Maryland NP Programs at a Glance
| State practice authority | Full Practice Authority – NPs evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe independently |
| Maryland Board of Nursing | Maryland Board of Nursing |
| Maryland median NP wage | ~$125,000 (Payscale/BLS, 2024). See Maryland state OES tables for current detail. |
| National median NP wage | $129,210/year (BLS, May 2024) |
| Projected NP job growth | 46% (2023–2033) nationally – one of the fastest-growing professions |
| Primary accreditors | CCNE · ACEN |
| Common NP specialty tracks | FNP, AGNP (Primary/Acute), PMHNP, PNP, WHNP, NNP |
| Typical program length | 2–3 years (MSN-NP) or 3–4 years (BSN-to-DNP), full-time post-BSN |
Our Editorial Process
This guide is written by a credentialed nurse and reviewed against source-of-truth references at least annually. Program accreditation is verified against the CCNE program directory and ACEN directory. Maryland licensure information is verified against the Maryland Board of Nursing. Salary and growth figures come directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Maryland data. Read our full editorial standards.
2026 Updates for Maryland NP Programs
- Maryland practice authority. Maryland is a Full Practice Authority state. Licensed nurse practitioners can evaluate, diagnose, order tests, and prescribe medications independently of physician supervision. Maryland is one of 27 states + DC granting full NP autonomy under state law.
- BLS data refresh (May 2024 OES). National median NP wage is now $129,210; Maryland-specific data is published in the Maryland state OES tables.
- Projected NP job growth. 46% projected employment growth from 2023 to 2033 nationally – one of the fastest-growing occupations the BLS tracks.
- AACN 2025 Position Statement. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reaffirmed the DNP as the preferred terminal degree for advanced practice. BSN-to-DNP and post-master’s DNP pathways continue to be the dominant educational routes for new NPs in Maryland.
- Telehealth permanence. Federal and state telehealth flexibilities introduced during 2020 have largely been made permanent, expanding remote NP roles across primary care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management.
- PMHNP demand surge. Mental health workforce shortages are particularly acute nationwide; PMHNP-specific job postings have outpaced general NP postings consistently. See our PMHNP career guide.
Maryland is projected to be short 1,052 doctors by 2030. Compared to other states, Maryland’s doctor-to-patient ratio is 35% worse for family medicine and general practice.
Maryland is one of 27 states that give nurse practitioners full authority to use their skills and knowledge to deliver necessary care to the people who need it most. Nurse practitioners in Maryland can work in hospitals, clinics, and doctors offices or even open their own practices.
If you’re interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, here are some of the top programs in the state of Maryland.
Program Overview:
Bowie State University was founded in 1865 and is the oldest Historically Black College or University in Maryland. The university’s Center of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing features a nursing simulation wing where students can apply what they have learned and refine their skills to prepare for clinical rotations and future careers.
Program Overview:
Coppin State University is an HBCU founded in 1900. The Helene Fuld School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions was founded in 1974. The master’s level programs allow nurses to advance their skills and serve as experts in providing direct care to patients in specialized areas. Coppin State offers the following three nurse practitioner options.
Program Overview:
FSU was founded in 1898 and opened in 1902 as State Normal School No. 2. The Department of Nursing in the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences started its nurse practitioner program in 2018. Graduates have a 97% board pass rate on their first attempt.
Program Overview:
Founded in 1893, Hood College is within walking distance of historic Downtown Frederick and close to Baltimore and Washington, DC. The Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences at the college offers one program for those who want to pursue a career as an adult-gerontological nurse practitioner program.
Program Overview:
Johns Hopkins is a highly respected and prestigious institution known around the world. The nursing school opened in 1889, expanding over the years and offering a BSN option in 1984 and master’s and post-doctoral programs in 1987. Doctoral programs began in 1993 and 2007. Today, the university offers five nurse practitioner programs:
Program Overview:
The School of Nursing at the Notre Dame of Maryland University offers multiple programs for nursing students and a 8,300 square foot space with multiple labs, examination rooms, and a state-of-the-art audio/visual capture system. The simulation labs have varied and intensive simulations to help students perfect the hands-on skills they will use in their careers.
Program Overview:
The University of Maryland traces its history to 1856, and its nursing school has a 130-year history of nursing education. Today’s students get access to multiple modern learning facilities, including clinical simulation labs and a standardized patient program. This school offers multiple NP programs, including post-doctoral options.
Educational Routes to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Maryland
Five distinct routes appear across the NP schools listed on this page. Each suits a different starting credential and timeline. All five satisfy the Maryland Board of Nursing APRN-certification requirements when paired with national NP certification.
1. MSN-NP (Most Common Route)
The traditional Master of Science in Nursing with an NP specialty track. Designed for working RNs who already hold a BSN. Typical length: 2 to 3 years full-time or 3 to 4 years part-time, with 500 to 750 clinical hours. Maryland MSN-NP options span all 7 on-page schools, anchored by Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland-Baltimore. Coppin State, Bowie State, Frostburg, Hood, and Notre Dame of Maryland all offer hybrid MSN-NP coursework.
2. RN-to-MSN Bridge (No BSN Required)
For ADN-prepared RNs who want to skip a separate BSN program. The bridge adds 12 to 18 months of BSN-level coursework before the master’s component begins. In Maryland, Coppin State University, Bowie State University, and Frostburg State University all offer RN-MSN bridges into NP tracks. Total time-to-degree typically lands at 3 to 4 years. See the broader top RN-to-NP programs ranking.
3. BSN-to-DNP (Doctoral-Entry NP)
Aligned with the AACN’s 2025 DNP position statement. Combines NP-specialty training with terminal-degree coursework over 3 to 4 years and roughly 1,000 clinical hours. 3 Maryland schools offer a DNP program — see the full Maryland DNP programs guide for state-specific detail, or online BSN-to-DNP programs for ranked national options.
4. Post-Master’s Certificate (Existing MSN Holders)
For nurses who already hold a master’s-level NP credential and want to add a second specialty — an FNP adding AGNP, an FNP adding PMHNP, etc. Typical length: 12 to 24 months and ~500 clinical hours. Maryland post-master’s certificate options include Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, and Salisbury University. The NP Certifications hub covers the certificate landscape in depth.
5. Accelerated & Direct-Entry (Non-Nursing Bachelor’s)
For career changers with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The student earns an accelerated BSN first (12 to 16 months), then enters an NP master’s or DNP track. Maryland’s flagship direct-entry options include Johns Hopkins’s Master’s Entry into Nursing pathway and the University of Maryland’s Clinical Nurse Leader-to-NP track. Total time-to-NP-licensure: typically 4 to 5 years from start of accelerated BSN.
Fast & Affordable Maryland NP Programs (Editorial Picks)
These editorial picks balance time-to-degree, total program cost, and accreditation. All programs listed are CCNE or ACEN accredited and confirmed to currently enroll Maryland residents.
Fastest Maryland NP Programs
- Johns Hopkins University — MSN-NP: Accelerated full-time options across multiple specialty tracks; 5-semester FNP path.
- University of Maryland — MSN-NP: Baltimore-campus flagship program with intensive cohort design; multiple specialty tracks.
- Notre Dame of Maryland University — Online MSN-FNP: Hybrid delivery with cohort entry twice yearly; 24-month accelerated path.
- Coppin State University — Post-Master’s NP Certificate: 12 to 18 months for current MSN holders adding a Maryland specialty.
Most Affordable Maryland NP Programs (In-State Tuition)
- Frostburg State University — MSN-NP: Public Western Maryland tuition at one of the lowest per-credit rates in the state.
- Bowie State University — MSN-FNP: Public USM-system tuition in the DC suburbs; strong HBCU clinical-placement network.
- Coppin State University — MSN-NP: Public USM-system tuition in Baltimore; HBCU with strong primary-care pipeline.
- Salisbury University — DNP: Public Eastern Shore tuition; one of three Maryland DNP-track schools.
- University of Maryland-College Park — MSN-NP: Public flagship tuition at College Park (DC-suburbs commuter network).
Maryland Schools Offering Popular NP Specialties
The matrix below maps Maryland NP-track schools to the two most-published specialty paths in the state — FNP and DNP entry. Most Maryland schools lead with FNP at the master’s level; 3 schools offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice option. Each H3 links to the relevant child page.
Family NP (FNP)
The most common specialty in Maryland. All 7 schools listed on this page offer an FNP track in some format — MSN, BSN-to-DNP, or post-master’s certificate.
- Bowie State University
- Coppin State University
- Frostburg State University
- Hood College
- Johns Hopkins University
- Notre Dame of Maryland University
- University of Maryland-College Park
BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s DNP Programs in Maryland
Aligned with the AACN 2025 DNP position statement. The 3 Maryland schools below offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. See the dedicated Maryland DNP programs guide for admissions detail.
- Salisbury University
- University of Maryland
- Coppin State University
Nurse Practitioner Programs in Maryland by City & Region
Maryland’s NP programs cluster around the Baltimore metro area, the DC suburbs, the Eastern Shore, and Western Maryland. The 7 featured schools and 3 DNP-only programs group as follows.
Baltimore Metro
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore
- University of Maryland — Baltimore (DNP only)
- Coppin State University — Baltimore
- Notre Dame of Maryland University — Baltimore
DC Suburbs
- Bowie State University — Bowie
- University of Maryland-College Park — College Park
Eastern Shore
- Salisbury University — Salisbury (DNP only)
Western Maryland
- Frostburg State University — Frostburg
- Hood College — Frederick
