Maryland BSN Programs: The 5 Best Ranked For 2023

While there are only ten Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing programs in Maryland, choosing the right one can be challenging. To help you find a program suited to your needs and interests, we’ve put together this guide ranking the best BSN programs in Maryland.

Unlike other sites that use questionable methodologies in their rankings, we’ve based this guide on hard data. 

To do this, we used the NCLEX pass rates from the official Maryland Board of Nursing to determine how well each school prepares its graduates to pass the exam and become licensed Registered Nurses.

However, note that you’re not limited to the schools you’ll find in these rankings. In fact, online BSN programs allow you to get your degree for less time and money than traditional, on-campus programs. Additionally, online programs allow you to earn your degree on a more flexible schedule, which can be a really important consideration if you hope to work while getting your degree.

For now though, let’s take a look at the best BSN programs in Maryland.

What Is The Best BSN Program In Maryland?

Salisbury University offers the best BSN program in Maryland.

This school had the highest NCLEX pass rate of any of the BSN programs in the state. Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the pass rate was 89.02%

However, just because this school had the highest NCLEX pass rate doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you. There are other factors to consider, like the type of degree pathways they offer, cost, and salary expectations.

Keep reading to learn more about Salisbury University and the other top-ranked BSN programs in Maryland.

5 Best BSN Programs In Maryland Ranked

The table below ranks the best BSN programs in Maryland based on their NCLEX pass rate from July of 2021 to June of 2022. To learn more about each program, continue reading after the table.

Additionally, note that we’re only ranking BSN programs in this article. Therefore, we haven’t included Associate Degree in Nursing programs in these rankings.

School	NCLEX Pass Rate (%)
Salisbury University	89.02
Towson University	87.06
Bowie State University	81.82
Notre Dame of Maryland University	79.52
University of Maryland	78.68
Hood College	73.68
Stevenson University	69.31
Coppin State University	65.00
Washington Adventist University	60.61
Morgan State University	47.62

1. Salisbury University

As we mentioned above, Salisbury University is the top-ranked BSN program in Maryland. Not only did the school achieve the highest NCLEX pass rate of any school in the state from July 2021 to June 2022, but the five-year average NCLEX pass rate was an impressive 94.1% from 2016 to 2020.

The program offers three different pathways for obtaining your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree:

• Traditional BSN (First Bachelor’s Degree)
• Second Bachelor’s Degree
• RN to BSN

The traditional BSN degree track is designed for students who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree and want to become Registered Nurses. While the first four semesters provide students with a solid foundation of liberal arts through general education courses, the final four semesters focus mainly on nursing curriculum.

The Second Bachelor’s Degree pathway is designed for students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree but would like to transition into nursing. This track requires fewer prerequisites for nursing courses, and can even be completed in as little as three semesters of full-time study.

Finally, the RN to BSN track is designed for licensed Registered Nurses. Students enrolled in this track can earn their Bachelor’s degree in as little as two years of part-time study.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is an impressive 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $20,500 (based on 106 students)
• Median alumni salary is $64,200 (based on 116 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 45/100 salary score

2. Towson University

Towson University ranks number two on our list of best BSN programs in Maryland with an NCLEX pass rate of 87.07%. The school’s five-year average NCLEX pass rate was slightly higher at 87.20% between 2017 and 2021.

This school offers three tracks for earning your BSN degree:

• Basic/Pre-licensure Nursing
• RN to BSN
• Associate to BSN (ATB)

The Basic/Pre-licensure track is designed for students with or without a prior undergraduate nursing degree. It is offered at both the Towson, MD and Hagerstown, MD campuses.

The RN to BSN pathway is designed for licensed Registered Nurses with a state-approved nursing diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing. Applicants must have a Maryland RN license or Compact Nursing License, though recent graduates may be able to enter the program pending passage of the NCLEX.

Finally, Towson University offers an Associate to Bachelor’s track for students that have been admitted to a nursing program at a participating partner community college. This allows aspiring nurses to enroll in both the community college’s ADN program and Towson’s BSN program simultaneously over the course of two and half years of year-round enrollment.

The participating community colleges include:

• Carroll Community College
• Cecil College
• Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
• Frederick Community College
• Harford Community College

Finally, it’s worth noting that the university also offers an entry-level Master of Science in Nursing Degree (ELMS). This allows students with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree to enter directly into a graduate-level program without earning a second undergraduate degree first.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is an impressive 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $17,500 (based on 349 students)
• Median alumni salary is $67,350 (based on 370 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 56/100 salary score

3. Bowie State University

Third on our list of the top-ranked BSN programs in Maryland is Bowie State University with an NCLEX pass rate of 81.82%.

This university has currently paused enrollment into its RN to BSN and Accelerated BSN tracks, but it is still offering a traditional BSN pathway.

One of the defining features of this program is their state-of-the-art simulation lab. The simulation lab allows students to practice in a low-stakes, simulated patient-care setting to prepare for real-world clinical experiences.

The program also boasts community-based clinical placements at a number of different types of healthcare facilities. Some of these include:

• Anne Arundel Medical Center
• Children’s National Medical Center
• City of Greenbelt – Assisted Living
• HSC Home Care
• Sinai Hospital
• Veterans Administration Medical Center

Finally, the school claims that you’ll gain the skills necessary to support the needs of global communities as part of a healthcare team, whether those communities are in your own neighborhood or developing areas abroad.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 98%
• Median debt after graduation is $18,500 (based on 53 students)
• Median alumni salary is $68,640 (based on 97 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 61/100 salary score

4. Notre Dame of Maryland University

The fourth school in our rankings of the best BSN programs in Maryland is Notre Dame of Maryland University with an NCLEX pass rate of 79.52%.

This school offers three different pathways for earning your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree:

• Entry-level BSN
• RN to BSN
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN)

The entry-level BSN track is designed for non-nurses looking to become licensed RNs. Additionally, this pathway boasts a number of research opportunities and the ability to develop a Transformational Practice Project which can be presented at the school’s annual symposium.

The RN to BSN pathway is designed for ADN-educated RNs looking to earn their Bachelor’s degree. Courses have meeting times to accommodate working students and typically last five to ten weeks. This track can be completed in about two and half years of enrollment.

The Accelerated BSN pathway is designed for students with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree and can be completed in as little as 15 months. The curriculum consists of nursing theory coursework, nursing skills and simulation labs, and clinical rotations.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the clinical practicum sites include some top-tier healthcare facilities, including:

• The John Hopkins Hospital
• University of Maryland Medical Center
• Mercy Medical Center

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 99%
• Median debt after graduation is $22,250 (based on 139 students)
• Median alumni salary is $70,180 (based on 180 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 66/100 salary score

5. University of Maryland

The final school in our rankings of the top five BSN programs in Maryland is the University of Maryland with an NCLEX pass rate of 78.68%. 

This school offers three ways to earn your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree:

• Traditional BSN
• RN to BSN
• Dual-Admission BSN

The Traditional BSN pathway is designed for students who have no prior nursing degree (including those who have a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree). It’s worth noting that before you can enroll at University of Maryland, the school states you must complete your first two years of undergraduate education at another accredited university in order to meet prerequisites.

The RN to BSN track is designed for licensed RNs looking to earn their Bachelor’s degree. This pathway is fully online and students have the option to enroll either part-time or full-time. Additionally, you can choose a focus area which will appear on your transcript. The two focus areas offered are Care Coordination with Health IT and Substance Use and Addictions.

Finally, the Dual-Admission BSN allows you to work towards your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree while you earn your Associate degree. University of Maryland has partnered with every community college in the state that offers an ADN degree to make this option available.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 99%
• Median debt after graduation is $15,000 (based on 373 students)
• Median alumni salary is $67,340 (based on 423 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 56/100 salary score

What Is The Average BSN Nurse Salary In Maryland?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a Registered Nurse in Maryland is $81,590.

Unfortunately, BLS does not give separate salary statistics for ADN- and BSN-educated RNs. Therefore, the figure above includes nurses with their Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree.

However, according to ZipRecuiter, the average annual salary for a BSN nurse in Maryland is $89,508. This makes sense given that BSN nurses usually earn a higher salary than their ADN-educated counterparts.

Is A BSN Program In Maryland Right For You?

If you want to earn your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from a traditional, on-campus program in Maryland, any of the schools listed above could make a good choice.

However, it’s always a smart idea to carefully weigh all of your options. For example, online BSN programs allow you to earn your degree with more flexibility, less cost, and less time than in-person programs. The pathway that’s right for you will depend on your own needs.

To find a BSN program suited to your interests and goals, click here!