Maryland Nursing Colleges, Degrees & Licenses
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Nurses are critical professionals within the healthcare system. The early 2020s have proven to be challenging by nursing workforce shortages and professional burnout. Many states were already experiencing a strain on their healthcare systems due to several factors in the late 2010s. Once the Covid-19 pandemic began in early 2020 a difficult situation was made much worse in many parts of the country. The pandemic proved to be an enormous stressor on an already burdened healthcare system.
The state of Maryland has not been immune to these challenges. According to a December 2021 report prepared by the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center, the average nurse within the Maryland nursing workforce suffered seventy times as much Covid-19-related anxiety as did the average member of the population. In addition, data gathered for this report is often consistent with data from other states. As observed elsewhere, younger nurses have been particularly stressed by the Covid era earlier in their careers. As in other states, the rate of young nurses based in Maryland who report an intention to leave the nursing profession in the near future is quite high.
Burnout, sick leave, and transfers out of the nursing profession have multiple impacts. Those nurses who remain are often required to shoulder a burden of the workload their former colleagues once were responsible for. Though solutions like travel nursing can sometimes fill in the gaps, there are different issues that sometimes arise when nurses employed by a third party provide staffing coverage in complex care settings for which they have minimal familiarity. Demoralized nurses are also likely to be less effective teachers than new nurses just starting out in their careers. Also quite important are the implications for patient care. Substantial research has already shown how exhausted, demoralized individuals are more likely to make mistakes on the job. Medicine is not immune to this basic fact of human physiology. This can prove especially dangerous in the nursing profession where people entrust their very lives to the care of nurses.
Other public health crises impacting many parts of the United States have not spared Maryland. The opioid addiction crisis is but one example. The Maryland Opioid Dashboard noted that in 2022, there were 2,051 fentanyl-involved deaths and that these deaths accounted for nearly 80 percent of total fatal overdoses in that year. Given the causative factors for the opioid addiction crisis, there are no easy solutions to resolve this crisis. It is no surprise that many people rightly conclude the nursing profession is being pushed to the brink of crisis.
The bright side of the current state of affairs is ample need for nursing professionals in Maryland and throughout the country. Despite its small geography, Maryland boasts several high-quality nursing education programs. Given Maryland’s proximity to the nation’s capital, and the diverse population found there and nearby, nursing candidates can expect to find many diverse programs within Maryland. Read on to discover Maryland’s top undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, salary expectations, and licensing requirements for nursing careers in this state.
Featured Online Nursing Programs
Accredited Undergraduate Nursing Programs in Maryland
Towson University is the second largest producer of bedside nurses in Maryland. Towson University offers a variety of nursing programs designed to prepare students to fill various roles in numerous settings to deliver quality healthcare to individuals, families, groups and communities. The curriculum is also designed to prepare graduates for roles featuring leadership responsibilities.
Towson University offers several nursing programs. These include the basic/pre-licensure nursing major and two nursing degree completion options. The basic/pre-licensure nursing major program is a 120-credit program designed for students who do not have a previous nursing degree and those with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. The completion programs include the RN-to-BS option and the associate to bachelor’s (ATB) option. Students of either degree completion program receive transfer credits following the Maryland Nursing Articulation Model. Vocational-technical and non-college general education courses are not typically eligible for transfer.
- Location: Towson, MD
- Duration: Varies depending on the program and course of study
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Morgan State University has many distinctions. Known as a Carnegie “High Research” University, the school is also known as Maryland’s preeminent public urban research university. It is also the largest historically black university or college within Maryland. Its programming is created and operated per its mission, namely to address the needs and challenges of the modern urban environment through community-level study and innovative solutions.
The Department of Nursing bachelor of science degree program features a curriculum guided by the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice articulated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Students must first apply to Morgan State University and complete at least 59 credits of the necessary general education and pre-professional courses before they will be eligible to gain entry into the nursing degree program. The nursing program is guided by core values such as integrity, academic excellence, diversity, community engagement, collaboration, and experiential learning.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
University of Maryland School of Nursing
The University of Maryland School of Nursing, ranked in the top ten nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, offers two bachelor’s degree-level nursing programs: the entry-into-nursing BSN and the online RN-to-BSN degree programs.
Both programs use a student-centered approach known as competency-based education to design of their bachelor’s-level nursing curriculum. More information about this approach can be found via online research.
Students applying to the entry-into-nursing BSN program must complete two years of undergraduate education at another accredited college or university. During this time they must complete 59 credits of necessary prerequisites. The curriculum includes core coursework, elective courses, reflective practice, community and clinical experiences, a two-part professional development series and more.
The fully online RN-to-BSN program can be completed part- or full-time. Students can complete a three-course interest area in either Care Coordination with Health IT (the first of its kind in the USA) or Substance Use and Addictions. After graduation, the interest area will appear on the student’s transcript. This program offers fall and spring admission options.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Duration: Varies depending on choice of program and pace of study
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Hood College offers an education defined by its integration of the liberal arts and various professions under the umbrella of health. In addition to public health and nutrition programs, Hood College also offers a four-year bachelor of science in nursing pre-licensure program. This 124-credit program provides students with advanced skills in leadership, research, evidence-based practices, critical thinking, and nursing theory to prepare them to work in an increasingly complex and technologically advanced healthcare system.
Nursing students may benefit from many resources such as the RN Scholarship Program and various clinical placement options. Through a partnership with Frederick Health, student participants of the RN Scholarship Program can receive up to $22,000 in financial aid in exchange for an agreement to work at Frederick Health for a predetermined period after graduation. Clinical experience is another vital aspect of nursing training. Students may complete their required clinical training at partner organizations such as Brook Lane Health Services, Children’s National Hospital, Frederick Health Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health.
- Location: Frederick, MD
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Accredited Graduate Nursing Programs in Maryland
Johns Hopkins University has a well-deserved national and international reputation as a place where aspiring healthcare professionals train to pursue rigorous educational and career goals. In 2023, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing MSN degree as the second best in the entire nation. In addition, QS World University ranked the nursing school the third best in the world.
Johns Hopkins offers three distinct MSN program tracks for different professional development needs. The MSN entry into nursing program is ideal for college graduates holding a graduate degree in a non-nursing field who wish to become registered nurses. Those already holding a BSN degree can pursue a stand-alone MSN degree in healthcare organizational leadership or combine that degree with a master’s of business administration in the school’s dual MSN-MBA program. The latter two track options are appropriate for those seeking roles in which leadership and business training are critical elements for success.
As Johns Hopkins is a world-renowned educational institution, it is impossible to summarize the abundant resources and opportunities nursing students will encounter in these programs. Anyone interested in a challenging or advanced nursing career amidst some of the most talented medical professionals in the world is strongly recommended to apply to Johns Hopkins University.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Duration: Two to three years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
University of Maryland School of Nursing
The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers several pathways to obtaining a master of science in nursing degree. This entry briefly summarizes only a few of those options.
The MSN in community and public health nursing is a 38-credit-hour program that uses a hybrid learning delivery model. It is designed for nursing professionals seeking to work in community and public health. Such nurses work to solve real-world health problems by fusing their clinical knowledge with community engagement efforts. Such nurses have a strong knowledge base in population health, social justice, and evidence-based programs. While such nurses can certainly work with individual patients, their emphasis is on population-level healthcare.
The online MSN in health services leadership and management is another 38-credit-hour program designed for those seeking to contribute to the profession as leaders or educators. The curriculum features leading-edge courses, mentorship, and practicum placements aligned with students’ career goals.
The RN-to-MSN degree program is an accelerated program designed to award RNs both a BSN and MSN. Students of this program can specialize in community and public health nursing, health services leadership and management, and nursing informatics. This program typically requires completion of approximately 70 credits.
Additional MSN degree options as well as potential dual degree combinations featuring varied learning delivery models are available. Prospective students are encouraged to check out the school’s website for more details.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Duration: Most programs require two to three years to complete
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Salisbury University Department of Nursing offers a master of science in nursing degree with two distinct track options. The RN-to-MSN track is designed for diploma or associate’s degree-prepared RNs who may lack a bachelor’s degree or have such a degree but in a non-nursing discipline. Students pursuing this track complete both general education and nursing prerequisite courses before beginning graduate-level courses. The other program is the traditional BSN to MSN program.
All students, regardless of which track they choose, can choose between the specializations of clinical nurse educator and healthcare leadership.
The clinical nurse educator specialization is a 39-credit degree designed to train nurse educators to teach in settings such as academia and healthcare organizations. Specialized courses in educational theory, curriculum development/program evaluation, and instructional technology/teaching strategies are included. Two practicum experiences, one focused on advanced nursing practice (200 hours) and one focused on nursing education (200 hours), provide opportunities for students to apply theoretical concepts.
The healthcare leadership specialization is a 36-credit program for students seeking to work in leadership and management within healthcare organizations. This curriculum emphasizes training in healthcare systems, informatics, management, and leadership. Two practicum experiences, one focused on healthcare leadership (126 hours) and one focused on healthcare management (126 hours) provide opportunities for students to apply theoretical concepts. Both programs also have a final scholarly project requirement to graduate.
- Location: Salisbury, MD
- Duration: Two to four years depending on pace of study
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Towson University offers a 73-credit entry-level master of science degree in nursing (EL-MSN) program. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, population-based health, and quality and safety. Full-time students can generally complete the five-term sequence (includes one summer term) in just under two years. Admission requirements are consistent with what can typically be expected of a master’s level nursing degree program.
Students complete several clinical experiences as part of their training. These experiences are essential for students to develop hands-on experience and the related confidence necessary to perform well after graduation. The Department of Nursing partners with several healthcare facilities and community health organizations in the greater Baltimore area and throughout Maryland. Given the composition of Maryland’s population and the especially diverse population found in the greater Washington, DC area, students can expect their clinical rotations to enhance the practice specializations they pursue. Graduate nursing students complete at least six different clinical rotations and a six-credit clinical practicum. Learning is further supplemented through the nursing department’s state-of-the-art simulation lab.
- Location: Towson, MD
- Duration: Approximately two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Coppin State University offers a graduate nursing program that typically appeals to prospective students seeking to specialize in providing healthcare to urban communities. Coppin’s program is designed to be responsive to the healthcare personnel trends and needs of Baltimore’s urban communities. The curriculum is designed to prioritize academic and professional education and features a mixture of theory, analysis, and critique of research and practice literature, and the implementation of best practices.
Successful graduates have the advanced skills necessary to provide quality direct patient care to populations with specialized care needs. Through training in theory, research, and the skills necessary to meet critical staffing and leadership needs, graduates can expect to successfully assume roles defined by more significant levels of responsibility and accountability than they previously held. They may apply their skills in several aspects of healthcare, including health promotion, assessment, diagnosis, and management of health concerns. Given Coppin State University’s program and the diverse composition of Maryland’s population, graduates can expect to be skilled in caring for culturally diverse clients.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Nursing School Accreditation
Nursing school accreditation is a voluntary but important step programs take to demonstrate that nurses who complete their program have received a quality education. When looking for a nursing program, it is important to ensure that it is accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). These organizations ensure that nursing programs meet certain standards and provide students with a quality education.
In Maryland, to be eligible to obtain an RN license, students must attend a Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) approved program. ACEN or CCNE will typically accredit accredited nursing programs within Maryland. Additional steps to become a licensed RN include passing a criminal background check, completing the Maryland Board of Nursing application for licensure, and passing the NCLEX exam.
After obtaining their licenses, nursing professionals maintain their skills through continued education. Continuing education is an important way for nurses to maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their duties and renew their licenses in the future.
How Much Do Nurses Make in Maryland?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2022—the latest data available as of March 2024.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries
| United States | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 641,240 | 7,650 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $51,850 | 60,180 |
| 10th percentile | $37,150 | $48,720 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $48,070 | $60,890 |
| 90th percentile | $63,790 | $72,340 |
Registered Nurse Salaries
| United States | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 3,047,530 | 49,790 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $82,750 | $87,990 |
| 10th percentile | $59,450 | $64,680 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,600 | $83,850 |
| 90th percentile | $120,250 | $106,910 |
Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
| United States | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 43,950 | 540 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $202,470 | $182,710 |
| 10th percentile | $131,840 | $55,310 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $195,610 | $202,310 |
| 90th percentile | >$208,000 per year | >$239,200 |
Nurse Midwife Salaries
| United States | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 7,750 | 180 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $114,210 | $120,170 |
| 10th percentile | $61,500 | $104,000 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $112,830 | $123,060 |
| 90th percentile | $166,170 | $137,980 |
Nurse Practitioner Salaries
| United States | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 234,690 | 4,170 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $118,040 | $119,650 |
| 10th percentile | $79,470 | $81,710 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $120,680 | $117,540 |
| 90th percentile | $163,350 | $159,740 |
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licenses in Maryland
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
LPN license candidates in Maine candidates must:
| Every two years LPNs in the state of Maryland must complete the following steps to renew their license:
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Registered Nurse (RN) Licenses in Maryland
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Board of Nursing |
To apply for an RN license in Maine candidates must:
|
Every two years RNs in the state of Maryland must complete the following steps to renew their license:
|
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Licenses in Maryland
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In order to be licensed as an NP in the state of Maryland, applicants must:
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In Maryland, a certification as an NP expires at the same time as the licensee’s RN license. To renew, applicants must submit documentation of every current national certification as a nurse practitioner from a national certifying body recognized by the Board, a completed renewal application, and pay any renewal application or licensure fees. |
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Licenses in Maryland
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In order to be licensed as a CNM in the state of Maryland, applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Certification as a CNM in Maryland expires at the same time as the nurse midwife’s registered nursing license unless the certification is renewed. Applicants must submit to the Board documentation of current national certification as a nurse midwife from AMCB or another national certifying body recognized by the Board, a completed renewal application, and pay all application and license fees. |
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Licenses in Maryland
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In order to be licensed as a CRNA in the state of Maryland, applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Certification as a nurse anesthetist in Maryland expires at the same time as the nurse anesthetists’ registered nursing license. Applicants must submit to the Board a completed renewal application, documentation of a current national certification as a nurse anesthetist from the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists or some other national certifying body recognized by the Board, and pay any fees associated with the licensure and application. |
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Licenses in Maryland
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In the state of Maryland, CNS eligibility requires:
|
Certification as a clinical nurse specialist expires at the same time as the registered nursing license. Applicants must submit to the Board a completed renewal application for clinical nurse specialists, documentation of current national certification as a clinical nurse specialist from a national certifying body recognized by the Board, and pay the $146 application and $10 population focus fees. |
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].