Maryland offers one of the strongest AGPCNP markets in the country. Four institutions serve the region spanning every degree level from in-person MSN through the #1-ranked DNP program in the nation.
Tuition ranges from approximately $33K for NDMU’s part-time MSN to $152K for a Johns Hopkins DNP, with UMSON’s BSN-DNP landing around $93K in-state.
Completion timelines run from 27 months for NDMU’s cohort-based MSN to 5 years for UMSON’s part-time DNP track.
Best Programs by Goal
- Best for prestige and credential ceiling: Johns Hopkins University — the only #1-ranked DNP program available to Maryland nurses, with onsite immersions, 960 clinical hours, and a credential that stands apart nationally.
- Best for working nurses and value: University of Maryland, Baltimore — faculty-arranged placements, three timeline options built around employment, Conway Scholarship (50% tuition reduction), and out-of-state in-state status after year one.
- Best for in-person, cohort-based MSN: Notre Dame of Maryland University — the only campus-based MSN in the state, designed around working nurses’ evenings with a 27-month cohort progression and caring science integration.
- Best for online MSN or post-master’s certificate: George Washington University — the only regional option offering a primarily online MSN and post-master’s certificate, with spring entry available and small cohort sizes.
Maryland AGPCNP Programs at a Glance
| School | Est. Cost | High-Level Program Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | BSN-DNP: $152K | – #1-ranked DNP program in the country – Online with required onsite immersions each semester – 960 clinical hours completed locally – BSN-DNP only; no MSN or certificate track |
| University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMSON) | BSN-DNP: $93K in-state Post-Master’s DNP: $44K Post-Doctoral Certificate: $40K | – Faculty arrange all clinical placements – Three plan-of-study timelines (3, 4, or 5 years) – Conway Scholarship covers 50% of in-state tuition – Blended format (face-to-face + online) |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | MSN: $34K | – Only in-person MSN AGPCNP option in Maryland – Cohort model; evening classes twice weekly – 750 clinical practicum hours across 4 sequenced courses |
| George Washington University | BSN-DNP: $123K MSN: $82K Post-Master’s Certificate: $34K | – Primarily online with two required visits to Northern VA – Students encouraged to find own preceptors – Ranked #12 online master’s nursing program |
Comparing AGPCNP Programs In Maryalnd
The differences between these programs go well beyond price.
UMSON arranges all clinical placements through its faculty network and offers three plan-of-study timelines built around nurses at different career stages — it’s the most accommodation-friendly doctoral program in the state.
Johns Hopkins is the credential ceiling: the #1 DNP nationally, with onsite immersions, 960 locally-completed clinical hours, and the prestige of the Hopkins name.
NDMU is the only truly in-person MSN option in Maryland, built around a cohort model with evening classes designed for working nurses.
GWU offers the widest degree range — MSN, BSN-DNP, and post-master’s certificate — in a primarily online format with two required visits to its Northern Virginia campus.
Clinical placement support is a meaningful differentiator here.
- UMSON faculty arrange all placements across the Baltimore–Washington, D.C. corridor.
- Johns Hopkins places students in their local geographic region without requiring relocation.
- GWU encourages students to self-source preceptors with placement team support available.
- NDMU’s clinical requirements are not fully detailed in available source materials.
Maryland nurses who want zero preceptor-hunting should prioritize UMSON or Hopkins accordingly.
MSN AGPCNP Programs in Maryland
| School | Est. Tuition | Format | Duration | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | ~$33,120 | In-person; evening classes twice weekly | 27 months (part-time) | Lowest-cost regional MSN; cohort model; wellness coaching and caring science focus |
| George Washington University | ~$82,080 | Primarily online + 2 campus visits/year | Not clearly stated (FT and PT plans) | Online flexibility; spring and fall entry; small cohorts; #12 online master’s ranking |
Two regional programs offer MSN-level AGPCNP preparation: Notre Dame of Maryland University and George Washington University. They could not be more different in format.
- NDMU is in-person, cohort-based, and built for evening learners — 27 months, twice-weekly evening classes, and a wellness coaching emphasis that distinguishes its curriculum from every other program in the state.
- GWU is primarily online with two required Northern Virginia campus visits per year, available with both fall and spring entry, and priced at roughly $82,000 for 48 credits at $1,710 per credit.
Neither program arranges clinical placements, though GWU’s placement team handles legal documentation and provides referrals. NDMU’s clinical placement model is not clearly described in available source materials — contact the program directly.
NDMU is the right choice for Maryland-based nurses who want in-person training, structured cohort accountability, and the most affordable MSN in the region. The Maryland or compact-state RN license requirement makes it a genuinely in-state option.
GWU suits nurses who need online delivery, want a spring admission option, or are coming from outside the immediate Baltimore–D.C. metro area. At $82,000 it’s among the more expensive MSN options available, but the regional reputation and flexible entry windows offset some of that for the right candidate.
DNP AGPCNP Programs in Maryland
| School | Track | Est. Tuition | Format | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | BSN-DNP | $152K | Online + onsite immersions each semester | – #1-ranked DNP nationally – 960 clinical hours locally |
| UMSON | BSN-DNP | $93K in-state | Blended (face-to-face + online) | – Faculty-arranged placements – 3/4/5-year timelines |
| George Washington University | BSN-DNP | $123K | Online + 2 campus visits/year | – Primarily online – #12 online nursing master’s ranking; fall entry |
| UMSON | Post-Master’s DNP | $44K | Blended (face-to-face + online) | – Only in-state post-master’s DNP – gap analysis reduces credits |
Maryland’s DNP market is anchored by two institutions that sit at very different points on the cost-prestige-flexibility spectrum.
- Johns Hopkins at ~$152,000 is the most expensive and the most decorated — the #1 DNP program nationally by U.S. News.
- UMSON at ~$93,000 in-state is the working-nurse program, with three plan-of-study timelines, faculty-arranged placements, and a financial aid structure that includes a 50% tuition scholarship for eligible students and automatic in-state classification for out-of-state nurses after year one.
GWU adds a third BSN-DNP option at ~$123,000 with an online-primary format, though it does not offer the placement support or financial flexibility of UMSON.
Post-master’s DNP nurses have UMSON as their only in-state option, starting at approximately $44,000 in-state with a variable credit load based on gap analysis.
For BSN-prepared Maryland nurses, the decision typically comes down to credential ceiling versus working-nurse accommodations.
- Hopkins offers the highest-prestige credential in AGPCNP education, backed by onsite immersions and a 74-credit program with strong national recognition.
- UMSON is the better fit for nurses who need a program that works around their employment schedule, want clinical placements handled for them, and are eyeing long-term Maryland practice in the Baltimore–D.C. corridor.
The Conway Scholarship changes the financial math significantly — a 50% tuition reduction on $93,000 in-state puts UMSON’s real cost closer to $46,500 for qualifying students, which is far below any DNP in the region including Hopkins.
Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP Programs in Maryland
| School | Entry Requirement | Est. Cost | Credits | Clinical Hours | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University | MSN | $34K | 20 (+ 3 prerequisites) | 600 | Streamlined for MSN nurses; summer entry; primarily online; spring OSCE campus visits |
| UMSON | DNP | $40K | 43 (may be reduced via gap analysis) | Up to 990 (gap analysis may reduce) | DNP-level entry; most comprehensive clinical depth; faculty-arranged placements |
Maryland has two post-graduate certificate options for MSN- or DNP-prepared nurses:
- UMSON’s post-doctoral certificate
- GWU’s post-master’s certificate.
They target different entry points.
GWU’s certificate (~$34,200, 20 credits, summer start) is designed for MSN-prepared nurses who need the AGPCNP specialty credentials and already hold equivalent graduate-level pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment coursework.
UMSON’s post-doctoral certificate (~$40,000 in-state est.) is specifically for DNP-prepared nurses adding or changing specialty, with a gap analysis determining actual credits required and up to 990 clinical hours distributed across six clinical practicum courses — the most clinically intensive certificate option in the state.
GWU’s certificate is the more accessible option — if your MSN coursework included separate graduate-level pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment courses, you may enter with prerequisites already satisfied. The 20-credit core and summer start allow relatively fast completion. U
MSON’s post-doctoral certificate requires a terminal degree as the entry point and carries a substantially deeper clinical commitment, which makes sense for DNP-prepared nurses who want the full depth of UMSON’s six-level diagnosis and management specialty sequence.
How to Choose an AGPCNP Program in Maryland
Choose Johns Hopkins If…
- You want the strongest national reputation
- You plan to pursue leadership or academic roles
- Cost is not the primary concern
Choose UMSON If…
- You want clinical placements arranged
- You need a working-nurse schedule
- You qualify for the Conway Scholarship
Choose NDMU If…
- You want classroom learning
- You prefer a cohort model
- You want the lowest-cost MSN
Choose GWU If…
- You need an online MSN
- You want a certificate pathway
- You need spring admission
Maryland AGPCNP Program FAQ
How many AGPCNP programs are in Maryland?
Three Maryland institutions and one nearby D.C.-area university — Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Baltimore, Notre Dame of Maryland University, and George Washington University — collectively offer MSN, BSN-DNP, post-master’s DNP, and post-doctoral certificate tracks. GWU is based in Washington D.C. with its campus visits at its Northern Virginia location, but serves the Maryland market directly.
Which Maryland program has the best board certification pass rate?
UMSON reported a 100% pass rate on both the AANPCB and ANCC boards for 2024 graduates. Johns Hopkins and NDMU report strong outcomes as well, but specific recent pass rate data is not published in available source materials for those programs — contact them directly for current figures.
Which program arranges clinical placements for students?
UMSON faculty arrange all clinical placements across the Baltimore–Washington, D.C. corridor — students are not required to find their own preceptors and are specifically asked not to complete rotations at their place of employment. Johns Hopkins places students in their local geographic region, though the specific sourcing model is not fully detailed in available materials. GWU encourages self-sourcing with placement team support. NDMU’s placement model is not clearly described in available source materials — contact the program directly.
What is the most affordable AGPCNP MSN in Maryland?
Notre Dame of Maryland University at approximately $33,120 (36 credits × $920/credit) is the most affordable in-state MSN option. GWU’s MSN runs approximately $82,080 at the same degree level. For nurses who qualify for UMSON’s Conway Scholarship and are willing to pursue a BSN-DNP instead of an MSN, the effective cost at UMSON can drop substantially from its published rate.
Can out-of-state nurses attend UMSON at in-state tuition rates?
Yes, after year one. All UMSON DNP students are reclassified as Maryland residents after their first year of enrollment, reducing tuition from $1,643/credit to $926/credit for the remainder of the program. For nurses on a 4- or 5-year plan, this means the majority of credits are billed at the in-state rate. Maryland residents must apply for in-state residency classification separately.
Which Maryland program is best for nurses who already hold an MSN or DNP?
For MSN-prepared nurses, GWU’s post-master’s certificate (~$34,200, summer start, 20 credits) is the most streamlined path to AGPCNP certification in the region. UMSON’s post-master’s DNP (~$44K in-state, variable credits) is the right choice for MSN nurses who also want a terminal degree. DNP-prepared nurses adding a specialty should look at UMSON’s post-doctoral certificate (~$40K in-state est.), which is the only program of its kind in the state and uses the same faculty-arranged placement model as the DNP tracks.