The Best Nursing Programs in North Carolina 2023
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North Carolina has one of the highest NCLEX-RN pass rates in the United States. So, if you want to become a nurse, consider nursing programs and schools in North Carolina. Learn more about the top schools and programs in this state and how to start your nursing career.
How to Choose a Nursing Program in North Carolina
You have a lot to consider when deciding which nursing program to attend in North Carolina. First, ensure your program is accredited, so that North Carolina will issue you an RN license when you pass the NCLEX-RN. All programs on this list are accredited. You can look at a school's NCLEX-RN pass rate to get an idea of how well the program prepares graduates for the exam.
You can choose to get a two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), depending on how much money you want to spend and how quickly you want your license.
Find out what options you have for paying for school, including loans, scholarships, grants, part-time employment, or a combination of those. If you plan to work through school to help pay for your expenses, make sure the program you enroll in offers part-time, hybrid, or fully online options.
If you choose a fully online program, find out where and how you’ll complete your clinicals. If you are out of state, find out if the program requires you to complete clinicals in North Carolina or at the same site as the rest of your cohort. Ask if your program offers clinical placement assistance.
Featured Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Career Outlook for Nurses in North Carolina
Projected job growth for nurses in North Carolina is higher than the national average. But, the state pays nurses less than the national median salary. Projections Central projects 11.5% job growth for registered nurses (RNs) in North Carolina from 2020-2030, or 6,780 job openings each year. However, the median salary for RNs in North Carolina is $4,760 less than the national median salary for all RNs.
| Location | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 104,300 | $76,430 |
| United States | 3,072,700 | $81,220 |
Salaries for Nurses in North Carolina
North Carolina pays RNs, licensed practical nurses (LPN), nurse practitioners (NP), and nursing assistants less than the national average. However, LPNs, RNs, and NPs make a median salary that is more than the state median salary for all occupations ($41,810), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How to Become a Nurse in North Carolina
To become a nurse in North Carolina, you’ll need to earn your nursing degree, submit your application and application fee to the North Carolina state board of nursing, pass the NCLEX-RN, and pass a background check. If you need to retake the NCLEX-RN, you’ll need to submit another application and application fee to the North Carolina state board of nursing to get another Authorization to Test (ATT) email.
RN Requirements
The steps to become an RN in North Carolina are similar to the steps that RNs in other states have to complete to get their license. You’ll need to:
- Complete an ADN or BSN program
- Submit an application and a $75 application fee
- Submit your official transcripts
- Pass the NCLEX-RN
- Pass a criminal background check.
North Carolina requires you to have your nursing program director submit your official transcripts within 30 days of program completion. You’ll need to register to take the NCLEX-RN at least two weeks before you graduate. If you do not pass the NCLEX-RN the first time, North Carolina requires you to resubmit an application with another $75 for the application fee to retake the test.
NP Requirements
To apply for your nurse practitioner (NP) license in North Carolina, you’ll need to show proof of an active RN license in North Carolina or another state that participates in the nursing license compact (NLC). You should ask your university to send proof of completion of your master of science in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program directly to the North Carolina state board of nursing.
You’ll also need to obtain board certification from the credentialing body that matches your specialty. North Carolina requires you to maintain your board certification to keep and renew your license.
The Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina
Learn more about the best ADN and BSN programs in North Carolina and see if one of them is right for you.
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Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, NC - 2 years
- Online + Campus
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College offers an associate degree in nursing (ADN) and partners with the University of North Carolina's RN to BSN program to help students meet the prerequisites needed to enter the UNC program. Applicants complete the minimum prerequisite requirements and interview with an allied health advisor. Qualified applicants are scheduled for admission testing and must complete their CPR certification, a drug screening, a physical examination, up-to-date vaccinations, and an orientation/readiness nursing class.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $76 (in state); $268 (out of state)
- Program Length: Two years full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 70
- School Status: Public
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 81.08%
- Program Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC - 2 years
- Online + Campus
Durham Technical Community College offers an ADN program, after which graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination. The clinical and classroom experiences follow an integrated approach. Clinicals occur over 6-12 hour shifts across days, nights, and weekends to simulate professional nursing experience. Applicants must complete a college application, submit official transcripts, finish prerequisites, and complete a criminal background check and drug screening.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $76 (in-state); $268 (out of state)
- Program Length: Two years full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 70
- School Status: Public
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 89.74%
- Program Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Southeastern Community College
Whiteville, NC - 2 years
- Online + Campus
Southeastern Community College offers a flexible ADN and LPN degree program. Students take coursework in pharmacology, developmental psychology, holistic health concepts, and an introduction to ethics. Applicants must fill out a general college admission, submit official transcripts, complete a readiness checklist, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $76 (in state); $268 (out of state)
- Program Length: 5 semesters full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 69
- School Status: Public
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 68.18%
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC - 2 years
- Online + Campus
Wake Technical Community College offers an ADN on the Perry Health Sciences Campus. The school partners with healthcare institutions for clinical training and work-based learning. Students have access to a simulation suite and EMS ambulance bay. Applicants must submit an application and official transcripts.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Year: $5,472 (in state); $19,296 (out of state)
- Program Length: 5 semesters full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 72 credit hours
- School Status: Public
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 91.28%
- Program Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC - 4 years
- Campus
Belmont Abbey College's BSN program offers a holistic approach that integrates medicine with liberal arts and sciences and Catholic healthcare ethics. Admission preference is given to students currently enrolled in the college. Applicants must submit an online application, pay the application fee, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher. They also need prerequisite courses, a background check, fingerprinting, a drug screening, and required immunizations.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $650
- Program Length: 4 years full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 129 credit hours
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 86.52%
- Program Accreditation: Applied: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Methodist University offers a traditional BSN program and a fully online RN-to-BSN track. It also offers an online certificate in nursing education, an MSN in administrative leadership, and a doctor of nursing practice in executive leadership. Applicants must complete pre-nursing coursework and general education core classes. They also need a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.8, a Kaplan nursing entrance exam minimum score of 65, and an interview. Accepted students need all required immunizations, a health examination, a negative drug screen, a cleared criminal background check, and a current BLS CPR certification.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $435
- Program Length: 4 years full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 92 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100%
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a BSN and accelerated BSN (ABSN) program using innovative approaches. Candidates can have their transcripts unofficially evaluated to ensure their credits will transfer. BSN applicants need 60 hours of core credits with a minimum 2.8 GPA and at least three of the key science prerequisites, including psychology, biology, statistics, and chemistry. Students applying for the ABSN program need a 3.0 minimum GPA, science prerequisites, and cannot have a pass/fail grade for the key science prerequisites.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Year: $12,314 BSN and $18,000 ABSN (in state); $44,000 BSN and $60,000 ABSN (out of state)
- Program Length: 4 years BSN; 5 semesters ABSN full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 60 credits BSN; 60 credits ABSN
- School Status: Public
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90.4%
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Students in Pfeiffer University’s BSN program complete two years of upper-division nursing classes and clinicals after they complete two years of core classes. Applicants must have completed all general education and prerequisite science classes before filling out the NursingCAS application. They must also submit official transcripts, a personal essay, and their community service record. Pfeiffer also offers an online RN-to-BSN program.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $676
- Program Length: 4 years BSN full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 125 credits BSN and 120 credits RN-to-BSN
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90%
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Craven Community College
New Bern, NC - 2 years
- Online + Campus
Craven Community College offers an ADN and an LPN-to-ADN program. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX and practice as an RN. LPN-to-RN students enter the third semester of the traditional ADN program after they have met the admission criteria. Applicants must complete a general college application and the online ADN application. All applicants must take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), be a CNA, complete prerequisite classes with a minimum GPA of 2.5, and be CPR certified.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $76 (in state); $268 (out of state)
- Program Length: 5 Semesters full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 67 credits
- School Status: Public
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 83.93%
- Program Accreditation: National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA)
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Hudson, NC - 2 years
- Online + Campus
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute's ADN program teaches students how to deliver safe nursing care based on an interdisciplinary team approach and evidence-based practice. The school also offers an LPN diploma and a transition LPN-to-ADN program. Applicants must complete a college application, submit official high school and college transcripts, and take the TEAS admissions test. Once students are admitted they must submit a current CPR certification, criminal background check, and negative drug screening.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $76 (in state); $268 (out of state)
- Program Length: 5 Semesters full-time
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 47
- School Status: Public
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 89.19%
- Program Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN)
- School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Everything Else You Need to Know About Nursing in North Carolina
Is North Carolina a nursing compact state?
Yes, North Carolina is a member of the nursing license compact (NLC). Through the NLC, you can get one multi-state license from the North Carolina state board of nursing and practice in any member state, including neighboring states: Tennessee, Virginia, and South Carolina.
How do I get my RN license in North Carolina?
To get your RN license in North Carolina, you’ll need to complete an accredited ADN or BSN program, submit a license application and the $75 application fee to the North Carolina board of nursing, pass the NCLEX-RN, and complete a criminal background check.
Do nurses make good money in North Carolina?
Registered nurses (RN) make an average of $77,440 per year in North Carolina, according to the BLS. Nurse practitioners (NP) make an average of $114,450. These salaries are higher than the state average salary of $56,220 for all occupations. However, RNs and NPs in North Carolina make less than the national average salary for RNs and NPs.
How long does it take to get a North Carolina nursing license?
It takes 2-4 years to get your North Carolina registered nurse (RN) license. You’ll spend most of that time earning your degree. You can get a North Carolina RN license with a two-year ADN or a four-year BSN, so the program you choose will determine how long it takes to get your license.
