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.
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. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 2,979 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Wake Forest University accumulate an average of $78,115 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $702, assuming you 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. Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6,863 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $79,632 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $591, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Duke graduates make an average of $71,290 annually.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great place for nursing students. UNC Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,997 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $46,657 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $367. During the early years of their career, UNC Chapel Hill graduates make an average of $51,808 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a large public school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 8,666 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UNC Charlotte accumulate an average of $27,611 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $223 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UNC Charlotte graduates make an average of $46,346 annually.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Charlotte
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list. UNC Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,805 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from UNC Greensboro accumulate an average of $26,331 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 $180.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.
With a ranking of #6, East Carolina University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. East Carolina University is a large public school located in Greenville, North Carolina that handed out 6,984 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $34,057 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $296 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ECU graduates make an average of $44,403 annually.
Winston - Salem State University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,131 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,197 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $146 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, WSSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,081 during the early year of their career.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 5,218 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UNCW accumulate an average of $25,763 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 $343.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 ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list. NC A&T is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,575 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from NC A&T accumulate an average of $32,058 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 $267.After graduating from NC A&T, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,182 during the early years of their career.
University of Mount Olive did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Mount Olive, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 649 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,141 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, UMO graduates make an average of $41,660 annually.
Appalachian State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list. Appalachian State is located in Boone, North Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,388 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Appalachian State accumulate an average of $22,587 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $243 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Appalachian State graduates make an average of $35,760 annually.
With a ranking of #12, Western Carolina University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This fairly large public school is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and it awarded 3,493 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,531 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $232, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, WCU graduates make an average of $39,924 annually.
Fayetteville State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list. Fayetteville State University is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,494 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,194 in student loans.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.
North Carolina Central University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,734 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from North Carolina Central University accumulate an average of $48,230 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $223, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from North Carolina Central University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,008 during the early years of their career.
Gaston College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Dallas, North Carolina, and it awarded 3,400 degrees in 2021-2022.
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. Lenoir - Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hickory, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 607 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $44,695 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $376.After graduating from Lenoir - Rhyne University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,336 during the early years of their career.
Lees - McRae College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Lees - McRae College is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Banner Elk, North Carolina that handed out 233 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,077 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Lees - McRae College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,352 during the early year of their career.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,083 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College accumulate an average of $6,146 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Central Piedmont Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,051 during the early year of their career.
Queens University of Charlotte did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. Queens is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. It awarded 672 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,969 in student loans.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 ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list. Campbell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,668 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Campbell accumulate an average of $56,971 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $626 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Campbell graduates make an average of $48,312 annually.
Montgomery Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. This very small public school is located in Troy, North Carolina, and it awarded 296 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,328 during the early year of their career.
Wingate University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Wingate, North Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 849 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $51,714 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $403.After graduating from Wingate, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,728 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #23, Forsyth Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This medium-sized public school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,987 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Forsyth Tech accumulate an average of $14,931 in student debt by the time they complete 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. Bolivia, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 454 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Brunswick Community College graduates make an average of $42,159 annually.
With a ranking of #25, Barton College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Barton College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wilson, North Carolina. It awarded 278 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $26,751 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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