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Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina

11 Schools Ranked
$41,654 Avg Student Debt

There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one 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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina ranking. This report analyzed 11 schools in North Carolina to see which ones were the most popular graduate certificate programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.

Learn more about these popular 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 most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in North Carolina. Located in Durham, North Carolina, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 349 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2021-2022.

Graduate Certificate recipients from Duke accumulate an average of $94,645 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.

Duke does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 31% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Duke University Report

#2

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

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

You’ll be in good company if you attend University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. This fairly large public school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 80 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 84% were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UNCW. In fact, around 78% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#3

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 attend East Carolina University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. ECU is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 560 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,712 in student loans. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at ECU. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#4

Gardner - Webb University

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

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Gardner - Webb University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in North Carolina. Gardner - Webb is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 134 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Around 85% of those degree recipients were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Gardner - Webb. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 29% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Gardner - Webb University

#5

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

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

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, the fairly large public school awarded 177 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2021-2022.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $22,385 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UNC Greensboro does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. 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…

#6

Queens University of Charlotte

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

Queens University of Charlotte landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate nursing programs. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Around 89% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Queens does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 91% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Queens University of Charlotte

#6

Appalachian State University

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

Appalachian State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Appalachian State is located in Boone, North Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 306 graduate certificates to qualified students.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,483 in student loans. Around 84% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Appalachian State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#6

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate nursing programs. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 15 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Around 93% of those degree recipients were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UNC Chapel Hill. In fact, around 36% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#9

Winston - Salem State University

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

Winston - Salem State University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. WSSU is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.

One thing to take note of is that WSSU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. 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.

Read More…

#9

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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

University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in North Carolina list. UNC Charlotte is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 699 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Graduate Certificate recipients from UNC Charlotte accumulate an average of $29,786 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UNC Charlotte. In 2020-2021 about 60% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#11

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina
64 Total Awards
$7,566 Average Tuition & Fees
$18,299 Avg Student Debt

Western Carolina University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate nursing programs. Cullowhee, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 64 students in 2021-2022.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $18,299 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.

One thing to take note of is that WCU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Western Carolina University

View Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 11 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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