Question 1

How many accredited nursing programs are in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

North Carolina has dozens of accredited nursing programs across community colleges and four-year universities, listed in full on this page. Every school on this page is verified in the federal IPEDS database and carries either CCNE or ACEN accreditation. The map above plots each program's location and the sortable table below shows in-state tuition, program length, and completion rate for direct comparison.

Question 2

Which North Carolina nursing program has the highest NCLEX-RN pass rate?

Accepted Answer

The North Carolina Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for every approved program in the state. Rates fluctuate year to year. Our NCLEX pass rates guide compiles the most recent state-level and top-program data for North Carolina and every other state, updated after each board release. Check the current annual report from North Carolina Board of Nursing before your final enrollment decision.

Question 3

What is the average cost of nursing school in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Public community college ADN programs in North Carolina typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 per year for state residents. Public university BSN programs run $8,000 to $15,000 per year in-state and $22,000 to $35,000 per year out-of-state. Private university BSN programs charge $28,000 to $45,000 per year regardless of residency. Institutional aid, state grants, and federal Pell grants substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost for most students.

Question 4

Do North Carolina hospitals hire ADN-prepared nurses or require a BSN?

Accepted Answer

Most North Carolina hospitals hire ADN registered nurses for medical-surgical, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Larger urban systems and magnet-status facilities increasingly prefer or require a BSN for hospital positions, especially in specialty units like ICU, ER, and OR. If you start at ADN level, plan for an online RN-to-BSN completion within three years of your first job. Most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for this bridge.

Question 5

How does North Carolina RN licensure work?

Accepted Answer

After graduating from a North Carolina Board of Nursing approved program, apply for RN licensure through North Carolina Board of Nursing, complete a criminal background check, and register for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE. Once approved to test, you have 90 days to schedule your exam. See the how-to-become-a-nurse guide for the complete step-by-step process, including timing, fees, and endorsement rules for nurses moving to North Carolina from other states.

Question 6

Is North Carolina part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Accepted Answer

Compact membership varies by state and changes as legislatures act. Once you hold a compact-state RN license, you can practice in any of the 41 other compact states without additional licensure. Check the current status of North Carolina in the Nurse Licensure Compact through North Carolina Board of Nursing before assuming multi-state privileges. Non-compact states require endorsement application and fees for each additional state you plan to practice in.

Question 7

What is the RN salary in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows RN median wages in North Carolina vary significantly by metro area, hospital type, and specialty. Statewide medians typically fall between $65,000 and $90,000 per year. Urban acute care and specialty units pay above the state median. Rural and long-term care settings pay below. Travel nursing contracts in North Carolina commonly pay $2,000 to $2,800 per week. Full salary breakdown by specialty and years of experience is on the nurse salary guide.

Question 8

Are there online nursing programs available to North Carolina residents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. North Carolina residents can enroll in any CCNE-accredited online BSN, RN-to-BSN, or MSN program that accepts out-of-state students. Six commonly-available accredited online programs are compared on the online nursing programs page, including options that place students at local North Carolina hospitals for clinical rotations. Online programs are particularly popular for working nurses in North Carolina who need scheduling flexibility around 12-hour shift work.

Question 9

What prerequisite classes do I need before applying to a North Carolina nursing program?

Accepted Answer

Nursing programs in North Carolina typically require the same core prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology with lab, General Chemistry, Nutrition, English Composition, College Algebra or Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Sociology. Community colleges in North Carolina offer these prerequisites at low cost and credits transfer directly to state university BSN programs. Plan for two full semesters to complete prerequisites before applying to your first-choice program.

Question 10

How long does nursing school take in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Timing depends on the program type. Practical nurse (LPN) diploma programs run 12 to 18 months. Associate degree (ADN) programs at community colleges run two years. Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs at four-year universities take four years. Accelerated BSN options for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field can finish in 12 to 16 months. RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs for working nurses typically take 12 to 24 months of part-time study.


Alamance Community College	Graham, NC	$2,592	Public	39%
Appalachian State University	Boone, NC	$7,579	Public	75%
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College	Asheville, NC	$2,882	Public	40%
Barton College	Wilson, NC	$37,250	Private non-profit	46%
Beaufort County Community College	Washington, NC	$2,540	Public	48%
Belmont Abbey College	Belmont, NC	$19,500	Private non-profit	47%
Bladen Community College	Dublin, NC	$2,618	Public	23%
Blue Ridge Community College	Flat Rock, NC	$2,660	Public	50%
Brunswick Community College	Bolivia, NC	$2,553	Public	40%
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences	Concord, NC	$16,550	Private non-profit	71%
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute	Hudson, NC	$2,526	Public	45%
Campbell University	Buies Creek, NC	$41,600	Private non-profit	61%
Cape Fear Community College	Wilmington, NC	$2,748	Public	34%
Carolinas College of Health Sciences	Charlotte, NC	$18,882	Public	100%
Carteret Community College	Morehead City, NC	$2,310	Public	49%
Catawba College	Salisbury, NC	$34,300	Private non-profit	47%
Catawba Valley Community College	Hickory, NC	$2,427	Public	35%
Central Carolina Community College	Sanford, NC	$2,711	Public	43%
Central Piedmont Community College	Charlotte, NC	$2,792	Public	31%
Chamberlain University-North Carolina	Charlotte, NC	$20,785	Private for-profit	Not reported
Cleveland Community College	Shelby, NC	$2,602	Public	32%
Coastal Carolina Community College	Jacksonville, NC	$2,512	Public	49%
College of the Albemarle	Elizabeth City, NC	$2,242	Public	35%
Craven Community College	New Bern, NC	$2,022	Public	48%
Davidson-Davie Community College	Thomasville, NC	$1,980	Public	46%
Duke University	Durham, NC	$68,758	Private non-profit	97%
Durham Technical Community College	Durham, NC	$1,986	Public	45%
East Carolina University	Greenville, NC	$7,361	Public	63%
Edgecombe Community College	Tarboro, NC	$2,640	Public	37%
Elon University	Elon, NC	$46,958	Private non-profit	84%
Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville, NC	$4,353	Public	38%
Fayetteville Technical Community College	Fayetteville, NC	$2,628	Public	24%
Forsyth Technical Community College	Winston-Salem, NC	$2,276	Public	34%
Galen Health Institutes-Asheville	Asheville, NC	$17,048	Private for-profit	Not reported
Gardner-Webb University	Boiling Springs, NC	$34,760	Private non-profit	55%
Gaston College	Dallas, NC	$3,186	Public	63%
Guilford Technical Community College	Jamestown, NC	$2,320	Public	31%
Halifax Community College	Weldon, NC	$2,608	Public	35%
Haywood Community College	Clyde, NC	$2,580	Public	34%
High Point University	High Point, NC	$45,312	Private non-profit	74%
Isothermal Community College	Spindale, NC	$2,030	Public	55%
James Sprunt Community College	Kenansville, NC	$2,592	Public	48%
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte	Charlotte, NC	$42,419	Private non-profit	49%
Johnston Community College	Smithfield, NC	$2,756	Public	37%
Lees-McRae College	Banner Elk, NC	$33,250	Private non-profit	42%
Lenoir Community College	Kinston, NC	$2,578	Public	36%
Lenoir-Rhyne University	Hickory, NC	$31,900	Private non-profit	48%
Mars Hill University	Mars Hill, NC	$37,736	Private non-profit	45%
Mayland Community College	Spruce Pine, NC	$2,626	Public	46%
McDowell Technical Community College	Marion, NC	$2,032	Public	48%
Methodist University	Fayetteville, NC	$41,250	Private non-profit	44%
Mitchell Community College	Statesville, NC	$2,641	Public	28%
Montgomery Community College	Troy, NC	$2,538	Public	84%
Nash Community College	Rocky Mount, NC	$2,866	Public	41%
North Carolina A & T State University	Greensboro, NC	$6,813	Public	57%
North Carolina Central University	Durham, NC	$6,699	Public	42%
North Carolina Wesleyan University	Rocky Mount, NC	$35,736	Private non-profit	42%
Pfeiffer University	Misenheimer, NC	$35,070	Private non-profit	35%
Piedmont Community College	Roxboro, NC	$2,556	Public	20%
Pitt Community College	Winterville, NC	$2,580	Public	35%
Queens University of Charlotte	Charlotte, NC	$45,846	Private non-profit	61%
Randolph Community College	Asheboro, NC	$2,416	Public	58%
Richmond Community College	Hamlet, NC	$1,956	Public	46%
Roanoke-Chowan Community College	Ahoskie, NC	$2,642	Public	37%
Robeson Community College	Lumberton, NC	$2,581	Public	33%
Rockingham Community College	Wentworth, NC	$1,966	Public	35%
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College	Salisbury, NC	$2,064	Public	35%
Sampson Community College	Clinton, NC	$2,877	Public	56%
Sandhills Community College	Pinehurst, NC	$2,040	Public	53%
South Piedmont Community College	Polkton, NC	$2,022	Public	38%
South University-High Point	High Point, NC	$18,145	Private for-profit	Not reported
Southeastern Community College	Whiteville, NC	$2,600	Public	43%
Southwestern Community College	Sylva, NC	$4,112	Public	53%
Stanly Community College	Albemarle, NC	$2,672	Public	48%
Surry Community College	Dobson, NC	$2,668	Public	6%
Tri-County Community College	Murphy, NC	$2,636	Public	54%
University of Mount Olive	Mount Olive, NC	$27,366	Private non-profit	52%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill, NC	$8,994	Public	91%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Charlotte, NC	$7,239	Public	69%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Greensboro, NC	$7,661	Public	56%
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, NC	$3,648	Public	44%
University of North Carolina Wilmington	Wilmington, NC	$7,277	Public	71%
Vance-Granville Community College	Henderson, NC	$1,944	Public	53%
Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem, NC	$67,642	Private non-profit	89%
Wake Technical Community College	Raleigh, NC	$2,254	Public	33%
Watts College of Nursing	Durham, NC	Not reported	Private non-profit	Not reported
Wayne Community College	Goldsboro, NC	$2,566	Public	49%
Western Carolina University	Cullowhee, NC	$4,630	Public	60%
Western Piedmont Community College	Morganton, NC	$2,650	Public	49%
Wilkes Community College	Wilkesboro, NC	$2,572	Public	55%
William Peace University	Raleigh, NC	$34,176	Private non-profit	45%
Wilson Community College	Wilson, NC	$2,572	Public	27%
Wingate University	Wingate, NC	$41,636	Private non-profit	46%
Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem, NC	$6,126	Public	47%

Nursing Programs in North Carolina

All accredited programs in North Carolina

Top-completion nursing programs in North Carolina

Carolinas College of Health Sciences

Duke University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Wake Forest University

Elon University

Becoming an RN in North Carolina

Paying for nursing school in North Carolina

Prefer to start online this month? North Carolina residents qualify for these programs.

Questions about nursing school in North Carolina

Compare programs in nearby states

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