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Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina

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2023 Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina

10 Schools Ranked
$41,654 Avg Student Debt

With all the nursing programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 10 schools in North Carolina to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
349 Total Awards
$61,522 Average Tuition & Fees
$94,645 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Duke University to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in North Carolina. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 349 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $94,645 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that Duke does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 31% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Duke University Report

#2

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
306 Total Awards
$8,047 Average Tuition & Fees
$29,483 Avg Student Debt

Out of the 10 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Appalachian State University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Boone, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 306 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $29,483 in loans while pursuing their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Appalachian State does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 66% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Appalachian State University

#3

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
699 Total Awards
$7,739 Average Tuition & Fees
$29,786 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 699 students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,786 in student loans.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UNC Charlotte. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 60% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#4

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
15 Total Awards
$12,527 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. This large public school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 15 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UNC Chapel Hill does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 36% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Report

#5

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
560 Total Awards
$7,622 Average Tuition & Fees
$36,712 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East Carolina University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 560 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $36,712 in loans while pursuing their degree.

ECU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 73% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on East Carolina University

#6

Gardner - Webb University

Boiling Springs, North Carolina
134 Total Awards
$11,050 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Gardner - Webb University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Boiling Springs, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 134 students in 2021-2022.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Gardner - Webb does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 29% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Gardner - Webb University Report

#7

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina
80 Total Awards
$7,514 Average Tuition & Fees

University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Wilmington, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 80 students in 2021-2022.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UNCW. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 78% took at least some of their classes online.

Full University of North Carolina at Wilmington Report

#8

Winston - Salem State University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
3 Total Awards
$6,747 Average Tuition & Fees

Winston - Salem State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina ranking. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2021-2022.

WSSU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Winston - Salem State University Report

#9

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
177 Total Awards
$8,295 Average Tuition & Fees
$22,385 Avg Student Debt

University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, the fairly large public school handed out 177 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Graduate Certificate recipients from UNC Greensboro accumulate an average of $22,385 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online graduate courses are available at UNC Greensboro, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#10

Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
27 Total Awards
$13,514 Average Tuition & Fees

Queens University of Charlotte ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 27 students in 2021-2022.

Online graduate courses are available at Queens, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Queens University of Charlotte Report

View Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 10 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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