The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), part of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, offers two fully online MSN specialties: Nursing Leadership and Management, and Nursing Informatics. In the U.S. News 2026 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs, UMSON is tied at No. 72 overall, and its leadership specialty is tied for No. 5 nationally. For nurses outside the U.S., the answer is clear: both online MSN specialties require a valid, unrestricted U.S. RN licence, and UMSON says they are not eligible for F-1 or J-1 visa sponsorship because so much of the coursework is online.
If you are already a licensed RN in the U.S., the University of Maryland online MSN requirements are light: a BSN with a 3.0 GPA, one recommendation, a 500 to 1,000 word essay and a $75 fee, with no experience minimum or interview for these two specialties. Tuition is $963 per credit for Maryland residents and $1,708 for out-of-state students. I checked every detail on UMSON’s own pages on 29 October 2026.
University of Maryland online MSN ranking
UMSON’s news release on the U.S. News 2026 Best Online Programs gives these placings among 201 ranked nursing schools:
| U.S. News 2026 list | UMSON rank | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs (overall) | No. 72 (tied) | No. 81 (tied) |
| Nursing Leadership and Management specialty | No. 5 (tied) | No. 5 (tied) |
| Best Online Master’s in Nursing for Veterans | No. 24 | No. 26 |
UMSON adds that its leadership specialty is No. 2 among public institutions in the nursing administration category. The specialty rank is the one to weigh: it is the programme most readers of this guide would actually take.
A naming note before you search further. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is the state’s health sciences campus and runs the School of Nursing. It is a different university from the University of Maryland, College Park, and admissions guides for College Park do not apply to UMSON.
University of Maryland online MSN specialties
| Detail | Nursing Leadership and Management | Nursing Informatics |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Can be completed entirely online; some electives have face-to-face options | Can be completed entirely online |
| Credits | 38 (29 core plus 9 focus area) | 36 |
| Practicum hours | 500 | 500 (495 practicum plus 5 for the scholarly paper) |
| Length | Average 3.5 years part time | As little as 2 years (5 semesters) full time; 7 semesters part time |
| Focus areas or extras | Leadership and Management, Education, or Business; MSN/MBA option | AIM-High programme and a separate informatics certificate |
| Practicum placement | Arranged with your advisor | At a site near you, with a practicum instructor |
The dual MSN/MBA runs 66 to 72 credits, with the MBA from either the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business or the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business, and can take up to seven years part time. An RN-to-MSN route exists for associate degree nurses in both specialties.
What changed in the leadership MSN from fall 2026
- The Maryland Higher Education Commission approved a revised curriculum in summer 2026, starting with the fall 2026 intake.
- The 1-credit Professional Writing course is dropped, and a scholarly paper worth 5 practice hours is added in the final semester.
- Practicum in Nursing Leadership and Management II grows from 4 credits and 180 hours to 5 credits and 225 hours.
- The programme page still shows 38 credits, so confirm the current plan of study with an advisor before you budget.
UMSON’s online education page lists no nurse practitioner MSN. Its DNP appears there as a blended programme with online core courses, which falls outside this guide.
Can international nurses apply to the University of Maryland online MSN?
Only after you hold a U.S. RN licence. UMSON accepts an equivalent foreign nursing degree for the BSN requirement, but the licence must be a valid, unrestricted U.S. one, and there is no student visa route.
| Your situation | Can you enrol? | What UMSON and UMB say |
|---|---|---|
| Living abroad without a U.S. RN licence | No | Both specialties require a copy of a valid, unrestricted U.S. RN licence |
| Wanting an F-1 or J-1 visa | No | The online MSN specialties, Community/Public Health MSN and RN-to-MSN are listed as not eligible because of the amount of online coursework |
| Foreign-educated nurse with a U.S. licence, living in the U.S. | Yes | A foreign nursing degree can count if evaluated as equivalent to a BSN |
| U.S. resident in any state | Generally yes | UMB lists SARA authorisation for 49 states, DC and Puerto Rico, plus approval in California |
| Planning to move states during the programme | Check first | UMB says continued enrolment cannot be guaranteed after a move; email state-authorizations@umaryland.edu before relocating |
UMB’s state authorization list says it was last updated in October 2017, so confirm your state with the Office of Accountability and Compliance (oac@umaryland.edu). UMB does not address students who live outside the U.S. at all.
The route for a foreign-educated nurse
- Get a course-by-course evaluation: UMSON accepts any NACES member, such as WES, ECE, FACS or AES. The report must show both credit value and letter grade, or it is rejected.
- Complete licensure steps with a state board: boards usually want their own credentials review, often through CGFNS (TruMerit), and an English test.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN: Maryland is in the Nurse Licensure Compact; UMSON points applicants to the Maryland Board of Nursing for the list of compact states.
- Move to the U.S. on a work route: most nurses come on employer-sponsored immigrant visas. This MSN cannot sponsor a visa.
- Apply through the UMSON Admissions Dashboard: with your licence copy, evaluation and English scores if required.
University of Maryland online MSN requirements
Both online specialties use the same list:
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN, CCNE or NLN CNEA accredited institution, or an equivalent foreign degree.
- An undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- A copy of a valid, unrestricted, current U.S. RN licence (Maryland applicants can send licence verification).
- One recommendation from a recent professional source.
- An essay of 500 to 1,000 words.
- A typed resume or CV.
- Official sealed transcripts from every institution attended.
- A $75 non-refundable application fee.
UMSON lists no minimum years of experience and no interview for these two specialties. The Community/Public Health MSN may invite applicants to an on-campus interview.
English test scores
| Test | UMSON minimum for MSN applicants |
|---|---|
| TOEFL internet-based | 79 |
| TOEFL paper-based | 550 |
| IELTS | Band 7 overall |
Scores older than two years are not accepted, and the report must arrive before the application deadline or the application may be cancelled. You are exempt if your degree came from a recognised university where all teaching was in English in a listed country. UMSON’s examples include the UK, English-speaking Canada, Australia, Ireland and Singapore. If your country is not on its list, you need an attestation from your school that English was the language of instruction, plus UMSON’s exemption form.
University of Maryland online MSN deadlines
| Start term | Regular and scholarship deadline | Final deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | 15 December 2026 | 5 January 2027 |
| Fall 2027 | 15 July 2027 | 1 August 2027 |
Both specialties use these dates. After the regular deadline, applications are reviewed only if space remains, and a deadline that falls on a weekend or holiday moves to the next business day. Apply by the regular date if you want scholarship consideration.
University of Maryland online MSN tuition
| Specialty | Maryland resident ($963 per credit) | Out-of-state ($1,708 per credit) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Leadership and Management (38 credits) | $36,594 | $64,904 |
| Nursing Informatics (36 credits) | $34,668 | $61,488 |
These totals are my multiplication of UMSON’s per-credit rates by the published credits. They leave out university and school fees, which UMSON says vary. Residents of the Southern Regional Education Board states in the Academic Common Market (including Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Delaware) may qualify for the in-state rate, which cuts the out-of-state bill by more than $28,000 on the leadership track.
Costs not covered by tuition
- University and School of Nursing fees each semester.
- Time and travel for 500 practicum hours at your placement site.
- The $75 application fee, transcript fees and, for foreign-educated nurses, the NACES evaluation and English test.
- NCLEX, licence and credential review fees if you are not yet licensed.
- Optional certification exams in nursing leadership or informatics after graduation.
Scholarships and financial aid
UMSON labels its regular deadline as the scholarship deadline; award details sit on its financial aid page. Federal loans through FAFSA are limited to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. The Academic Common Market rate is the biggest saving most out-of-state applicants can get.
Accreditation
UMSON’s master’s programme is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Its accreditation page refers to a 2024 self-study and reaccreditation process but does not print the term end date. UMSON’s online courses are also certified through the Southern Regional Education Board’s Electronic Campus. Neither specialty leads to APRN licensure, so there are no NP pass rates to report.
How to write the UMSON essay
With no interview for these specialties, the 500 to 1,000 word essay and your single recommendation carry most of the weight. Aim for about 700 words.
- Open with a specific problem from your unit: staffing, handoffs, documentation burden, a failed system rollout.
- Show what you already did about it as an RN, with numbers where you can.
- Explain why leadership or informatics training is the missing piece, and name your focus area if you choose leadership.
- Say where you could do the 500 practicum hours and who might supervise you.
- Close with the role you want in five years.
For illustration only, an informatics applicant might open like this:
“When our hospital switched electronic health records, medication documentation on my unit took eleven minutes longer per shift. I was the nurse who kept a notebook of every workaround. I want to be the person who designs the screen, so the next nurse does not need a notebook.”
Ask your recommender to describe a project they watched you lead. Our guide to recommendation letters with samples gives them a structure.
Common mistakes foreign-educated nurses make
- Applying with a home-country licence only: UMSON requires a U.S. RN licence.
- Hoping for an F-1 visa: UMSON names both online specialties as ineligible for F-1 or J-1 sponsorship.
- Ordering a document-only evaluation: UMSON rejects evaluations without course-by-course credits and grades.
- Assuming an English-medium degree is enough: unless your country is on UMSON’s list, you need a school attestation and the exemption form.
- Confusing UMB with College Park: they are separate universities with separate admissions.
Who should apply
UMSON suits U.S.-licensed RNs who want to move into management or informatics without leaving work, especially Maryland residents and nurses in Academic Common Market states who can pay the in-state rate. The leadership track’s tied No. 5 specialty ranking and its MSN/MBA option make it a strong pick for future nurse executives.
If you live outside the U.S. or are still preparing for the NCLEX, this programme is closed to you for now. Come back once you are licensed.
How UMSON compares with other ranked online MSN programmes
| Programme | U.S. News 2026 rank | Can you enrol from outside the U.S.? | Tuition basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland, Baltimore (this guide) | No. 72 (tied) | No; U.S. RN licence required, not F-1 or J-1 eligible | $963 (Maryland) or $1,708 (out-of-state) per credit |
| ECU online MSN | No. 9 | No, in practice; F-1 not available | $304.84 (NC) or $1,071.84 (non-resident) per credit, plus $150 MSN fee (spring 2026) |
| CU Anschutz online MSN | No. 12 | Yes for fully online specialties such as i-LEAD; no F-1 | $820 (resident) or $1,330 (non-resident) per credit, 2026-27 |
| UNMC online MSN | No. 41 | Not addressed; U.S. RN licence needed before clinicals | $746 (resident) or $1,348 (non-resident) per credit, 2026-27 |
| Duquesne University online MSN | No. 44 | Possibly for non-NP tracks; no F-1 for full-time online study | $1,918 per credit, 2026-27 |
FAQs
Can I study the University of Maryland online MSN from Nigeria?
No. Both online specialties require a valid, unrestricted U.S. RN licence, and UMSON says they are not eligible for F-1 or J-1 visa sponsorship.
Is the UMSON online MSN fully online?
Yes. UMSON says both Nursing Leadership and Management and Nursing Informatics can be completed entirely online, with 500 practicum hours at a site near you.
How much does the University of Maryland online MSN cost?
$963 per credit in state and $1,708 out of state, plus fees. That is about $36,594 or $64,904 in tuition for the 38-credit leadership track.
What is the UMSON MSN deadline for 2027?
15 December 2026 for spring 2027 (final 5 January 2027) and 15 July 2027 for fall 2027 (final 1 August 2027).
Sources and updates
Checked on 29 October 2026. Ranking: UMSON news, “UMSON again earns top national rankings in 2026 U.S. News Best Online Programs”. Specialty details, requirements, deadlines, tuition and visa status: UMSON Online MSN: Nursing Informatics and UMSON Online MSN: Nursing Leadership and Management pages. Fall 2026 curriculum changes: UMB Elm announcement on the revised MSN Nursing Leadership and Management programme. English tests, evaluations and the F-1/J-1 list: UMSON page for applicants without a U.S. degree and international applicants. Online programme list: UMSON Online Education page. State authorization: UMB Office of Accountability and Compliance. Accreditation: UMSON accreditation page. We will update this guide when UMSON posts 2027-28 tuition or new deadlines.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
