RN Programs in Maryland

Maryland RN Program Guide

There is a wide variety of challenges in the healthcare industry that come from the fact that nurses are being called to provide complex healthcare to service a large amount of patients. The patients are experiencing acute illnesses. An Associate’s Degree in Nursing is a nice head start. However, nurses who pursue their bachelor’s degree will be opened up to new career opportunities. They will also be able to provide better care to their patients. There are RN and BSN programs across the state that allow nurses to achieve an advanced education. A bachelor’s degree in nursing in the state of Maryland builds on knowledge gained in the nursing industry such as leadership and management of healthcare systems.

In our Maryland RN program guide, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key Maryland RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.

The State of Maryland offers 27 RN programs in 19 different cities. Public institutions offer 22 of the RN programs in the state while there are 0 private, for-profit and 5 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.

In the State of Maryland, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.

Nurses who graduate from an RN program are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.

Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to Maryland RN Programs.

ADN Programs in Maryland

There are a variety of education options for prospective RNs in Maryland.  Students can seek education at community colleges, colleges and universities.  Unique to Maryland is that many of the RN programs offer an ATB (associates-to-bachelor's) option, which means that students can simultaneously take courses for their ADN and BSN at the same time.

NCLEX Passing Rates for Maryland  ADN Programs

Anne Arundel Community College has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in Maryland of 94.88%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $13,363.00 a year.

• ADN Programs Offered in Maryland: 15
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 86.57%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 70.03% to 94.88%

How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in Maryland?

We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in Maryland so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.

When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

The lowest cost ADN program in Maryland is offered by Harford Community College at about $3,990.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 87.94%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by  Anne Arundel Community College and it will cost about $13,363.00.

• Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inMaryland: $7,345.53
• Net-Price Range for Maryland ADN Programs: $3,990.00 to $13,363.00

Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Maryland Schools: $6,106.15
• Student borrowing range for ADN programs in Maryland: $4,500.00 to $9,500.00

ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 15
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 0

BSN Programs in Maryland

Nursing schools in Maryland have developed new ways to aid busy nurses advance their education. A lot of BSN programs in Maryland will often consider previous nursing education. Programs are offered online as well as in the traditional campus setting. Nurses are encouraged to review all possible options. Courses in a BSN program will provide nurses with the tools to grow as a professional in management roles, diagnostic reasoning, and advanced research. The curriculum of a BSN program typically includes:

• Nursing leadership
• Research in nursing
• Diversity in health
• Policy and legislation
• Management of complex health systems and disease
• Humanities
• Medical information technology

NCLEX Passing Rates for Maryland BSN Programs

Salisbury University wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in Maryland with a score of 92.73%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $16,840.00 a year.

• BSN Programs Offered in Maryland: 10
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 77.35%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 54.20% to 92.73%

Prepare for to pass the NCLEX-RN exam with our NCLEX practice questions with rationales.

How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in Maryland?

We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in Maryland to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.

The lowest cost BSN degree program in Maryland is offered by Coppin State University and will cost you about $9,667.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 78.67%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by Stevenson University and will cost you about $25,394.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 85.78%.

• Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in Maryland: $17,394.60
• Net-Price Range for Maryland BSN Programs: $9,667.00 to $25,394.00

Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Maryland Schools: $21,761.80
• Student borrowing range for BSN programs in Maryland: $12,250.00 to $30,000.00

BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 5
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 5

MSN Programs in Maryland

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.

Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Maryland offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner 
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

Maryland RN Licensing Requirements

Maryland State Board of Nursing
4140 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: (410) 585-1900

Website: http://www.mbon.org/

Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $100
License renewal (annual), RN: $73

Continuing Education Requirements:
None

RN Licensure by Exam

Before a candidate can register and complete the NCLEX exam, he/she must obtain permission from the Board to test. Background checks are required for candidates who completed one during lower levels of education. Candidates should register for the NCLEX exam through the Pearson VUE website. There is a $200 fee to register for the exam. Exams are constantly scheduled but it is important for candidates to schedule their exam in the time frame noted in the Authorization to Test. If a candidate fails to pass the NCLEX, he/she will need to wait 45 days before attempting it again.

RN Licensure by Endorsement

Programs completed out-of-state will be accepted as long as they are equivalent. Not all programs are equivalent and may need a mentor. Additionally, RNs who are licensed in one of the other 50 states will be able to gain licensure by endorsement. There is an application fee of $100 and an additional fee of $40 in order for the candidate to obtain a temporary license. Fingerprinting is required for candidates to be granted a temporary license.

RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad

There are additional requirements for nurses who were trained in a foreign country. First of all the candidate must apply to the Maryland Board. The candidate should also apply for a CES Professional Report and complete an oral proficiency exam before registering to take the NCLEX. There are several exams that will be accepted in order to prove English proficiency such as: TOEFL, IELTS, and ILA. The proficiency exam may be waived if the program was completed for three years or longer in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or Canada (with the exception of Quebec). There is a $100 fee attached to the application.

RN Salaries in Maryland

Employers in Maryland highly value nurses who have obtained a BSN because it shows initiation. A BSN degree will help nurses to advance their knowledge and show dedication to the career. Opportunities that are available to nurses who have obtained a BSN may include:

• Occupational nursing
• Medical oncology
• Nursing administration
• Corporate nursing
• Wound and ostomy
• Psychiatric

Maryland is one of many states that is proposing legislation in favor of increasing the number of RNs that have obtained a BSN or higher. The RNs in Maryland are able to revel in the fact that they have a higher median salary than the median average. The median salary for RNs in the state of Maryland is $71,000.

Maryland Registered Nursing Salaries

While there are more registered nurses in Baltimore by a large margin, it is not the highest paying area. The Bethesda metropolitan area has both the highest hourly mean wage and annual median wage.

Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data

Best RN Programs in Maryland