Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Maryland
Ranked by graduate earnings
Anne Arundel Community College, Montgomery College and Allegany College of Maryland award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Maryland: 52, 33 and 23 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Maryland colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 346 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 5 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland Public · Certificate | $34,814 | 23 | 40% | — | $16,250 |
| 2 | Wor-Wic Community College Salisbury Public · Certificate | $61,298 | 63 | 27% | — | $12,725 |
| 3 | Howard Community College Columbia Public · Certificate | $58,704 | 25 | 24% | — | $23,608 |
| 4 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore Public · Certificate | $52,782 | 76 | 19% | — | $25,117 |
| 5 | Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown Public · Certificate Small program | $45,584 | 16 | 39% | — | $19,211 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Maryland
Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anne Arundel Community College Arnold Public | 52 | Not reported |
| 2 | Montgomery College Rockville Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 3 | Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland Public | 23 | $34,814 |
| 4 | Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown Public | 16 | $45,584 |
| 5 | College of Southern Maryland La Plata Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 6 | Carroll Community College Westminster Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 7 | Harford Community College Bel Air Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 8 | Cecil College North East Public | 5 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 Maryland colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore | Public | 76 |
| Wor-Wic Community College | Salisbury | Public | 63 |
| Howard Community College | Columbia | Public | 25 |
| Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore | Public | 17 |
| Prince George's Community College | Largo | Public | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Maryland
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Maryland.
Which Maryland colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Anne Arundel Community College (52 graduates a year), Montgomery College (33 graduates a year) and Allegany College of Maryland (23 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Maryland colleges offer Practical Nursing.
Which Practical Nursing program in Maryland has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Allegany College of Maryland tops the list at $34,814. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Maryland?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Maryland is $43,310 (median $43,240), across about 27,720 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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