2025 Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina
79
Colleges in North Carolina
7,737
Nursing Degrees Awarded
$84,107
Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #3 in popularity,
nursing is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.
College Factual looked at 79 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 7,737 degrees in nursing annually.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Nursing School
Your choice of nursing school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for nursing schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.
You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.
Pick Your Nursing Degree Level
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list to help you make the college decision.
If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.
Best Schools for Nursing in North Carolina
Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the nursing degree levels they offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
15 Top North Carolina Schools in Nursing
It is difficult to beat Duke University if you wish to pursue a degree in nursing. Located in the large city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #7 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Duke is a great university overall.
There were approximately 537 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Duke in the most recent year we have data available. Nursing degree recipients from Duke University receive an earnings boost of approximately $22,324 over the average earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a degree in nursing from Duke University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a good option for students interested in a degree in nursing. UNC Chapel Hill is a fairly large public university located in the city of Chapel Hill. A Best Colleges rank of #38 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UNC Chapel Hill is a great university overall.
There were about 343 nursing students who graduated with this degree at UNC Chapel Hill in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program report average early career income of $83,890.
More information about a degree in nursing from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelors
Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN
Program Name
With the affordable and transfer-friendly online RN to BSN program at Southern New Hampshire University, you can build upon your prior educational journey and enhance your professional experience in a program designed to fit around your schedule.
More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
Every student pursuing a degree in nursing has to take a look at East Carolina University. ECU is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Greenville. A Best Colleges rank of #275 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means ECU is a great university overall.
There were roughly 568 nursing students who graduated with this degree at ECU in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program state that they receive average early career income of $85,758.
More information about a degree in nursing from East Carolina University
It is difficult to beat University of North Carolina at Wilmington if you wish to pursue a degree in nursing. Located in the city of Wilmington, UNCW is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #415 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UNCW is a great university overall.
There were about 995 nursing students who graduated with this degree at UNCW in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, nursing degree recipients usually make around $76,337 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in nursing from University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Located in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a public college with a small student population.
There were about 35 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Sampson Community College in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $69,040 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a degree in nursing from Sampson Community College
Located in the city of Charlotte, UNC Charlotte is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #367 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UNC Charlotte is a great university overall.
There were roughly 236 nursing students who graduated with this degree at UNC Charlotte in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $84,804 for their early career.
More information about a degree in nursing from University of North Carolina at Charlotte
UNC Greensboro is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Greensboro. A Best Colleges rank of #549 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UNC Greensboro is a great university overall.
There were approximately 251 nursing students who graduated with this degree at UNC Greensboro in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $78,605 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in nursing from University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bachelors
Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN
Program Name
At Southern New Hampshire University, we understand the demands placed on today's nursing professionals. When it comes to your education, consider saving money and time by electing the RN to MSN pathway. Eligible students will complete graduate courses within their undergraduate program. This pathway allows you to gain a BSN along the way and ultimately shorten your time within the MSN Nursing Education or Population Healthcare tracks.
More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
Richmond Community College is a small public college located in the distant town of Hamlet. This college ranks 19th out of 93 colleges for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.
There were approximately 35 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Richmond Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients typically earn about $70,087 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in nursing from Richmond Community College
Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #461 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Wake Technical Community College is a great college overall.
There were about 128 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $68,266.
More information about a degree in nursing from Wake Technical Community College
Gaston College is a medium-sized public college located in the suburb of Dallas. A Best Colleges rank of #491 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Gaston College is a great college overall.
There were approximately 387 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Gaston College in the most recent data year. After graduation, nursing degree recipients usually make an average of $68,245 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a degree in nursing from Gaston College
Gardner - Webb is a small private not-for-profit university located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. This university ranks 30th out of 93 schools for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.
There were approximately 183 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Gardner - Webb in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $83,468 for their early career.
More information about a degree in nursing from Gardner - Webb University
Masters
Degree Type
MS in Nursing - Nurse Executive Leadership
Program Name
Get on track to lead with your online MSN in Nurse Executive Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.
More information about a degree in MS in Nursing - Nurse Executive Leadership from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #401 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Appalachian State is a great university overall.
There were about 129 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $69,420 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in nursing from Appalachian State University
Located in the city of Winston-Salem, WSSU is a public university with a small student population. This university ranks 54th out of 93 schools for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.
There were approximately 250 nursing students who graduated with this degree at WSSU in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, nursing degree recipients usually make an average of $73,744 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a degree in nursing from Winston - Salem State University
Brunswick Community College is a small public college located in the rural area of Bolivia. This college ranks 23rd out of 93 schools for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.
Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $71,605.
More information about a degree in nursing from Brunswick Community College
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a fairly small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Concord.
There were approximately 168 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $72,030 for their early career.
More information about a degree in nursing from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
