humanities, and computer science alongside health and clinical science. Students use simulation technology including SimMan and SimBaby virtual patient scenarios, and complete clinical hours at named partner sites including MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, Howard University Hospital, and Children's National Medical Center, among others.

The cost advantage is the defining number: in-state tuition is $6,113 per year versus $16,833 out of state. That gap makes Bowie State a strong target for Maryland residents willing to navigate a 38% graduation rate and a 72% admit rate. The Hakia Score is 72.3. The lower graduation rate signals a demanding progression policy and a cohort profile worth researching before enrolling, but the tuition savings over four years against any private alternative on this list are substantial. The program's stated mission of increasing the number of qualified nurses of color in the workforce gives it a distinct institutional focus not found elsewhere in this ranking.

The ACEN and CCNE are the two national accreditors recognized for BSN programs; Bowie State holds ACEN standing. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and enter a field where the national median RN salary is $97,550 per year per BLS data.

University of Maryland Global Campus offers an online RN-to-BSN completion program, not a pre-licensure track. Admission requires an active, unencumbered RN license and an associate degree or diploma in nursing from a Maryland Board of Nursing-approved program. The 120-credit degree accepts up to 90 transfer credits, and 30 upper-level credits are applied directly for holding an active RN license. All coursework is available online. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Curriculum focuses on nursing leadership, community health, patient safety, telehealth, population health, informatics, and case management, building on the clinical experience students already hold.

Pricing is per credit: $337 in-state, $499 out-of-state, and $250 for military students. At 30 required major credits, an in-state student completing only those credits pays roughly $10,110 in major-course tuition, though total program cost depends on how many credits transfer. The program reports a 33% graduation rate across its large 63,012-student enrollment. Hakia Score is 71.9. This program is designed for career-advancing RNs, not initial licensure seekers, and the state-specific admission list covers 37 states plus Washington, D.C.

The tradeoff is straightforward: maximum scheduling flexibility and the lowest per-credit cost on this list, in exchange for a fully asynchronous format with no on-campus simulation. Working nurses who already have clinical hours and need the BSN credential for leadership roles or graduate school eligibility will find the structure purpose-built for them. The national RN median is $97,550 per year per BLS OEWS; BSN completion is increasingly a baseline requirement for advancement toward that ceiling.

Notre Dame of Maryland University's School of Nursing offers a traditional BSN to students admitted as nursing majors from the start of their undergraduate career. The program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Students complete liberal arts and science prerequisites before entering the nursing major in the junior year. Clinical experiences span hospital and community settings across the Baltimore region, serving diverse populations. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.

Tuition is $41,850 per year, the same for all students as a private institution, making cost the primary consideration versus the public options on this list. The program posts a 50% graduation rate and an 82% admit rate. Hakia Score is 70.7. The progression policy is specific: students must maintain a 2.8 GPA in nursing courses, earn a C or better in every nursing course, pass a 70% exam-average threshold before other assignments count in core clinical courses, and may repeat only one nursing course across the entire program. That structure rewards students who come in prepared and stay consistent, but leaves limited margin for a difficult semester.

The mission roots in the School Sisters of Notre Dame, which shapes a curriculum framed around caring science, social responsibility, and advocacy. For students who want direct-admit nursing with a values-driven institutional culture and clinical access throughout the Baltimore metro, Notre Dame offers a defined path. The CCNE accreditation page provides full accreditation status details.

Coppin State University offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing through its College of Health Professions in Baltimore. The 120-credit program builds across general education requirements, science prerequisites, and nursing major courses. The curriculum emphasizes clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, health promotion, and care for culturally diverse populations across the lifespan. The program page shows one pathway: the traditional BSN. No accelerated or RN-to-BSN track is listed on the program page. Admission requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, ATI TEAS entrance exam scores, and three letters of recommendation, with a March 1 final decision deadline.

The numbers tell an honest story. Coppin State holds a Hakia Score of 70 and a 46% admit rate, meaning roughly half of applicants are admitted. The graduation rate of 26% is the most important figure to weigh before enrolling. In-state students pay $5,032 per year in tuition, one of the most affordable BSN price points in Maryland; out-of-state tuition rises to $11,956. This program fits students who need a genuinely low-cost path to RN licensure and who go in clear-eyed about completion rates. BLS wage data puts the national median for registered nurses at $97,550 per year, the same benchmark every Maryland graduate targets.

The university enrolls 2,210 students total, keeping class sizes manageable in an urban Baltimore setting. The program page states graduates are prepared for emerging nurse generalist roles and for graduate study, giving students a stated on-ramp to advanced practice if completion is achieved.

Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through its Department of Nursing in the School of Health Professions, Science and Wellness. The program page centers on the RN-to-BSN pathway, described as designed for working registered nurses who want to complete a BSN degree. The format is evening-based, built around integrating work and school in a clinical setting. Admission requires active RN licensure in Maryland, DC, or a compact state, a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, and current CPR certification. The program requires 120 to 128 credit hours depending on the admit year, with nursing core courses completed at WAU and up to 31 credits of transfer nursing coursework accepted. No traditional entry-level BSN or accelerated ABSN track is described on the program page.

WAU carries a Hakia Score of 67.4 and a 29% graduation rate, which prospective students should examine closely. The admit rate sits at 46%. As a private nonprofit, tuition is set at $24,804 per year regardless of residency, the same rate for in-state and out-of-state students. The program fits one specific student: a licensed RN who needs a BSN completion pathway in an evening format that accommodates full-time work. The university enrolls 612 students total, making it a genuinely small institution. BLS wage data sets the national registered nurse median at $97,550 per year, the labor market context every RN-to-BSN candidate is working toward.

The curriculum includes courses in nursing research and informatics, community health nursing, leadership and resource management, and a final nursing synthesis practicum. Required cognates include ethics and religion coursework, consistent with the university's Adventist mission. Students considering WAU should confirm current accreditation status directly with the institution before enrolling.