Entry Level ADN, BSN, & MSN Programs in Baltimore, MD

For students just starting their careers in nursing, there are a number of entry-level nursing programs to consider. The Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) is an ideal option for students who wish to begin working as soon as possible due to the fast completion time. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs provide a more in-depth introduction to nursing than their ADN counterparts and take around four years to complete.

ADN Programs

ADN programs include coursework in anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and nursing fundamentals and generally can be completed in around two years. The Associate’s Degree in Nursing program at Baltimore City Community College is a two-year program that prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN exam and begin working as registered nurses (RNs).

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

BSN programs also prepare students to take the NCLEX exam and become RNs, but they provide additional coursework in topics such as leadership, communication, public health, mental health nursing, and nursing research that is not usually covered in an associate’s program. One example of a traditional BSN is the program offered at Coppin State University, which includes studies in nursing as well as humanities, behavioral and natural sciences.

Learn more about Maryland Accelerated BSN Programs.

Baltimore RN Program NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

 BaltimoreMaryland
NCLEX-RN Students Total1,5812,770
NCLEX-RN Students Passed1,2782,274
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate80.8%82.1%

Top Ranked Accredited Nursing Programs in Baltimore

Listed below are the top nursing schools in Baltimore based on our RegisteredNursing.org RN program rankings for Maryland out of 25 other accredited programs offered in the state:

  • Anne Arundel Community College - #3
  • Community College of Baltimore County - #6
  • Towson University - #8
SchoolContact Information

Anne Arundel Community College

101 College Pkwy
Arnold, MD 21012
(410) 777-2222

Baltimore City Community College

2901 Liberty Heights Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 462-8300

Bowie State University

14000 Jericho Park Rd
Bowie, MD 20715
(301) 860-4000

Carroll Community College

1601 Washington Rd
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 840-8443

Community College of Baltimore County

800 S Rolling Rd
Catonsville, MD 21228
(443) 840-2222

Coppin State University

2500 W North Ave
Baltimore, MD 21216
(410) 951-3000

Harford Community College

401 Thomas Run Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015
(443) 412-2000

Howard Community College

10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy
Columbia, MD 21044
(443) 518-1000

Johns Hopkins University

3101 Wyman Park Drive
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 955-4766

Morgan State University

1700 E Cold Spring Ln
Baltimore, MD 21251
(443) 885-3333

Notre Dame of Maryland University

4701 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21210
(410) 435-0100

Stevenson University

1525 Greenspring Valley Rd
Stevenson, MD 21153
(877) 468-6852

Towson University

  • BSN Campus
  • Top Ranked Maryland Program: #8 of 25
8000 York Rd
Towson, MD 21252
(410) 704-2000

University of Maryland

655 West Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 706-3100

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Baltimore, MD

Designed for registered nurses who want to earn a higher wage or increase their job opportunities, RN to BSN or RN to Master of Science (MSN) “bridge” programs provide a pathway to higher degrees for experienced nurses. Bridge programs allow nurses with a diploma or ADN to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in less time than traditional programs because they count previous coursework toward the new degree.

RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN programs are ideal for nurses who want to earn their bachelor’s degree. Often these programs come with the flexibility of online or hybrid courses, such as the RN to BSN program at the University of Maryland, which is offered on a full-time or part-time basis with online and hybrid class options for maximum convenience for working students.

Learn more about Maryland RN to BSN Programs.

RN to MSN Programs

Some schools also offer RN to MSN programs, which allow nurses to earn their master’s degree in a shorter timeframe than taking a traditional BSN program followed by a traditional MSN program. The RN to MSN program at the University of Maryland combines a BSN program with an MSN program with a specialization of the student’s choice of community/public health nursing, health services leadership and management and nursing informatics.

Learn more about Maryland RN to MSN Programs.

SchoolContact Information

Anne Arundel Community College

101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD
(410) 777-2222

Chesapeake College

1000 College Cir
Wye Mills, MD
(410) 822-5400

Community College of Baltimore County

800 S Rolling Rd
Catonsville, MD
(443) 840-2222

Hagerstown Community College

11400 Robinwood Dr
Hagerstown, MD
(240) 500-2000

Howard Community College

10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD
(443) 518-1000

Notre Dame of Maryland University

4701 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210

Prince George's Community College

301 Largo Rd
Largo, MD
(301) 546-7422

Stevenson University

100 Campus Circle
Owings Mills, MD 21117
(877) 531-7118

Towson University

8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252
(410) 704-3028

University of Maryland

655 West Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 706-6741

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Baltimore, MD

Advanced practice nursing programs are designed for nurses who want to take on a leadership role in their organizations, or become nurse practitioners, nurse educators, or nurse administrators. These positions are personally rewarding, with higher salaries and promising growth opportunities. In the Baltimore area, nurses can choose from MSN programs, post-master’s certificate programs, and even doctoral nursing programs.

MSN Programs

MSN programs train nurses to become nurse practitioners and other leadership positions, often allowing students to concentrate their studies in a particular specialty. The MSN program at Bowie State University allows students to choose from a Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Educator track for their studies.

Learn more about Maryland Nurse Practitioner Programs.

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Some schools offer post-master’s certificate programs that allow nurses who hold their master’s degree to learn a new specialty without repeating their previous coursework. As an example, the University of Maryland offers a post-master’s certificate program in nursing informatics that is comprised of 6 courses to be taken over 4 or 5 semesters of study.

Learn more about Maryland Post-Master's Certificate Programs.

DNP & Ph.D. Programs

DNP and Ph.D. programs are the highest level study available to nurses. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs focus on clinical practice, while nursing Ph.D. programs prepare students for careers in research or academia. The University of Maryland offers a variety of pathways to a DNP for nurses who have a BSN or master’s degree in nursing or a related field, as well as a Ph.D. program that can be taken on a full- or part-time basis with online classwork available.

Learn more about Maryland DNP Programs.

SchoolContact Information

Bowie State University

MSN Programs
14000 Jericho Park Road
Bowie, MD 20715
(301) 860-4000

Coppin State University

2500 West North Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21216
(410) 951-3000

Johns Hopkins University

525 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21205
(410) 955-4766

University of Maryland

655 W. Lombard St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 706-6109