12 Best ADN Programs in Maryland – (2-Year RN Programs)


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH (Introduction), and Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org (School Profiles)

Graduates of ADN programs in Maryland earn $87,990 annually on average, and employment openings for these registered nurses are projected to rise by more than 17 percent over the next decade. If you’ve always wanted to become a registered nurse but can’t afford to invest the time or money in a four-year program, an associate degree in nursing could be the ideal option since most ADNs take two years or less to complete. And if you decide to return to school later, most ADN credits are easily transferable to bachelor’s and graduate nursing programs. You can learn much more about ADN programs in the Old Line State by reviewing the guide below to the 12 best ADN programs in Maryland.


WHAT ARE THE BEST ADN PROGRAMS IN MARYLAND (ONLINE AND CAMPUS)?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 12 best nursing schools for ADN programs in Maryland. You can complete most of these programs in 2 years.


1. Cecil College - North East


Program Details: Cecil College’s ADN program provides aspiring nurses with a comprehensive curriculum that provides a fine balance of theoretical and clinical training. The coursework covers a wide range of topics in basic and advanced nursing. Students learn about nursing fundamentals, health assessment, med-surgical nursing, maternal/child nursing, and psychiatric nursing. Upon completing this ADN program in Maryland, you’ll be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.


Why Choose This Program

• Among the best ADN programs in Maryland, Cecil College’s ADN program maintains clinical affiliations with clinical sites in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania to provide students with a wide variety of clinical experiences.
• Cecil College’s ADN program offers dual enrollment in a BSN program at any one of the partner four-year institutions.
• Cecil College’s ADN program is affordable, in addition to offering scholarship & financial aid opportunities.


2. Anne Arundel Community College - Arnold


Program Details: Anne Arundel Community College offers an excellent ADN program that fully prepares you for the complex challenges of patient care. The 70-credit program comprises practical training and theoretical lectures. On a full-time basis, most students complete this program within three years. The ADN program comprises courses in anatomy & physiology, foundations for nursing, maternal, and newborn nursing, developmental nursing, and nursing of adults across the lifespan.


Why Choose This Program

• Anne Arundel Community College’s ADN program has earned the reputation of producing some of the most job-ready nursing graduates in Maryland.
• Anne Arundel Community College’s ADN program transfers to several leading four-year universities.
• Anne Arundel Community College’s ADN has earned statewide acclaim and has been ranked among the best ADN programs in Maryland by some of the leading online publications.


3. Chesapeake College - Wye Mills


Program Details: If you are seeking to enroll in one of the best 2-year nursing programs in Maryland, then Chesapeake College’s ADN offers an excellent choice. The program comprises 69 credits and includes general education and nursing courses. Graduates are fully prepared to explore employment opportunities in various areas such as med-surgical nursing, critical care nursing, maternal child nursing, geriatric nursing, and many more such positions in the field of nursing. The ADN coursework comprises courses such as anatomy & physiology, human growth & development, communication, and nursing care of individuals across the lifespan.


Why Choose This Program

• Chesapeake College’s ADN program takes pride in the above-average licensure pass rates of its ADN graduates.
• Chesapeake College’s ADN program offers students a wide variety of clinical experiences in diverse types of healthcare settings.
• Chesapeake College’s ADN program is a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with a well-rounded skillset. This 2-year nursing program in Maryland is taught by expert faculty who bring their vast real-world knowledge to the classroom.


4. Frederick Community College - Frederick


Program Details: Frederick Community College’s associate degree in nursing is a community-based program that prepares graduates to serve the health needs of diverse patient populations. This ADN program in Maryland emphasizes holistic nursing care, critical thinking, communication, and professionalism. Combining the art & science of nursing, the program requires the completion of 70 credits in general education and nursing courses. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.


Why Choose This Program

• Frederick Community College’s ADN offers flexible study plans. Students can choose from day or evening/weekend classes, based on their preference. While the full-time, day classes take around two years to complete, if you opt for the evening/weekend classes, you’ll graduate within four years.
• Frederick Community College’s ADN program provides a seamless transfer to several leading four-year colleges.
• Frederick Community College’s ADN program offers several scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
• Frederick Community College reports more than 95% of students being employed within one year of completing this ADN program in Maryland.


5. Hagerstown Community College - Hagerstown


Program Details: Hagerstown Community College is a great place to start your journey in registered nursing. By offering another of the best ADN programs in Maryland, the college produces highly skilled professional nurses who provide competent patient care. The career-oriented curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills to ensure you are fully prepared to excel in your role as a registered nurse. To earn your ADN degree, you must complete a total of 70 credits, after which you’ll take the NCLEX-RN exam.


Why Choose This Program

• Hagerstown Community College’s ADN is an affordable option that offers competitive tuition rates compared to most other ADN programs in Maryland.
• Hagerstown Community College’s ADN program is taught by a highly qualified faculty that leaves no stone unturned in ensuring students achieve a positive academic outcome.
• Hagerstown Community College’s ADN program focuses on clinical experiences and provides rigorous clinical training in real-world scenarios under the close guidance of its faculty.


6. Allegany College of Maryland - Cumberland


Program Details: An excellent stepping stone to a thriving career in registered nursing, Allegany College of Maryland’s ADN program is counted among the well-known ADN programs in Maryland. The ADN curriculum is well-rounded, providing students with rigorous theoretical and clinical training. Precisely, students complete around 1400 hours of clinical training throughout the program.

The program is offered in a ladder format, wherein upon completing the first year of coursework, you’ll be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam. The second year of the program leads to the NCLEX-RN exam. The ladder format of this ADN program in Maryland not only enables you to seek employment as an LPN while still enrolled, but you’ll also have the advantage of immediately applying the theoretical knowledge to practice, should you take a job as an LPN.


Why Choose This Program

• Allegany College of Maryland provides ADN students access to state-of-the-art simulation equipment where they gain ample clinical practice in a safe and non-threatening environment.
• Allegany College of Maryland’s ADN program emphasizes interprofessional experiences and provides students with clinical experiences in its Nurse Managed Wellness Clinic.
• Allegany College of Maryland’s ADN program is not only high quality but also quite affordable.


7. Prince George's Community College - Largo


Program Details: Prince George's Community College’s ADN program prepares you for safe and competent patient care in different types of healthcare settings. This 2-year nursing program in Maryland is a 70-credit curriculum that makes you eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam. The ADN coursework trains you on various topics such as interprofessional communication, microbiology, general psychology, human growth & development, human anatomy & physiology, and reproductive health nursing. You also obtain proficiency in nursing care of children & families.


Why Choose This Program

• Prince George's Community College’s ADN program is more affordable than many other 2-year RN programs in Maryland. In addition, the program offers several scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
• Prince George's Community College’s ADN program is taught by a passionate faculty that is committed to your academic and professional success.
• Prince George's Community College’s ADN graduates report positive academic and professional outcomes. The program has a high pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam and also has almost all graduates find suitable jobs, soon upon graduation.


8. College of Southern Maryland - La Plata


Program Details: To launch your career as a registered nurse, the College of Southern Maryland offers a well-designed curriculum that is grounded in interprofessional collaboration and evidence-based practice. The program emphasizes nursing principles and practices to prepare graduates for direct patient care in challenging healthcare situations. Leading to the NCLEX-RN exam, this 2-year RN program in Maryland is offered on a full-time basis. The program includes a variety of courses such as human anatomy & physiology, microbiology, professional nursing practice, and professional nursing leadership & management.


Why Choose This Program

• College of Southern Maryland’s ADN program has been offered for more than 30 years. Over these years, the program has maintained strong partnerships with prominent community healthcare centers to provide students with a wide range of clinical experiences.
• College of Southern Maryland’s ADN program is offered in the Center for Health Sciences, which is a state-of-the-art facility, equipped with advanced simulation technology.
• College of Southern Maryland’s ADN program offers an engaging learning experience. The program provides students with numerous opportunities to participate in classroom activities and exceptional lab & clinical experiences.
• College of Southern Maryland’s ADN program offers several scholarship and funding opportunities to bring down the cost of your nursing education.


9. Harford Community College - Bel Air


Program Details: When shortlisting some of the reputable 2-year nursing programs in Maryland, you cannot miss out on the ADN program offered by Harford Community College. A high-quality offering, the program includes a total of 54 credits in general education and nursing courses. During the program, students complete courses in the fundamentals of nursing, med-surgical nursing, mental health nursing, microbiology, maternal-child nursing, and leadership in nursing.


Why Choose This Program

• Harford Community College offers high-quality, affordable education since 1957.
• Harford Community College maintains partnerships with community healthcare agencies. These partnerships not only provide a wide variety of clinical experiences but also help develop a curriculum that is aligned with the demands of healthcare employers.
• At Harford Community College, the faculty is dedicated and committed to the success of nursing students.
• Harford Community College has developed articulation agreements with several four-year colleges to provide ADN students with a seamless transfer of credits.


10. Montgomery College - Takoma Park


Program Details: Montgomery College’s ADN program is a career-oriented program that equips students with in-demand employable skills. The program is offered in a sequential manner for which students must complete all the non-nursing courses before starting with the nursing curriculum. This ADN program in Maryland teaches you various topics such as the fundamentals of nursing, professionalism & communication in nursing, basic health assessment, nursing in health & illness, and nursing care of geriatric & psychiatric patients. You also learn about maternal/child nursing and nursing care of individuals and families across the lifespan.


Why Choose This Program

• Montgomery College’s ADN program has transfer agreements with several four-year institutions. Therefore, ADN students will seamlessly be able to transfer their ADN credits to a BSN degree.
• At Montgomery College, ADN students study in small-sized classes where they receive individualized attention.
• At Montgomery College, students report a high rate of satisfaction, little surprise that the college ranks among the best community colleges in Maryland as per some of the leading online publications.


11. Carroll Community College - Westminster


Program Details: Carroll Community College offers another one of the well-known 2-year nursing programs in Maryland. The program prepares graduates for one of the most in-demand healthcare careers. The program comprises a total of 70 credits in general education and nursing courses. The coursework covers topics such as human anatomy & physiology, human development, health assessment, medication administration, and basic and advanced concepts in nursing. Graduates are equipped with skills in critical thinking, communication, and clinical judgment.


Why Choose This Program

• Carroll Community College’s ADN program has agreements with several universities such as Stevenson University, Towson University, Frostburg University, and the University of Maryland.
• Carroll Community College ADN students gain ample clinical practice in state-of-the-art simulation labs. Further, this 2-year RN program in Maryland maintains a small student-to-faculty ratio during clinicals to ensure students develop the skills required to succeed.
• Carroll Community College ADN students are taught by an expert faculty who have several years of real-world experience.


12. Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville


Program Details: Community College of Baltimore County’s ADN program is designed to empower future nurses with job-ready skills. This 2-year nursing program in Maryland provides a strong foundation in nursing theoretical and clinical concepts. Leading to the NCLEX-RN exam, the program comprises a total of 70 credits. The coursework is comprehensive, covering human anatomy & physiology, principles of human growth & development, fundamentals of nursing, nursing assessment & promotion, and maternal/newborn nursing concepts. In addition, students also learn about communication and professional practice nursing concepts.


Why Choose This Program

• Community College of Baltimore County’s ADN program is offered in a blended format. Moreover, this ADN program in Maryland offers day and evening class options to suit the needs of working students.
• Community College of Baltimore County offers ADN students a guaranteed transfer to the University System of Maryland.
• Community College of Baltimore County’s ADN is a cost-effective option to obtain high-quality nursing education.
• Community College of Baltimore County’s ADN program is offered in a supportive learning environment where a dedicated faculty helps students reach their academic and career goals.


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