5 Easiest Nursing Schools To Get Into in Maryland 2025

Some of Maryland's nursing programs have tough admissions standards and only accept a small portion of applicants. However, there are plenty of community colleges and four-year universities among the easiest nursing schools to get into in your state. Continue reading to discover the best places to apply.

How Competitive Are Nursing Schools in Maryland?

It's easier to gain admission to a two-year program, such as an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), but the standards are higher for registered nurses (RNs) seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Johns Hopkins University, for example, admits only 8% of applicants for its highly ranked nursing program.

If you want to stand out at the best nursing schools, then you'll need to earn a high grade point average (GPA), especially in nursing and health science courses. While there may be less competition for easy nursing programs, most universities around Baltimore have a self-selective applicant pool of prospective students.

What Are the Admissions Requirements for Maryland Nursing Schools?

Before applying anywhere, make sure you know the minimum nursing school requirements for enrollment. This includes knowing a university's GPA cutoff (if they have one), which prerequisite courses you must take first, and submitting test scores for the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), if applicable. Not every school uses the same admissions formula, but you should shoot for a GPA of at least 3.0 to have a competitive chance at acceptance.

Nursing Schools With the Highest Acceptance Rates in Maryland

Here's a list of the easiest nursing programs to get into in Maryland. These programs prepare students for RN licensure and future employment after passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

1. Montgomery College

Montgomery College admits all applicants to its Associate of Science (AS) program, which helps recent high school graduates gain their first exposure to nursing education. The nursing school's section on program outcomes states that this degree prepares graduates to practice patient-centered care, learn how to utilize technology and informatics, and demonstrate teamwork.

Graduates qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam upon degree completion.

• Estimated tuition cost: $166 per credit hour (in-county); $498 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 100%
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

2. University of Maryland - Global Campus

The University of Maryland - Global Campus (UMGC) offers an RN-to-BSN bridge program, designed to advance expertise and critical-thinking skills. Faculty members mentor their students to ensure they know how to provide evidence-based nursing care for every patient. UGMC also has an Associate-to-Bachelor's Program, where it cooperates with transfer students from the College of Southern Maryland.

• Estimated tuition cost: $330 per credit hour (in-state); $499 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 100%
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

3. Frostburg State University

Frostburg State University offers a traditional BSN program, an RN-to-BSN bridge program, and a way for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to earn a BSN. Motivated nurses can also attend graduate school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), available 100% online with two concentrations.

The RN-to-BSN program is also fully online, and students can complete it after 15 months of full-time study.

• Estimated tuition cost: $544 per credit hour (in-state); $750 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 89%
• Accreditation: CCNE

4. Salisbury University

Salisbury University offers three ways to earn a BSN degree, along with an MSN program and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Although the acceptance rate varies depending on which degree you pursue, the master's program and doctoral program offer a reasonable chance of admission along with the BSN pathway. Salisbury University's financial aid also mentions over half a dozen nursing scholarship opportunities, making it possible to eliminate tuition altogether.

• Estimated tuition cost: $287 per credit hour (in-state); $662 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 89%
• Accreditation: CCNE

5. Notre Dame of Maryland University

Notre Dame of Maryland University allows you to finish an RN-to-BSN degree 100% online. This requires students to earn 120 credit hours, but RN license holders will have already completed most of the early requirements. Most students enter this program to complete about 11 core nursing courses.

• Estimated tuition cost: $395 per credit hour (in-state and out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 86%
• Accreditation: CCNE

How We Rank Schools

These are the three criteria we used in selecting each school of nursing for the rankings. Each RN program or BSN program must possess academic accreditation, high acceptance rates, and a strong academic reputation.

• Accreditation: These programs have received rigorous auditing from review boards, like CCNE and ACEN.
• Acceptance rates: Some schools admit more students than others, but our list considers institutions with at least a 50% acceptance rate.
• Program reputation: These schools have a great reputation for higher pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam, offer plenty of coursework variety, and provide opportunities to gain clinical experience.

What Can I Expect From a Nursing Degree Program?

Nursing programs focus on academic coursework in several nursing subjects (e.g., pediatrics, mental health, and elderly patient care), hands-on training in state-of-the-art facilities, and clinical rotations in numerous healthcare settings. The most advanced training usually comes in the final year of nursing school, but it depends on how well you progress through difficult intermediate and advanced nursing courses.

If you already have a nursing license, then consider enrolling in the easiest RN to BSN programs online for a fast way to boost your career prospects in nursing.

FAQs About the Easiest Nursing Programs To Get Into

Check out these frequently asked questions (FAQs) about nursing school enrollment. This section addresses online nursing programs, the hardest nursing classes, and the job outlook after graduation.

Is Nursing School Hard?

First-time nursing students might find some subjects overwhelming, or they may struggle with the overall workload they face at most Maryland schools. One of nursing school's greatest hurdles is the math and science requirements. Many students have more difficulty completing tougher courses, such as college algebra, statistics, chemistry, and organic chemistry.

Read More: Can I Be a Nurse If I Am Bad at Math?

What Types of Specializations Are Available in a Nursing Program in Maryland?

There are dozens of major and minor nursing specializations for future Maryland nurses to consider. This includes pediatric nursing, anesthesia, emergency care, gerontology, neonatal care, midwifery, cardiac nursing, oncology, and more. Each specialty has its own course requirements and competencies for RN or BSN-level nurses.

What Is the Lowest GPA To Get Into Nursing School?

Some of the easiest nursing schools to get into in Maryland do not have a GPA cutoff, but many competitive universities do. If you explore certain university websites, it may say that the school generally prefers applicants to submit a 2.5 or 3.0 GPA, depending on program selectivity.

What Is the Career Outlook for Nurses in Maryland?

The nursing career outlook is positive and growing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nurses can expect a 6% growth in jobs between 2023 and 2033, as well as a median annual salary of over $93,000.

What Is the Hardest Nursing School To Get Into in Maryland?

The most selective Maryland nursing school is Johns Hopkins University, which admits less than 10% of applicants. This school is not only Maryland's most elite college, but also among the highest-ranked nursing programs around the world.

What Is the Average Cost of a Nursing Degree in Maryland?

The average cost of your degree depends on where you attend, whether you pay in-state or out-of-state tuition, and how fast you complete a program. As a rule of thumb, many BSN programs come out to about $5,000 to $10,000 a year in tuition (not including other fees), assuming you do not receive financial aid.

If you'd like to lower your nursing education costs, then consider attending one of the low-cost programs from our rankings or earn your associate degree at a community college. You can also take some pre-nursing courses more affordably by enrolling in self-paced nursing prerequisites online

Easiest Nursing Schools To Get Into Near You

Learn.org can help you accelerate your healthcare career with better information on nursing degrees at every academic level. We welcome you to use our resources to find associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, nurse practitioner certifications, or any other higher education programs in nursing.