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.
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#1
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC
Net Price
$16,171/yr
Median Earnings
$62,982
Grad Rate
54%
Nursing Share
96.7%
#2
Chamberlain University-North Carolina
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$38,460/yr
Median Earnings
$96,897
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#3
Duke University
Durham, NC
Net Price
$23,706/yr
Median Earnings
$113,937
Grad Rate
96%
Nursing Share
6.1%
#4
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$41,061/yr
Median Earnings
$70,075
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
99.7%
#5
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Net Price
$11,305/yr
Median Earnings
$81,094
Grad Rate
91%
Nursing Share
6.3%
#6
South University-High Point
High Point, NC
Net Price
$18,546/yr
Median Earnings
$39,314
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#7
Elon University
Elon, NC
Net Price
$35,785/yr
Median Earnings
$82,524
Grad Rate
83%
Nursing Share
5.1%
#8
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Net Price
$19,570/yr
Median Earnings
$61,019
Grad Rate
71%
Nursing Share
24.2%
#9
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$29,421/yr
Median Earnings
$58,736
Grad Rate
59%
Nursing Share
23.7%
#10
High Point University
High Point, NC
Net Price
$41,019/yr
Median Earnings
$73,547
Grad Rate
73%
Nursing Share
1.4%
#11
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC
Net Price
$12,817/yr
Median Earnings
$52,558
Grad Rate
47%
Nursing Share
34.8%
#12
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
Net Price
$16,880/yr
Median Earnings
$60,387
Grad Rate
63%
Nursing Share
16.3%
#13
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Net Price
$13,025/yr
Median Earnings
$53,764
Grad Rate
61%
Nursing Share
21.8%
#14
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$15,142/yr
Median Earnings
$63,486
Grad Rate
69%
Nursing Share
7.9%
#15
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
Net Price
$16,082/yr
Median Earnings
$57,488
Grad Rate
73%
Nursing Share
7.0%
#16
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC
Net Price
$25,057/yr
Median Earnings
$59,026
Grad Rate
60%
Nursing Share
13.8%
#17
Watts College of Nursing
Durham, NC
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
—
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#18
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC
Net Price
$21,150/yr
Median Earnings
$53,543
Grad Rate
51%
Nursing Share
20.1%
#19
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC
Net Price
$22,801/yr
Median Earnings
$54,417
Grad Rate
71%
Nursing Share
4.3%
#20
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$12,291/yr
Median Earnings
$53,402
Grad Rate
57%
Nursing Share
13.1%
#21
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC
Net Price
$18,641/yr
Median Earnings
$54,752
Grad Rate
49%
Nursing Share
13.8%
#22
Barton College
Wilson, NC
Net Price
$24,367/yr
Median Earnings
$52,876
Grad Rate
47%
Nursing Share
12.5%
#23
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC
Net Price
$18,927/yr
Median Earnings
$54,851
Grad Rate
47%
Nursing Share
10.7%
#24
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$9,884/yr
Median Earnings
$50,279
Grad Rate
57%
Nursing Share
6.3%
#25
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC
Net Price
$25,416/yr
Median Earnings
$53,850
Grad Rate
48%
Nursing Share
9.8%
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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