Best Nursing Programs in North Carolina (2026)
Nursing programs in North Carolina span community-college ADN paths, BSN programs at four-year universities, and accelerated BSN options. The schools below are ranked by NCLEX pass rates (where available), graduation rate, and net price — for families weighing both cost and outcomes.
#1
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC
Net Price
$17,618/yr
Median Earnings
$58,708
Grad Rate
62%
Nursing Share
96.8%
#2
Chamberlain University-North Carolina
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$38,436/yr
Median Earnings
$92,405
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#3
Duke University
Durham, NC
Net Price
$29,612/yr
Median Earnings
$97,800
Grad Rate
96%
Nursing Share
9.7%
#4
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$64,624
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#5
South University-High Point
High Point, NC
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$34,421
Grad Rate
11%
Nursing Share
100.0%
#6
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Net Price
$11,655/yr
Median Earnings
$72,200
Grad Rate
92%
Nursing Share
6.4%
#7
Elon University
Elon, NC
Net Price
$41,555/yr
Median Earnings
$74,545
Grad Rate
84%
Nursing Share
3.3%
#8
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$30,857/yr
Median Earnings
$57,673
Grad Rate
64%
Nursing Share
30.6%
#9
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Net Price
$20,109/yr
Median Earnings
$54,967
Grad Rate
71%
Nursing Share
26.4%
#10
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC
Net Price
$13,479/yr
Median Earnings
$45,344
Grad Rate
48%
Nursing Share
36.7%
#11
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
Net Price
$15,739/yr
Median Earnings
$55,146
Grad Rate
62%
Nursing Share
16.0%
#12
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Net Price
$13,315/yr
Median Earnings
$49,458
Grad Rate
60%
Nursing Share
21.6%
#13
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$15,435/yr
Median Earnings
$57,289
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
8.5%
#14
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
Net Price
$16,836/yr
Median Earnings
$51,836
Grad Rate
74%
Nursing Share
7.8%
#15
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC
Net Price
$17,674/yr
Median Earnings
$48,039
Grad Rate
59%
Nursing Share
20.7%
#16
High Point University
High Point, NC
Net Price
$38,707/yr
Median Earnings
$61,389
Grad Rate
72%
Nursing Share
0.2%
#17
Watts College of Nursing
Durham, NC
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
—
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#18
Miller-Motte College-Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Net Price
$22,321/yr
Median Earnings
$31,102
Grad Rate
6%
Nursing Share
71.3%
#19
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC
Net Price
$24,516/yr
Median Earnings
$54,886
Grad Rate
58%
Nursing Share
12.6%
#20
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC
Net Price
$22,488/yr
Median Earnings
$51,539
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
6.6%
#21
Barton College
Wilson, NC
Net Price
$23,626/yr
Median Earnings
$47,913
Grad Rate
48%
Nursing Share
19.6%
#22
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$10,965/yr
Median Earnings
$48,160
Grad Rate
57%
Nursing Share
11.7%
#23
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC
Net Price
$20,689/yr
Median Earnings
$45,543
Grad Rate
49%
Nursing Share
18.4%
#24
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC
Net Price
$17,879/yr
Median Earnings
$48,793
Grad Rate
50%
Nursing Share
12.8%
#25
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, NC
Net Price
$19,076/yr
Median Earnings
$51,562
Grad Rate
39%
Nursing Share
14.4%
Why a Nursing degree?
Registered Nursing has 1.4% unemployment and a median salary of $93,600. The U.S. nurse shortage is structural, not cyclical — these jobs aren't going anywhere.
Common career paths: Registered Nurse · Nurse Practitioner · Critical Care Nurse · Pediatric Nurse · Public Health Nurse
Typical starting salary range: $70,000–$93,600
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in North Carolina
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