Maryland RN-BSN Programs: Affordable & Fast Options for 2025

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Choose a Maryland Online RN to BSN program that suits your calendar & budget! Use our state listings to explore public & private options. Discover rankings of the best, cheapest, and fastest Online RN to BSN programs in Maryland. Learn about Maryland RN to BSN scholarships, state nursing funds, and tuition breaks. And find answers to FAQs, including details on Online RN to BSN to MSN opportunities.

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Maryland

1. Towson University

Program: Online RN to BS
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); Part-Time Available
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Compact States
NCLEX Pass Rates: 87.06%

Looking for career connections? Check out TU’s Online RN to BS. The Department of Nursing is the second largest producer of bedside nurses in Maryland. It garners excellent student reviews on independent websites. And it has plenty of clinical partners in the Baltimore County area (e.g. long-term care, community & teaching facilities). Almost all of TU’s program is delivered online—the NURS 489 Degree Completion Practicum is a clinical course that requires face-to-face participation.

2. University of Maryland-Baltimore

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 31
Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 3+ Semesters (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Compact States
NCLEX Pass Rates: 78.68%

UMB’s 100% Online RN to BSN is a top-notch choice for Maryland RNs. The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) achieves great independent reviews and excellent U.S. News & World Report rankings in tons of nursing categories. It has strong ties to 300+ clinical learning sites, research centers, and UMMC. Employees of partnership hospitals receive on-site benefits, mentoring, and help with practicum placement during the RN to BSN. And this speedy program can be customized with 3 electives in a BSN focus area. Tuition rates reflect the quality of the school, but UMSON scholarships are available.

3. Notre Dame of Maryland University

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 15-18 Months
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Compact States
NCLEX Pass Rates: 79.52%

Jumping into the #3 slot for Maryland is NDMU’s Online RN to BSN. It’s a thoughtful degree from a well-reviewed School of Nursing. Alumni tend to praise the School’s supportive & encouraging professors, more intimate class sizes, and challenging coursework. In addition to the usual array of RN to BSN courses, you’ll be allowed to choose an elective in palliative care or spirituality and finish your degree with a customized capstone experience. Already employed? The School runs multiple RN to BSN cohort programs with local area hospitals. And it offers MSN pathways in Nursing Administration and Nursing Education.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Maryland

In order to qualify for our Cheapest rankings, Maryland Online RN to BSN programs had to cost less than $10,000 in total tuition. We found one school that made the grade. You might want to compare it with prices in our rankings of the Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. University of Maryland-Global Campus

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
NCLEX Pass Rates: 78.68%

Tuition for UMGC’s 100% Online RN to BSN is different for in-state and out-of-state students. Maryland residents get a pretty good deal; non-residents will pay a lot more. UMGC also offers a special military tuition rate for military & immediate family members, a Completion Scholarship for Maryland community college graduates, and an out-of-state tuition discount for federal employees.

Honorable Affordable Mention

If you’re able to tackle UMB’s 100% Online RN to BSN on a full-time schedule, the flat rate is extremely affordable. You’ll need to budget for a large number of additional fees, but the price will still be fairly low. Part-time rates are much higher.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Maryland

Only Online RN to BSN programs that were less than 1 year/3 semesters could appear in our Fastest MD rankings. But we’re pleased to report that one of the quickest degrees is also one of the best in the state! Interested in self-paced options? Check out our rankings of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. University of Maryland-Baltimore

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 31
Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 3+ Semesters (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Compact States
NCLEX Pass Rates: 78.68%

UMB’s 100% Online RN to BSN can be completed in as few as 2 semesters on a full-time schedule. In this scenario, you might take 4-5 courses in the first semester and 4-5 courses in the second semester. You’ll be able to start the program in the spring or fall semester.

RN to BSN Scholarships in Maryland

Statewide Scholarships for Maryland RN to BSN Students

Maryland Nursing Organization Scholarships

Start with the Maryland Nurses Association (MNA)!

MNA offers all kinds of Nursing Foundation of Maryland (NFM) Scholarships to RN to BSN students.
Individual districts may also have awards.

Maryland Healthcare System & University Partnerships

Do you work for a Maryland hospital or healthcare system? Talk to your HR representative about your education plans. As an employee, you may be eligible for all kinds of education benefits, including tuition reimbursement and discounts. For example:

Stevenson University offers a special partnership tuition rate to students from local community colleges, hospitals, and organizations.
UMB has unique Academic-Hospital Partnerships and Dual Admission Partnerships for nursing students.

Maryland Hospital Scholarships

Maryland hospitals may even have their own awards for RNs. Here are just a few examples of what’s available:

Suburban Hospital Scholarships for nursing employees and non-employees pursuing a degree in nursing.
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Healthcare Scholarships for RNs who wish to complete their BSN.
CalvertHealth Foundation Scholarships for students in medicine & allied health fields.
Western Maryland Health System Foundation Scholarships for area students who are pursuing healthcare professions.
Women’s Board Scholarship Program

Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Aid

Maryland residents also qualify for general state aid. The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has info on state-sponsored financial aid programs such as the:

Maryland Community Foundation Scholarships

Take a moment to find your local Community Foundation in MD and ask them about scholarship opportunities for continuing learners. Although most awards will be reserved for recent high school graduates, you will sometimes find funding.

University Scholarships for Maryland RN to BSN Students

You’ll discover all kinds of unique scholarships & tuition breaks at Maryland universities. Big schools like UMB tend to have the most nursing aid, but schools like FSU & Stevenson have special tuition rates. One thing to note—many general, university-wide scholarships will be limited to “traditional” 4-year undergraduates.

Frostburg State University

Notre Dame of Maryland University

NDMU Scholarships

Stevenson University

Towson University

University of Maryland-Baltimore

University of Maryland-Global Campus

RN to BSN Requirements in Maryland

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. Maryland universities will expect you to have—or be in the process of earning—an RN license. Don’t have your license yet? You may still be able to apply. For instance, applicants to TU’s Online RN to BS can be admitted prior to the completion of their nursing program and pending successful completion of the NCLEX-RN.

The Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) is your first port of call for questions about state RN licensure.
It also posts annual NCLEX Pass Rates for Maryland programs. These statistics don’t apply to post-licensure programs, but they’re always a useful measure of overall quality. Interestingly, pass rates for Maryland schools tend to be fairly mediocre.

State Authorization: Do you live outside of Maryland? Before you start filling out forms, make sure you’re eligible to apply. For example:

TU’s Online RN to BS only accepts students who have graduated from a state-approved diploma or associate’s degree nursing program and are licensed as an RN in Maryland or a compact state.
UMGC’s Online RN to BSN is open to out-of-state RNs, but there are some state exceptions.

Compact State Licensure: Compact state licensure is a big deal in Maryland. For example, Online RN to BSN programs will want to see RNs with an active license in Maryland or a compact state before they will grant 30 upper-level nursing credits per the MBON’s Articulation Model. The MBON has more info on these Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) states.

Maryland Online RN to BSN Programs: FAQs

Are 100% Online RN to BSN Programs in Maryland Available?

You bet. The vast majority of Online RN to BSN programs in our MD listings are 100% online, with no campus requirements. In some cases, you may even have a choice. For instance, NDMU’s RN to BSN is available in a 100% online format, on-campus, or through cohort programs at hospitals throughout Maryland.

Can I Choose a “No Clinicals” Online RN to BSN in Maryland?

Because of accreditation rules, CCNE- and ACEN-accredited RN to BSN programs always contain practicums and fieldwork. But these BSN-level experiences will have a different feel to clinicals in your associate degree or diploma.

They’re typically focused on training in community & public health and leadership. For instance, FSU’s Online RN to BSN contains a Population Focused Nursing Practicum (135 hours).
They can be tackled in your home area and/or place of employment. Ask the RN to BSN program coordinator for details on preceptors & mentors.

Do I Need Statistics to Apply for Maryland Online RN to BSN Programs?

Probably. We saw it listed as a prerequisite in many MD Online RN to BSN programs (e.g. Stevenson, UMGC, FSU, NDMU, etc.).

Schools sometimes allow students to take statistics as a “co-requisite” while they are tackling RN to BSN courses—ask the RN to BSN program coordinator if this is possible.
If you’re interested in NDMU, keep in mind that it also has prerequisites in Religious Studies, Gender Studies, and Cross-Cultural Studies.

Are There Any Online RN to BSN to MSN Programs in Maryland?

Yes! You might want to check out:

UMB’s Online RN-to-MSN: The BSN portion will be online and the MSN portion will vary by specialty. Community/Public Health Nursing is blended/hybrid; Health Services Leadership and Management and Nursing Informatics are online.
Stevenson’s Online RN to MS: In this pathway, you can earn a BS and an MS in Nursing. The first graduate nursing course taken as a part of the RN to MS curriculum is charged at the undergraduate tuition rate.

Should I Consider On-Campus RN to BSN Programs in Maryland?

If you live near Salisbury University, we recommend you check out the RN to BSN—it’s open to Maryland RNs or those with a compact license. SU’s School of Nursing has one of the highest five-year averages for NCLEX pass rates in Maryland and a reputation for solid training.

We particularly like the fact that this RN to BSN contains electives, a Community Health Nursing Practicum, and the option to tackle an Internship or Nursing Leadership Practicum. Feel free to compare SU’s rankings for nursing programs with other familiar MD names (e.g. Stevenson). They can be quite similar.