Best Nursing Schools in Maryland (2026): Rankings and Reviews

Maryland has around a dozen colleges producing BSN graduates, close to some of the most famous hospitals in the world. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top five.

Imagine studying nursing an hour from Johns Hopkins and the National Institutes of Health. Maryland offers big public universities, small private colleges and specialist schools, each with different costs and outcomes. Here is how they compare on the data.

How we ranked these schools

We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Maryland that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.

Maryland nursing schools ranked (2026)

Rank	College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
1	Towson University	Towson	Public	68%	250	$83,154	$12,186
2	Stevenson University	Owings Mills	Private nonprofit	68%	168	$79,627	$41,278
3	Salisbury University	Salisbury	Public	64%	85	$81,930	$11,306
4	Hood College	Frederick	Private nonprofit	55%	35	$81,184	$49,380
5	Notre Dame of Maryland University	Baltimore	Private nonprofit	48%	121	$82,575	$45,275
6	Frostburg State University	Frostburg	Public	47%	107	$86,077	$10,464
7	Morgan State University	Baltimore	Public	41%	26	$69,400	$8,346
8	Bowie State University	Bowie	Public	37%	23	n/a	$9,529
9	Washington Adventist University	Takoma Park	Private nonprofit	34%	32	$73,895	$26,604
10	University of Maryland Global Campus	Adelphi	Public	34%	155	$91,032	$8,280
11	Coppin State University	Baltimore	Public	24%	48	$83,966	$7,418

Also offering a BSN in Maryland (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):

College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
University of Maryland Baltimore	Baltimore	Public	n/a	418	$82,566	n/a

Top Maryland nursing schools reviewed

1. Towson University

Towson University near Baltimore has one of the largest public nursing programmes in Maryland and tops our list for graduation rate among the state’s larger programmes.

• Graduation rate: 68%, number 1 in Maryland on our list
• Programme size: about 250 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, one of the largest in the state
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $83,154 one year after graduating
• Cost: $12,186 in-state tuition ($31,332 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 82%

2. Stevenson University

Stevenson University in Owings Mills is a private university with a sizeable nursing programme and links to Baltimore-area hospitals.

• Graduation rate: 68%, number 2 in Maryland on our list
• Programme size: about 168 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $79,627 one year after graduating
• Cost: $41,278 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 79%

3. Salisbury University

Salisbury University on the Eastern Shore offers a well-regarded public BSN at lower in-state tuition.

• Graduation rate: 64%, number 3 in Maryland on our list
• Programme size: about 85 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $81,930 one year after graduating
• Cost: $11,306 in-state tuition ($22,810 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 87%

4. Hood College

Hood College in Frederick is a small private college offering a BSN in western Maryland.

• Graduation rate: 55%, number 4 in Maryland on our list
• Programme size: about 35 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $81,184 one year after graduating
• Cost: $49,380 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 78%

5. Notre Dame of Maryland University

Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore is a Catholic university with a long tradition in nursing education.

• Graduation rate: 48%, number 5 in Maryland on our list
• Programme size: about 121 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $82,575 one year after graduating
• Cost: $45,275 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 82%

The University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing are among the best-known nursing schools in the US, though Johns Hopkins now focuses on graduate-entry programmes rather than a traditional BSN.

Ways to become a registered nurse in Maryland

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
• Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.

Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Maryland Board of Nursing. Maryland is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.

Frequently asked questions

How many colleges in Maryland offer a BSN?

Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 12 colleges in Maryland produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 1,468 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.

Which Maryland nursing school has the highest graduation rate?

Towson University has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 68%.

Which is the largest nursing programme in Maryland?

University of Maryland Baltimore produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 418 a year.

How much do new BSN graduates earn in Maryland?

Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $69,400 to $91,032, with a typical (median) figure of about $82,566. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.

How much does a public nursing degree cost in Maryland?

In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $7,418 to $12,186 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.

But is a ranking enough to choose a school?

No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:

• NCLEX pass rates: the Maryland Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
• Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
• Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
• Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
• Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.

Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school

Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Maryland Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.