Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina

North Carolina has a number of schools that rank among the top in the country, and its nursing programs are no different. The Board of Nursing handles the state of North Carolina's regulations and nursing licenses.

Approximately 140,000 registered nurses work in the state as of 2024. While the average pay for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives in North Carolina ranges from $110,000 to $215,000, that of registered nurses is approximately $78,000.

Choosing the Best Nursing School

Students should be aware of their course requirements while selecting a nursing school. One must select between an online and traditional nursing program, depending on how much time one can devote to it. Students who intend to pursue other careers or who are currently employed in order to pay for their education might locate and apply to programs that offer blended learning since several schools also offer these options.

Additionally, students need to be aware of the institution's accreditation and reputation. The most sought-after certifications by students nationwide are those like CCNE or ACEN. Along with the NCLEX pass rate, one must also consider the program for which they are applying and its graduation rate. Students must double-check information particular to them, such as the program's acceptance rate and the cost of tuition for in-state and out-of-state students, after narrowing their list of potential colleges to a manageable number.

Cost of Studying Nursing in North Carolina

The type of school one applies to and the level of the program they enroll in will determine how much it costs to study nursing in North Carolina. Depending on the school, fees will be assessed to students either per credit or per semester. Additionally, there will be a difference in costs between out-of-state and in-state students. The tuition charged to out-of-state students is typically two or three times higher than that of in-state students.

Additionally, students will need to budget for any additional costs associated with the program. This will mostly take the form of vaccinations, supplies, and student services.

10 Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina

Institution	Location	In-state Fee	Out-of-state Fee	NCLEX Pass Rate
University of North Carolina	Chapel Hill	$4,500 (12+ credit hours)	$20,000 (12+ credit hours)	95.4%
Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem	$17,000 to $26,000	$17,000 to $26,000	NA
University of North Carolina	Charlotte	$1,900 (14 credit hours)	$8,700 (14 credit hours)	92%
University of North Carolina	Greensboro	$7,700 annually	$24,000 annually	91%
Duke University	Durham	$27,000 per semester	$27,000 per semester	95.4%
Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem	$140 per credit hour	$580 per credit hour	88%
East Carolina University	Greenville	$7,500 annually	$24,000 annually	97%
Appalachian State University	Boone	8,000 annually	$25,000 annually	95.4%
Western Carolina University	Cullowhee	$3,700 per semester	$5,700 per semester	98.6%
Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville	$42 per credit hour	$210 per credit hour	88.4%

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

One of the nation's oldest public colleges, the University of North Carolina, provides over 260 bachelor's, master's, and professional degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has granted it accreditation, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education have granted accreditation to the School of Nursing. The institution granted scholarships totaling over $350K in 2023. Four undergraduate, three MSN, four DNP, two PhD, and graduate and postgraduate certificate programs in nursing are offered by the nursing school.

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is a private research institution with approximately 100 programs. It is recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. The majority of Wake Forest scholarships use financial need as a consideration for selecting recipients. The university's nursing anesthesia program ranks 10th in the nation. Only two doctoral programs in nursing are offered by Wake Forest University School of Medicine: The Nurse Anesthesia Program and the Post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice Program.

University of North Carolina - Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public institution that offers roughly 160 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. It is categorized as a "R2: Doctoral Universities â€" High research activity" university. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has granted accreditation to the university, while the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has accredited the school of nursing. BSN, RN-BSN, MSN in five concentrations, BSN to DNP, post-masters DNP, three graduate certificates, and two post-graduate APRN certificate programs are all offered by the university's school of nursing.

University of North Carolina - Greensboro

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, part of the University of North Carolina system, is a public research university recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. It has over 450 academic programs and is ranked well for community involvement and research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. The university received outside financing of roughly $68 million every year. The University's School of Nursing provides MBA/MSN, MSN, BSN, RN to BSN, and four DNP programs.

Duke University

Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Duke University is a private research school. In 2022â€"2023 there will be roughly 59,000 need-based grants given out on average. The Duke University School of Medicine and the Duke University School of Nursing integrate clinical care, research, and teaching across multiple locations in the surrounding area. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has recognized Duke's School of Nursing, which provides accelerated BSN, MSN, 4 DNP, and PhD in nursing programs.

Winston-Salem State University

A historically black public university, Winston-Salem State University is a component of the University of North Carolina system. It has over 100 academic programs and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The university offers Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN, LPN to BSN, RN to BSN, MSN with a concentration on Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) and Advanced Nurse Educators (ANE), BSN to DNP, and MSN to DNP, all of which are certified by CCNE.

East Carolina University

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), East Carolina State University is a public research university that offers over 270 academic degrees and certificates. The university is one of the select few to be named an Innovation & Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities. BSN is the undergraduate degree program with the highest enrollment at the university. Nursing BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD programs are available through the College of Nursing.

Appalachian State University

Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Appalachian State University is a public university that is a part of the University of North Carolina. Through eight schools, it provides more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors. Grants for Sponsored Programs and Research totaled approximately $1.10 billion. University students will receive a minimum of $5,000 in Next NC Scholarships. The university provides RN to BSN, MSN, and Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education programs that are accredited by CCNE.

Western Carolina University - Cullowhee

Western Carolina Institution is a public institution that offers roughly 160 academic programs. It is a component of the University of North Carolina system. For ten years running, the University has ranked among the top 10 universities in the nation for the quantity of research projects accepted into the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. The North Carolina Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education have accredited the university's nursing programs. The BSN, RN-BSN, ABSN, WNC RIBN, two MSN programs, three DNP programs, and post-MSN programs are all offered by the university's school of nursing.

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University is a historically black public university that is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the University of North Carolina System. Located in North Carolina, it is the second-oldest state-aided university and provides more than 60 undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degrees across four campuses. The university's nursing programs rank third in the Southeast, and the CCNE has recognized the nursing baccalaureate degree program. The university provides MSN, RN-BSN, ABSN, and BSN programs in nursing.