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2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

15 Schools Ranked
$8,471 Avg Tuition & Fees*

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. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 15 schools in North Carolina to see which basic certificate programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

South Piedmont Community College

Polkton, North Carolina
4 Total Awards
$6,623 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named South Piedmont Community College the best value school in North Carolina for nursing students working on their basic certificate. South Piedmont Community College is a public institution located in Polkton, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Piedmont Community College are $6,623 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at South Piedmont Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 83% took at least some of their classes online.

South Piedmont Community College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina list.

Read full report on South Piedmont Community College

#2

Gaston College

Dallas, North Carolina
418 Total Awards
$9,006 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Gaston College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. Gaston College is located in Dallas, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 418 basic certificates to qualified students.

Gaston College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,006 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that Gaston College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 87% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Gaston College is ranked #1 for overall quality in North Carolina.

Read full report on Gaston College

#3

Alamance Community College

Graham, North Carolina
18 Total Awards
$8,070 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Alamance Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. This small public school is located in Graham, North Carolina, and it awarded 18 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ACC are $8,070 a year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since ACC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.

ACC also took the #4 spot in our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina rankings.

Full Alamance Community College Report

#4

Davidson County Community College

Thomasville, North Carolina
133 Total Awards
$7,658 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Davidson County Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. This small public school is located in Thomasville, North Carolina, and it awarded 133 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at DCCC are $7,658 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at DCCC. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Davidson County Community College Report

#5

Montgomery Community College

Troy, North Carolina
2 Total Awards
$8,682 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Montgomery Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. MCC is a public institution located in Troy, North Carolina. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 2 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $8,682 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at MCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, MCC is ranked #3 for overall quality in North Carolina.

Read More…

#6

Richmond Community College

Hamlet, North Carolina
8 Total Awards
$8,680 Average Tuition & Fees

Richmond Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. Richmond Community College is located in Hamlet, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 basic certificates to qualified students.

Richmond Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,680 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Richmond Community College. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Richmond Community College

#7

Surry Community College

Dobson, North Carolina
2 Total Awards
$8,807 Average Tuition & Fees

Surry Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina ranking. Located in Dobson, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 2 basic certificate awards in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Surry Community College are $8,807 per year.

Surry Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 95% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Surry Community College is ranked #5 for overall quality in North Carolina.

Full Surry Community College Report

#8

Cleveland Community College

Shelby, North Carolina
9 Total Awards
$8,746 Average Tuition & Fees

Cleveland Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. Cleveland Community College is a small public school situated in Shelby, North Carolina. It awarded 9 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Cleveland Community College are $8,746 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cleveland Community College. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#9

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, North Carolina
27 Total Awards
$8,688 Average Tuition & Fees

Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. FTCC is a public institution located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at FTCC are $8,688 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at FTCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#10

Johnston Community College

Smithfield, North Carolina
3 Total Awards
$8,801 Average Tuition & Fees

Johnston Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. Johnston Community College is located in Smithfield, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Johnston Community College are $8,801 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Johnston Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 85% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Johnston Community College Report

#11

Southwestern Community College

Sylva, North Carolina
4 Total Awards
$7,913 Average Tuition & Fees

Southwestern Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. Southwestern Community College is located in Sylva, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwestern Community College are $7,913 per year.

One thing to take note of is that Southwestern Community College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Southwestern Community College

7 Total Awards
$8,681 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Located in Hudson, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CCCTI are $8,681 per year.

Online courses are available at CCCTI, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#13

Wake Technical Community College

Raleigh, North Carolina
7 Total Awards
$8,912 Average Tuition & Fees

Wake Technical Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 7 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wake Technical Community College are $8,912 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Wake Technical Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 94% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Wake Technical Community College

#14

Cape Fear Community College

Wilmington, North Carolina
4 Total Awards
$8,892 Average Tuition & Fees

Cape Fear Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. This fairly large public school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 4 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CFCC are $8,892 a year.

CFCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Cape Fear Community College Report

#15

Sandhills Community College

Pinehurst, North Carolina
5 Total Awards
$8,908 Average Tuition & Fees

Sandhills Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Pinehurst, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SCC are $8,908 per year.

SCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Sandhills Community College Report

View Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 15 schools only.

References

  • 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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