AACC Has Maryland's Best 2-Year Nursing Program: Study

ARNOLD, MD — Anne Arundel Community College has Maryland's best associate's degree in nursing, a new analysis suggested. AACC announced its achievement on Nov. 8.

The Nursing Schools Almanac graded programs based on their students' performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, also known as the NCLEX-RN. Every registered nurse must pass this test before they can start practicing, so it offers a standardized way to compare schools.

Exactly 95% of AACC students passed the exam on their initial try between the academic years of 2010 to 2011 and 2019 to 2020. These were the top 15 community college nursing programs in Maryland and their NCLEX-RN first-time passage rates.

1. Anne Arundel Community College (95.0%)
2. Hagerstown Community College (94.1%)
3. Cecil College (92.9%)
4. Frederick Community College (89.6%)
5. Community College of Baltimore County (89.3%)
6. Harford Community College (88.7%)
7. Allegany College of Maryland (88.5%)
8. Carroll Community College (87.6%)
9. College of Southern Maryland (87.1%)
10. Howard Community College (86.0%)
11. Chesapeake College (85.5%)
12. Montgomery College (85.3%)
13. Wor-Wic Community College (80.9%)
14. Baltimore City Community College (78.2%)
15. Prince George’s Community College (70.6%)

Additional details on the ranking process are listed on this webpage.

The nursing program is frequently regarded as one of AACC's most successful departments. In February, RegisteredNursing.org rated the Anne Arundel County institution as the top nursing school in Maryland.

The accolades continued last month when the school opened a $117 million Health and Life Sciences Building. The facility has dozens of high-tech labs that will help future nurses during their clinical rotations.

"With a nursing shortage nearing almost crisis levels, there is space to expand the nationally ranked nursing program to soon start doubling admitted student numbers, from 80 accepted per cohort to 160," college spokesperson Angie Hamlet said in an October press release. "The building helps future healthcare professionals jump more seamlessly into their challenging careers."

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RELATED:

• $117M AACC Building Opens, Touts Tools For Health + Life Sciences
• Graduation Parade Celebrates AACC Students
• AACC Named Best Community College In America: Study
• AACC Named Best Nursing School In Maryland: Survey
• AACC Showed "Resiliency And Vigor" In Coronavirus Response: Award

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