7 Best Maryland FNP Programs (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Darby Faubion BSN, RN
Are you a Maryland RN who’s been thinking about getting an advanced practice degree? Enrolling in one of the FNP programs in Maryland is a smart move. Family nurse practitioners offer primary healthcare services to patients of all ages. They treat common illnesses and injuries and provide wellness and preventative care in hospitals, private physician practices, ambulatory care clinics, and community agencies. They make $119,350 annually, and their employment opportunities are expected to expand by 36 percent within the next decade. It’s an exciting career track! And you can learn more about it by reviewing the list below of the 7 best FNP programs in Maryland for 2025.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 7 BEST FNP PROGRAMS IN MARYLAND (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 7 best campus-based and online FNP programs in Maryland.)
1. Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore
Programs Offered: DNP
About the School: Johns Hopkins University offers one of the best FNP programs in Maryland. The program is designed for registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an entry-level Master of Science in Nursing from a CCNE or ACEN accredited college or university who have worked at least one year full-time as an RN.
Candidates for admission to the DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program must have a scholastic grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale and hold a current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse. With your application for admission, you must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended, three letters of recommendation, and a current resume/curriculum vitae.
DNP Program Details: The Johns Hopkins University DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program features internationally acclaimed faculty with extensive experience in leadership, patient safety, and advanced clinical practice. While enrolled in the program, you will build an extensive network of professional peers among your cohort, alums, and faculty.
The Johns Hopkins University DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program will prepare you with doctoral-level nursing knowledge and skills to deliver the highest quality family healthcare. In this program, you will complete coursework online and participate in course immersions on campus. Faculty help arrange learning experiences within facilities at various Johns Hopkins clinical affiliate partner sites.
You may choose a three- or four-year plan of study. Part-time study is not available currently. Students admitted into the Johns Hopkins University DNP-FNP program may transfer up to eligible six credits from another accredited institution.
The program, one of the best online FNP programs in Maryland, features an 81-credit-hour curriculum and 1,008 practicum hours. You will take classes including Translating Evidence into Practice, Health Promotion & Risk Reduction Across the Lifespan, Diagnostics Skills & Procedures for Advanced Practice Nurses, and Analysis & Evaluation of Individual & Population Health. Clinical practicum hours include 784 family primary care practicum hours and 224 Doctor of Nursing Practice practicum hours.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will be prepared to take the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or American Nurses Credentialing Center certification exams to become a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner.
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and Post-Doctoral Certificate
About the School: If you’re looking for one of the top FNP programs in Maryland, the University of Maryland has a few options to help you reach your goal. The university offers BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and Post-DNP Certificate programs with a Family Nurse Practitioner focus.
The University of Maryland's School of Nursing has a 130-year history of combining practical learning and innovative research to offer high-quality nursing programs, as evidenced by several accolades. The university is recognized as one of the Best Grad Schools for Nurse Practitioners (DNP) by U.S. News & World Report. Graduates of the 2021 Family Nurse Practitioner program (all pathways) had a 100% pass rate on the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board examination, supporting the claim that the University of Maryland is an excellent place to earn your FNP.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The Post-BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner pathway offers three-, four-, and five-year study options. This pathway features an 80-credit-hour curriculum, including 56 didactic and 24 clinical credit hours. In this pathway, you will take courses including Diagnosis & Management of Common Health Conditions, Episodic, & Chronic, Information Systems & Technology Improvement, Advanced Pediatric Pathophysiology, and Developmental Assessment & Health Promotion. The Post-BSN-to-DNP program also includes 1,080 clinical practicum hours.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Master’s prepared registered nurses searching for an FNP program in Maryland and desiring to earn a DNP may find the MSN-to-DNP with FNP specialization at the University of Maryland a good fit. The program is available to licensed registered nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing earned at an accredited nursing school. Students in this program earn between 48 and 80 credits, depending on previous credits. In this program, you will take classes such as Introduction to Diagnostic Reasoning, Integration of Multiple Health Problems & Complex Clinical Syndromes, and Integration of Practice & Leadership. The program includes 990 hours of clinical practice at clinical affiliate sites.
Post-Doctoral Certificate Program Details: If you have a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and wish to broaden the reach of your practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner, the FNP Post-Doctoral Certificate is a perfect option. The Post-Doctoral Certificate program requires students to complete up to 43 credit hours, depending on previous transferable credits earned. Coursework includes the following classes: Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology and Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Across the Lifespan. You will also complete a minimum of 990 clinical hours.
3. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences - Bethesda
Programs Offered: DNP
About the School Program Details: The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences offers another one of the best family nurse practitioner programs in Maryland. The program is available to licensed registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited nursing school. Applicants must be active-duty Air Force, Army, Navy, or Public Health Service, officers. The program is unique in that, instead of paying tuition for education, students agree to an active-duty service obligation pending completion of the program.
The Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences boasts of experienced, dedicated faculty. Many DNP faculty are Fellows in the American Academy of Nursing and in specialty academies. Some faculty are also fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
DNP Program Details: The DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program, a top FNP program in Maryland, is dedicated to improving clinical settings and FNP practice on military bases worldwide. You may transfer up to six credits of previous eligible coursework to the DNP program.
The Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences DNP program offers a Signature Curriculum based on three primary focus areas and five sub-themes. Primary focus areas include Operational Readiness in Changing Environments, Global, Environmental, Culture, & Political Context, and Clinical Decision Making in the Federal Healthcare Delivery System. The sub-themes of the curriculum include Leadership & Health Policy, Evidence-Based Practice & Research, Health Promotion for Warriors & Families, Patient Safety, and Transition of Technology to Practice & Education.
The first year of the program focuses on advanced practice nursing courses including Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice and Foundational Behavioral Health. This year includes on-campus learning combined with simulation center experiences.
During the second year of the program, the curriculum builds upon core competencies integrating content focused on Substance Abuse, Pharmacologic and Non-Pharmacologic Treatment Modalities, Evidence-Based Research, and Operational Behavioral Health. The beginning of the second year of the curriculum includes clinical rotations lasting nine to ten weeks each. In the final semester of the second year, you will have a Permanent Change of Station to a military medical facility to complete a clinical residency.
4. Bowie State University - Bowie
Programs Offered: MSN and
Post-Master’s Certificate
About the School: Bowie State University offers great options to pursue an FNP program in Maryland. Depending on your current degree level, you may choose to pursue the Master of Science in Nursing with FNP specialty or the Post-Master's Certificate-FNP. The programs are available to licensed registered nurses with at least three years of professional acute care nursing experience.
Both the MSN and Post-Master's Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner pathways prepare students for advanced roles as family health practitioners. You will develop skills necessary for demonstrating both collaborative and autonomous decision-making using clinical judgment relative to the care of individuals and families.
MSN Program Details: The Master of Science in Nursing FNP program at Bowie State University features a rigorous curriculum made up of 49 credit hours. As a student in this program, you will take classes such as Critical Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing, Epidemiology, Nursing Research, and Family Nurse Practitioner Role Transition. The program incorporates more than 600 hours of clinical practicum, designed to give you hands-on experience.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: The university offers an FNP Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study, an excellent option for graduate-prepared nurses seeking a Family Nurse Practitioner program in Maryland. The program consists of 35 credit hours of coursework. Classes include support and role-specific courses, including Pharmacotherapeutics, Primary Care of Adult Clients, Women's Health, Obstetric & Pediatric Clients, and Older Adult Clients. The Post-Master's Certificate-FNP curriculum also includes 600 hours of clinical practicum experience.
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and Post-DNP Certificate
About the School: Salisbury University offers three pathways to becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. the BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and Post-DNP Certificate with Family Nurse Practitioner concentration are some of the best FNP programs in Maryland. The university designed these programs to prepare students capable of promoting and implementing the delivery of high-quality and safe patient care. FNP graduates are skilled at navigating complex healthcare systems, collaborating with interdisciplinary team members, and prepared to transition into clinical roles as Family Nurse Practitioners.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Salisbury University offers an excellent Post-Bachelor's to DNP-FNP program, a great option for candidates seeking a post-baccalaureate Family Nurse Practitioner program in Maryland. The Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner program is designed in a full-time format, spanning four years.
In this program, you will complete 80 credits of coursework. Coursework includes Applied Statistics, Advanced Human Physiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Health Assessment. The program includes 1,000 hours of clinical practice in various settings and a comprehensive DNP project.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: The Post-Master's DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program is designed for master’s prepared advanced practice registered nurses seeking to earn a doctorate in nursing and specialize in family practice nursing. The post-master's option is for candidates in advanced practice roles, such as clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse educators, and nurse practitioners.
The program is designed in an online format, with most students graduating in three years. Students earn 68 credits. Coursework covers content grounded in Health Policy & Clinical Prevention, Quality Improvement, Healthcare Management, Genetics & Genomics, Evidence-Based Practice, and Health Promotion & Clinical Prevention.
The curriculum includes a requirement that all students complete 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours. A clinical faculty member will determine the number of clinical hours from your master's program that may transfer to the DNP program.
Post-DNP Certificate Program Details: If you already have a DNP and want to accomplish the educational requirements to test for the Family Nurse Practitioner credential, the Post-DNP Certificate program could be a great option. The Post-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program features a 30-credit hour curriculum. In this program, you will take classes including Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Human Physiology & Pathophysiology, and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing.
6. Coppin State University - Baltimore
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and
Post-Master’s Certificate
About the School Program Details: Coppin State University offers two degree pathways for students to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice with preparation as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The university offers both traditional and hybrid formats, making it possible for students to choose a study option that best fits their lifestyle and needs. If you pursue your degree in one of these programs, you may choose to attend school part-time or full-time.
U.S. News ranks Coppin State University as one of the best Regional Universities North and Top Public Schools. The university boasts of high retention rates, and graduates of the FNP specialty pathways report outstanding pass rates on certification exams, indicating this school is an excellent choice to pursue a degree and specialize as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Maryland.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The BSN-to-DNP pathway at Coppin State is another one of the top FNP programs in Maryland. This pathway features a 74-credit hour curriculum. In the BSN-to-DNP program, you will study Research Methods & Design for Nursing Practice, Health Policy & Analysis, Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice, and Family Primary Care of Adults. You will complete 1,000 hours of preceptor-supervised clinical practicum at various healthcare sites. The program culminates with the completion and presentation of a DNP Scholarly Project.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: The Post-Master's Certificate to Doctor of Nursing Practice FNP, which is an excellent Family Nurse Practitioner program in Maryland, features a curriculum focused on the responsibilities and roles of Family Nurse Practitioners, preparing you for advanced practice providing care to individuals and families across the lifespan. The program spans four years and includes 67 credits of coursework. Some classes you'll take include Contemporary Issues in Nursing, Advanced Health Assessment & Promotion, Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice, and Advanced Medical/Surgical Nursing. All DNP students must complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. You may transfer up to 700 clinical hours from your accredited MSN program, which means you may need only 300 DNP clinical hours to graduate.
7. Frostburg State University - Frostburg
Programs Offered: MSN
About the School: Frostburg State University offers another of the best FNP programs in Maryland. The program is delivered in a hybrid format, with most coursework online in synchronous and asynchronous formats. Limited visits to campus focus on campus-based laboratory and skills immersion. This MSN with Family Nurse Practitioner specialization is available in part-time and full-time study options. Full-time students can graduate in as few as six semesters, while part-time students typically graduate in ten semesters.
Candidates for admission to the program must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited nursing program, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of college coursework, and at least two years of experience in an acute care setting working as a registered nurse.
MSN Program Details: This Master of Science-FNP program is one of the best accredited Family Nurse Practitioner programs in Maryland. The program has a rigorous curriculum that includes 55 didactic and clinical work credits. In this program, you will study Research & Systematic Analysis, Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan, Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan, and Mental Health in Primary Care Across the Lifespan.
Students in the program will complete at least 535 practicum hours by completion of the program. The Clinical Placement Coordinator and clinical faculty will work with you to secure appropriate clinical experiences and sites as close to your home as possible.
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Darby Faubion BSN, RN
Darby Faubion is a nurse and Allied Health educator with over twenty years of experience. She has assisted in developing curriculum for nursing programs and has instructed students at both community college and university levels. Because of her love of nursing education, Darby became a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach and assists nursing graduates across the United States who are preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
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