Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Maryland
Ranked by graduate earnings
Notre Dame of Maryland University, Frostburg State University and Towson University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Maryland by graduate earnings. Notre Dame of Maryland University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,354, College Scorecard. University of Maryland, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University and Towson University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Maryland: 715, 505 and 255 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 Maryland colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 4,020 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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 | Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,354 | 93 | 50% | $24,333 | $26,000 |
| 2 | Frostburg State University Frostburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,617 | 184 | 50% | — | $22,750 |
| 3 | Towson University Towson Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,344 | 255 | 69% | — | $23,378 |
| 4 | Stevenson University Owings Mills Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,709 | 195 | 68% | $26,556 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Hood College Frederick Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,873 | 46 | 57% | $23,244 | $31,000 |
| 6 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,568 | 715 | — | — | $21,500 |
| 7 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,477 | 84 | 68% | — | $24,297 |
| 8 | Bowie State University Bowie Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,278 | 43 | 38% | — | $25,125 |
| 9 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $92,323 | 191 | 33% | — | $19,084 |
| 10 | Washington Adventist University Takoma Park Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,352 | 22 | 29% | $15,048 | $47,033 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harford Community College Bel Air Public · Associate degree | $74,823 | 113 | 39% | — | $16,896 |
| 2 | Carroll Community College Westminster Public · Associate degree | $74,079 | 47 | 39% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown Public · Associate degree | $73,996 | 59 | 39% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | College of Southern Maryland La Plata Public · Associate degree | $73,576 | 99 | 33% | — | $14,500 |
| 5 | Chesapeake College Wye Mills Public · Certificate | $72,090 | 28 | 35% | — | $11,261 |
| 6 | Frederick Community College Frederick Public · Associate degree | $70,649 | 67 | 37% | — | $11,750 |
| 7 | Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland Public · Associate degree | $66,303 | 245 | 40% | — | $24,000 |
| 8 | Prince George's Community College Largo Public · Associate degree | $89,437 | 93 | 18% | — | $18,500 |
| 9 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore Public · Associate degree | $75,725 | 240 | 19% | — | $26,857 |
| 10 | Baltimore City Community College Baltimore Public · Associate degree Small program | $73,091 | 13 | 17% | — | $10,850 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Maryland
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore Public | 715 | $78,568 |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 505 | Not reported |
| 3 | Towson University Towson Public | 255 | $80,344 |
| 4 | Stevenson University Owings Mills Private not-for-profit | 195 | $79,709 |
| 5 | Frostburg State University Frostburg Public | 184 | $82,617 |
| 6 | Anne Arundel Community College Arnold Public | 165 | Not reported |
| 7 | Montgomery College Rockville Public | 133 | Not reported |
| 8 | Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 93 | $83,354 |
| 9 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public | 84 | $76,477 |
| 10 | Cecil College North East Public | 46 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 Maryland colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany College of Maryland | Cumberland | Public | 245 |
| Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore | Public | 240 |
| Howard Community College | Columbia | Public | 206 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus (Online) | Adelphi | Public | 191 |
| Harford Community College | Bel Air | Public | 113 |
| College of Southern Maryland | La Plata | Public | 99 |
| Prince George's Community College | Largo | Public | 93 |
| Frederick Community College | Frederick | Public | 67 |
| Coppin State University | Baltimore | Public | 60 |
| Wor-Wic Community College | Salisbury | Public | 60 |
| Hagerstown Community College | Hagerstown | Public | 59 |
| Carroll Community College | Westminster | Public | 47 |
| Hood College | Frederick | Private not-for-profit | 46 |
| Bowie State University | Bowie | Public | 43 |
| Chesapeake College | Wye Mills | Public | 28 |
| Washington Adventist University | Takoma Park | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore | Public | 13 |
| Morgan State University | Baltimore | Public | 13 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Maryland
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Maryland.
Which Maryland colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
University of Maryland, Baltimore (715 graduates a year), Johns Hopkins University (505 graduates a year) and Towson University (255 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 Maryland colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Maryland?+
By graduate earnings, Notre Dame of Maryland University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Maryland, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,354, College Scorecard. Frostburg State University and Towson University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Maryland, Baltimore is the largest, with 715 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Maryland has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Notre Dame of Maryland University tops the list at $83,354. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Maryland?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Maryland is $99,010 (median $99,790), across about 52,910 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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