2023 Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina
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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking. This report analyzed 74 schools in North Carolina to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in North Carolina
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Wake Forest University the best school in North Carolina for nursing students working on their degree.
On average, students take out $17,222 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $644 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Wake Forest University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $55,309 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list.
On average, students take out $19,762 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $727. Once they receive their degree, Duke graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $71,290 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 74 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the # 3 spot on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,358 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $300 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UNC Chapel Hill graduates make an average of $51,808 annually.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The excellent programs at University of North Carolina at Charlotte helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in North Carolina.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,912 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $193, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNC Charlotte, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,346 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Charlotte
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a great place for nursing students.
Degree recipients from UNC Greensboro accumulate an average of $24,759 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $174.After graduating from UNC Greensboro, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,140 during the early years of their career.
East Carolina University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,531 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $277 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from ECU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,403 during the early years of their career.
Winston - Salem State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list.
Degree recipients from WSSU accumulate an average of $28,735 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $111, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, WSSU graduates make an average of $39,081 annually.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,787 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $304 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNCW, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,326 during the early years of their career.
North Carolina A & T State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,266 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $143 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, NC A&T graduates make an average of $43,182 annually.
University of Mount Olive ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list.
On average, students take out $30,843 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, UMO graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,660 during the early year of their career.
Appalachian State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking.
Degree recipients from Appalachian State accumulate an average of $21,113 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $224, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Appalachian State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,760 during the early years of their career.
Western Carolina University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking.
Degree recipients from WCU accumulate an average of $23,228 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $198. During the early years of their career, WCU graduates make an average of $39,924 annually.
Fayetteville State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,780 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $87.After graduating from Fayetteville State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,783 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #14, North Carolina Central University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,797 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $169 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, North Carolina Central University graduates make an average of $37,008 annually.
With a ranking of #15, Gaston College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,298 in student loans.After graduating from Gaston College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,146 during the early years of their career.
Lenoir - Rhyne University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,774 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $393. Once they receive their degree, Lenoir - Rhyne University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,336 during the early year of their career.
Lees - McRae College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,142 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $353 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Lees - McRae College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,352 during the early years of their career.
Central Piedmont Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list.
On average, students take out $14,635 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Central Piedmont Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,051 during the early years of their career.
Queens University of Charlotte ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list.
On average, students take out $27,540 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Queens, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,246 during the early years of their career.
Campbell University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,722 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $500, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Campbell graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,312 during the early year of their career.
Montgomery Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,407 in student loans. During the early years of their career, MCC graduates make an average of $34,328 annually.
Wingate University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list.
On average, students take out $24,901 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $315. Once they receive their degree, Wingate graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,728 during the early year of their career.
Forsyth Technical Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list.
On average, students take out $18,427 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Forsyth Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,071 during the early year of their career.
Brunswick Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Brunswick Community College accumulate an average of $12,698 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Brunswick Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,159 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Barton College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $26,698 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Barton College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,171 during the early years of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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