2023 Best Nursing Schools in Maryland
It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools in Maryland to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 25 schools in Maryland to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Top Nursing Schools in Maryland
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Johns Hopkins University the best school in Maryland for nursing students working on their degree. Johns Hopkins is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 11,331 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $48,497 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $670. During the early years of their career, Johns Hopkins graduates make an average of $68,344 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Frostburg State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Maryland list. Frostburg State University is a small public school located in Frostburg, Maryland that handed out 1,215 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $25,000 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $227.After graduating from Frostburg State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,800 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Towson University is a great place for nursing students. This fairly large public school is located in Towson, Maryland, and it awarded 5,915 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,825 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $303, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Towson graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,980 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Stevenson University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Maryland list. Stevenson is a private not-for-profit institution located in Owings Mills, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 940 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Stevenson accumulate an average of $29,368 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $658, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Stevenson graduates make an average of $46,605 annually.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Salisbury University is a great place for nursing students. Salisbury is a medium-sized public school situated in Salisbury, Maryland. It awarded 2,084 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,588 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $415 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Salisbury, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,391 during the early years of their career.
University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Adelphi, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 15,061 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UMGC accumulate an average of $28,707 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, UMGC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $59,246 during the early year of their career.
Harford Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Maryland ranking. Harford Community College is located in Bel Air, Maryland and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 917 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,146 in student loans.After graduating from Harford Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,466 during the early years of their career.
Montgomery College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Maryland list. Montgomery College is a fairly large public school situated in Rockville, Maryland. It awarded 2,980 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Montgomery College accumulate an average of $12,263 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Montgomery College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,576 during the early years of their career.
Howard Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. HCC is located in Columbia, Maryland and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,344 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $16,849 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, HCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,948 during the early year of their career.
College of Southern Maryland did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in La Plata, Maryland, the small public school awarded 1,573 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CSM accumulate an average of $11,416 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, CSM graduates make an average of $38,975 annually.
Baltimore City Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Maryland list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 473 students in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Baltimore City Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,306 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #12, Bowie State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Bowie State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Bowie, Maryland. It awarded 1,071 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,917 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $237, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Bowie State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,510 during the early years of their career.
Prince George’s Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Largo, Maryland, the fairly large public school awarded 1,600 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,531 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, PGCC graduates make an average of $49,968 annually.
Anne Arundel Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. This fairly large public school is located in Arnold, Maryland, and it awarded 2,462 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,905 in student loans. During the early years of their career, AACC graduates make an average of $47,736 annually.
Hagerstown Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Maryland ranking. HCC is located in Hagerstown, Maryland and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 757 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,281 in student loans.After graduating from HCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,699 during the early years of their career.
Cecil College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Maryland list. This small public school is located in North East, Maryland, and it awarded 380 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Cecil College graduates make an average of $46,978 annually.
Frederick Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Frederick Community College is a public institution located in Frederick, Maryland. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 931 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Frederick Community College accumulate an average of $9,315 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Frederick Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,826 during the early year of their career.
Community College of Baltimore County came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Maryland ranking. Community College of Baltimore County is a fairly large public school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 2,520 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $16,213 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, CCBC graduates make an average of $43,878 annually.
With a ranking of #19, Notre Dame of Maryland University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 667 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $52,873 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, NDMU graduates make an average of $60,985 annually.
Chesapeake College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Maryland ranking. Wye Mills, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 231 students in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Chesapeake College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,704 during the early year of their career.
Allegany College of Maryland landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Allegany College of Maryland is a small public school located in Cumberland, Maryland that handed out 566 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Allegany College of Maryland accumulate an average of $16,896 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Allegany College of Maryland, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,157 during the early years of their career.
Wor-Wic Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Salisbury, Maryland, the small public school awarded 486 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Wor-Wic Community College accumulate an average of $9,761 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Wor-Wic Community College graduates make an average of $44,374 annually.
Carroll Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. Carroll Community College is a small public school situated in Westminster, Maryland. It awarded 533 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,863 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Carroll Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,463 during the early years of their career.
Coppin State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Maryland list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 377 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,736 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Coppin graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,607 during the early year of their career.
Morgan State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,295 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $35,423 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $308.After graduating from Morgan State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,587 during the early years of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.