Bowie State University Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Maryland’s first historically Black public university anchors a Department of Nursing that offers a Traditional BSN, MSN (Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator), and post-master’s certificates, with a revised RN-to-BSN relaunch planned for spring 2026. NCLEX figures below cite Bowie State’s published academic-year rates on its accreditation page plus Maryland Board of Nursing PDF resources; tuition cites official Fall 2025/Spring 2026 student accounts tables.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Bowie State emphasizes simulation-forward learning (including high-fidelity manikins such as the “Noel” obstetric simulator named on the Nursing Major page) and lists clinical affiliates across the National Capital Region and Central Maryland. Pair those strengths with the cited tuition tables and transparent NCLEX disclosures on the Department’s accreditation page, then cross-check program-level pass/fail data on the Maryland Board of Nursing RN NCLEX PDFs.
Overview & Why Students Choose Bowie State Nursing
Between Baltimore and the District of Columbia, Bowie State University’s Department of Nursing blends liberal-arts breadth with pre-licensure BSN preparation, then layers graduate options for licensed RNs who want Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator credentials. Public materials highlight simulation labs in the Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Nursing, student organizations such as the Student Nurse Association and Chi Eta Phi chapter, and a mission to expand representation among nurses of color.
The Department is explicit about pathway availability: the Traditional BSN remains the core pre-licensure route, while the Accelerated BSN track is not accepting applications on the public nursing homepage, and the RN-to-BSN program is being revised ahead of a planned spring 2026 relaunch—verify status before you assume entry. Graduate students can pursue MSN concentrations published on the Master of Science in Nursing page, with post-master’s certificates for nurses who already hold advanced credentials.
On the Department’s baccalaureate nursing accreditation page, Bowie State lists first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of 83.33% (AY 2023), 85.71% (AY 2024), and 95.00% (AY 2025). Those figures are school-reported by academic year, not identical to Maryland Board of Nursing fiscal-year PDF tables—confirm definitions with both sources.
The same accreditation disclosure lists the baccalaureate program’s most recent ACEN decision as Continuing Accreditation with Conditions. That means accreditation continues but the program must meet specified follow-up expectations—confirm what is public on ACEN’s site and with the Department.
Reasons students choose Bowie State
Capital-region clinical exposure
The Nursing Major page names hospitals and systems such as Children’s National, Howard University Hospital, MedStar Southern Maryland, UM Capital Region Health, and the DC VA—offering diverse acuity and community contexts.
Simulation-forward skills labs
BSU highlights SimMan, SimBaby, virtual scenarios, and specialized manikins (including obstetric simulation) inside the Simulation Resource Center.
Graduate FNP & Educator tracks
The MSN page outlines Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator curricula with published credit and practicum expectations, plus evening, online, or hybrid delivery depending on course.
Transparent NCLEX & outcomes tables
Undergraduate and graduate accreditation/outcomes pages publish NCLEX, completion, and (where listed) job-placement metrics by academic year—always read footnotes and confirm cohort years.
Accessible public tuition bands
Maryland resident totals on the Fall 2025/Spring 2026 undergraduate tuition table land well below many private peers; graduate per-credit totals are listed separately for budgeting.
Nursing Programs Offered
Program scope below reflects the Bowie State Department of Nursing homepage, Nursing Major, MSN, and post-master’s certificate pages as reviewed March 2026. Bowie State does not list DNP or PhD nursing degrees on those indices—do not assume doctoral nursing offerings without a catalog check.
Pre-licensure (NCLEX-RN eligible)
Traditional BSN
The undergraduate nursing major prepares generalist RNs with professional coursework, simulation, and clinical practica; admissions run through NursingCAS with GPA thresholds and TEAS testing published on the Department site.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)
The Department’s public nursing homepage states that no applications are currently being accepted for the Accelerated program—treat this pathway as paused until BSU announces a new cycle.
Post-licensure undergraduate
RN-to-BSN
Bowie State announced a revised RN-BSN track relaunch in spring 2026. Monitor the Department homepage for application reopening, delivery format, and any prerequisite updates.
Graduate nursing
MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner
BSU publishes a 49-credit FNP track with 600 supervised direct patient hours for students who enrolled before July 1, 2025, and 750 hours for cohorts entering Fall 2025 or later to meet updated national expectations.
MSN — Nurse Educator
The Nurse Educator concentration requires 35 credits, 180 practicum hours, and a comprehensive exam; coursework blends evening, online, or hybrid modalities per the MSN page.
Post-Master’s Certificate of Advanced Study
Separate certificate pathways for Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator appear on the graduate certificate pages for nurses who already hold relevant master’s preparation.
The MSN page references an off-site degree option coordinated through the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland. Confirm seat availability, residency, and advising with the graduate nursing office.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
You can triangulate Bowie State’s pre-licensure performance using (1) school-reported academic-year tables on the Department’s accreditation page and (2) Maryland Board of Nursing fiscal-year PDFs that list pass/fail counts by program. Academic-year and fiscal-year definitions differ, so percentages will not always match line-for-line.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (AY 2024, school-reported) | 85.71% — Bowie State Department of Nursing baccalaureate accreditation page |
| First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (AY 2025, school-reported) | 95.00% — same page (confirm cohort size and methodology with the Department) |
| Maryland Board of Nursing (program-level FY tables) | Use the RN PDF links (for example FY 2024, FY 2025) on the MBON education NCLEX statistics page to locate Bowie State University’s row. |
| Source | Bowie State — Baccalaureate nursing accreditation disclosure; Maryland Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass/fail rates by program. Confirm current data with the Board and BSU. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and reporting window. Always corroborate the newest academic-year disclosures on Bowie State’s site with the latest MBON FY PDF relevant to your entry year.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Bowie State’s graduate nursing admissions text references credential evaluation for foreign baccalaureates (ECE or CGFNS). Pair that requirement with university-wide admissions policies, visa documentation, and Maryland Board of Nursing licensure rules for internationally educated nurses.
- English-language proficiency: Confirm TOEFL, IELTS, or other minimum scores with Bowie State Admissions or the Office of International Services for your applicant type.
- Credential evaluation: Plan for transcript evaluations (ECE, CGFNS, or other vendors acceptable to BSU) as described on the MSN admissions page.
- Clinical clearance: Graduate policies require immunizations, physical exams, and RN licensure verification; international students must also confirm visa-compliant participation in clinical placements.
- Maryland Board of Nursing: For RN licensure eligibility, NCLEX authorization, and endorsement, follow the Board’s current checklist for internationally educated applicants.
This section is guidance, not legal advice. Double-check every point with Bowie State admissions offices and the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Traditional BSN applicants compete for limited seats and must satisfy both university admission and Department progression standards. Graduate applicants need an accredited BSN, active RN license, professional recommendations, and (for FNP) at least one year of acute-care experience per the MSN page.
Application timeline
| Applicant type | Deadlines | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional undergraduate nursing | Example cycle posted on Department homepage: applications open Nov 1; deadline Dec 7, 2025; TEAS deadline Dec 4, 2025 | Confirm each year’s NursingCAS instructions, essay prompts, and reference requirements on the undergraduate admissions page. |
| Accelerated BSN | Applications not accepted (per public Department homepage) | Monitor the Department site for reopening announcements. |
| RN-to-BSN | Relaunch spring 2026 (per Department homepage) | Verify whether applications have reopened and which modality applies. |
| MSN & post-master’s certificates | Graduate applications listed as TBA on Department homepage at last review | Use the Graduate School application plus the nursing supplemental PDF referenced on the MSN page. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing-specific %) | Not publicly disclosed |
| GPA minimums (Traditional BSN) | Cumulative GPA ≥2.75 and science GPA ≥3.0 (science within five years)—per undergraduate admissions page |
| TEAS | Required for the traditional undergraduate option; follow ATI/Department instructions |
| MSN GPA & experience | BSN GPA ≥3.0; unencumbered RN license; ≥1 year acute-care experience for FNP; CGFNS/ECE for foreign transcripts |
Because pathways differ (pre-licensure vs. post-licensure MSN), tailor your essay and resume to the exact track, cite clinical leadership or service experiences for Traditional BSN, and highlight teaching or advanced practice goals for graduate entry.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Bowie State publishes university-wide tuition and mandatory fee schedules; nursing majors generally follow the undergraduate or graduate totals below unless a program-specific fee is listed separately. Add housing, meals, transportation to clinical sites, books, uniforms, and health requirements when you build a full cost of attendance.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate full-time (12+ credits per semester) — Fall 2025/Spring 2026 | Total proposed tuition & mandatory fees $9,529 per year in-state and $20,464 out-of-state |
| Undergraduate part-time (per credit) | Total tuition & mandatory fees $423.96 per credit in-state and $872.96 out-of-state |
| Graduate (per credit) — Fall 2025/Spring 2026 | Total tuition & mandatory fees $621.81 per credit in-state and $900.81 out-of-state |
| Source | Bowie State — Undergraduate Fall/Spring tuition & fees; Graduate Fall/Spring tuition & fees. Confirm residency and fees with Student Accounts. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Bowie State publishes undergraduate and graduate outcome metrics on its accreditation and program-outcomes pages. Strong percentages must be read in context: confirm cohort years, denominators, and whether figures describe completion, certification exams, or employment.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (BSN, school-reported) | 83.33% (AY 2023); 85.71% (AY 2024); 95.00% (AY 2025)—Bowie State baccalaureate accreditation page |
| Undergraduate job placement (school-reported) | Department lists 100% job placement for AY 2023, 2024, and 2025—confirm definitions and survey methodology with BSU |
| MSN FNP certification exam pass rate (school-reported) | Program outcomes page lists rates by academic year (for example 83% in AY 2025)—confirm cohort with the Department |
| Source | BSU undergraduate accreditation / outcomes; Graduate program outcomes; Maryland Board of Nursing NCLEX statistics. |
Is Bowie State University Nursing Right for You?
Bowie State fits students who want an HBCU-affiliated public university between Baltimore and Washington, DC, with published MSN tracks and a simulation-heavy Traditional BSN.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want a Traditional BSN with transparent admissions metrics (GPA, TEAS) and named clinical affiliates.
- Prefer evening, online, or hybrid MSN options for FNP or Nurse Educator preparation.
- Value student organizations such as the Student Nurse Association or Chi Eta Phi chapter for service and mentorship.
- Plan to cross-check outcomes using both BSU disclosures and Maryland Board PDFs.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need an Accelerated BSN immediately—applications were not accepted on the public Department homepage at last review.
- Expect a reopened RN-to-BSN pathway before verifying the spring 2026 relaunch details.
- Prefer a single campus far from the DC–Baltimore corridor clinical commute.
- Require CCNE accreditation—Bowie State’s nursing programs are ACEN-accredited per Department pages.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Prince George’s County and the adjacent National Capital Region offer large teaching hospitals, community health centers, long-term care, and federal agencies. Bowie State’s published clinical list includes tertiary pediatric care (Children’s National), academic medical centers (Howard University Hospital), VA settings, and regional MedStar and UMMS facilities—mirroring the breadth of roles described on the Nursing Major page.
| Theme | Details |
|---|---|
| Metro tertiary & specialty | Students may encounter high-acuity inpatient units, specialty clinics, and pediatric quaternary care depending on rotation. |
| Community & public health | Greenbelt assisted-living, home-care partners, and Heart to Hand–style community placements support population-health competencies. |
| Placement verification | Contracts rotate; request the official affiliation roster from the Department’s clinical coordinators rather than relying solely on marketing lists. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing courses and labs are centered in the Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Nursing, with Simulation Resource Center staff supporting high-fidelity scenarios. Student organizations include the Student Nurse Association and the Lambda Phi Beta chapter of Chi Eta Phi, which focus on service, leadership, and health equity programming.
Campus life reflects Bowie State’s NCAA Division II athletics, marching band, and student leadership programs, while proximity to Washington, DC, and Baltimore provides cultural and clinical opportunities beyond Prince George’s County. Confirm active organizations each year through the Department of Nursing and Student Affairs.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Department
- Bowie State University Department of Nursing
- Primary location
- Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Nursing, Bowie, Maryland
- Campus address
- 14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715, US
- Department chair
- (301) 860-3201 · malston1@bowiestate.edu
- Undergraduate advisement
- (301) 860-3202 · kdovale@bowiestate.edu
- Department administration
- (301) 860-3205 · tdjohnson@bowiestate.edu
- Website
- bowiestate.edu — Department of Nursing
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Open the Department of Nursing page and confirm whether Accelerated BSN or RN-to-BSN applications are open for your term.
- Download NursingCAS instructions, TEAS information, and GPA rules for the Traditional BSN pathway.
- Compare your transcripts to the science GPA rule (3.0 within five years) and cumulative GPA minimum (2.75).
- Bookmark the Maryland Board RN NCLEX PDF for the fiscal year aligned with your planned graduation.
- Model tuition using the Fall 2025/Spring 2026 full-time and per-credit tables plus housing estimates.
- If you are MSN-bound, collect RN licensure verification, resume, and recommendation contacts required by the graduate nursing application PDF.
- Email the Simulation Resource Center or advisement staff if you want a tour of the skills labs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates does Bowie State publish for its BSN program?
On the Department’s baccalaureate accreditation page, Bowie State lists first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates by academic year—for example 85.71 percent (AY 2024) and 95.00 percent (AY 2025). Cross-check Maryland Board of Nursing FY PDFs for program-level testing statistics and confirm definitions with both sources.
Is Bowie State’s nursing program ACEN-accredited?
Yes. Department pages state ACEN accreditation for the baccalaureate and graduate programs, with the baccalaureate decision described as Continuing Accreditation with Conditions on the accreditation disclosure. Confirm current public records with ACEN.
Can I apply to Bowie State’s Accelerated BSN or RN-to-BSN right now?
The Department’s public nursing homepage states that Accelerated applications are not being accepted and that RN-BSN was revised ahead of a spring 2026 relaunch. Verify the live site before you plan entry.
What GPA and tests does Bowie State require for Traditional BSN admission?
Undergraduate admissions materials list a 2.75 cumulative GPA, 3.0 science GPA (sciences within five years), NursingCAS materials, and the TEAS exam with deadlines published for each cycle.
How much is undergraduate tuition at Bowie State for 2025–2026?
The Fall 2025/Spring 2026 schedule lists $9,529 per year in total tuition and mandatory fees for full-time Maryland residents and $20,464 for out-of-state students at 12 or more credits per semester.
Which MSN tracks does Bowie State offer?
The MSN page describes Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator concentrations plus post-master’s certificate options, with published credit and practicum requirements.
Where does Bowie State send nursing students for clinicals?
The Nursing Major page lists partners such as Anne Arundel Medical Center, Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Children’s National, Howard University Hospital, MedStar Southern Maryland, UM Capital Region Health, and the DC VA—among others. Confirm the current roster with the Department.
Where should I verify Maryland’s official NCLEX statistics?
Use the Maryland Board of Nursing education NCLEX statistics page, which links to annual RN PDFs by fiscal year for each approved program.
What should internationally educated nurses do before applying to Bowie State?
Follow Bowie State admissions requirements, complete any required credential evaluation (ECE or CGFNS for graduate applicants per the MSN page), and parallel-track Maryland Board of Nursing licensure steps. This page is not legal advice.
References
- Bowie State University — Department of Nursinghttps://www.bowiestate.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-professional-studies/departments/nursing/
- Bowie State — Nursing Major (undergraduate)https://www.bowiestate.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-professional-studies/departments/nursing/undergraduate-programs/nursing/
- Bowie State — Baccalaureate nursing accreditation / NCLEX disclosureshttps://www.bowiestate.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-professional-studies/departments/nursing/undergraduate-programs/nursing/accreditation.php
- Bowie State — Master of Science in Nursinghttps://www.bowiestate.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-professional-studies/departments/nursing/graduate-programs/nursing-masters/
- Bowie State — Graduate program outcomeshttps://www.bowiestate.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-professional-studies/departments/nursing/graduate-programs/accreditation/program-outcomes.php
- Bowie State — Undergraduate Fall/Spring tuition & fees (2025–2026)BSU undergraduate tuition table
- Bowie State — Graduate Fall/Spring tuition & fees (2025–2026)BSU graduate tuition table
- Maryland Board of Nursing — NCLEX exam pass/fail rates by programhttps://mbon.maryland.gov/Pages/education-nclex-stats.aspx
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)acenursing.org
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for alignment between Bowie State’s published nursing accreditation pages and the Maryland Board of Nursing NCLEX resource index, verification of program scope against the Department of Nursing website (including Accelerated and RN-to-BSN status notices), and consistency with Bowie State Student Accounts Fall 2025/Spring 2026 tuition tables.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, accreditation status, tuition, and policies change; always verify with Bowie State University Department of Nursing and the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Published: 2026-03-24 · Last reviewed: March 24, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy