The Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina
Pick a program that fits your background and goals. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) gets you to the bedside faster. A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) costs more time but pays off if you plan to move into a nurse practitioner (NP) or nurse manager role later.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing runs undergraduate and graduate programs. Its BSN offers two onsite paths: a traditional four-year track and an accelerated second-degree track for students who already hold a bachelor's in another field. Graduate students can pursue an MSN and doctoral bridge options online or in hybrid formats.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Campus: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $12,314 per year in-state; $59,921 per year out of state
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma; official transcripts; science prerequisites; minimum 2.8 GPA; essay
- Minimum Time Commitment: Four years
- Onsite Requirements: Yes
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 90.4% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $59,534 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)
Wake Forest University School of Medicine runs two doctoral nursing programs. The online DNP is a part-time, two-year track that prepares MSN-trained RNs for leadership, business, and education roles. Its nurse anesthesia program, one of the few CRNA programs housed in a school of medicine, combines one year of online coursework with two years of onsite training.
- Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice; Nurse Anesthesia
- Campus: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs
- Tuition: $25,146 per year
- Admission Requirements (DNP): MSN; official transcripts; minimum 3.0 GPA; valid RN license; CV; two letters of recommendation
- Minimum Time Commitment: Two years
- Onsite Requirements: No
Duke University School of Nursing, founded in 1924, runs an online MSN with several NP specialties plus tracks in nursing informatics, nursing education, and healthcare leadership. Students attend onsite intensives at least once per semester. Duke also offers a DNP, a Ph.D. in nursing, and an accelerated BSN for non-nursing graduates.
- Program: Master of Science in Nursing
- Campus: Durham, North Carolina
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $2,075 per credit
- Admission Requirements (MSN): BSN; official transcripts; minimum 3.0 GPA; valid RN license; three letters of recommendation; CV; personal statement
- Minimum Time Commitment: Two years
- Onsite Requirements: Yes
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 87.8% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $97,071 for master's graduates (College Scorecard)
Appalachian State University runs a four-year prelicensure BSN and an online RN-to-BSN. The curriculum covers pediatrics, women's health, adult health, community health, and mental health, with simulation learning in a dedicated skills lab. Its MSN prepares RNs for nurse educator roles.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Campus: Boone, North Carolina
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $2,121 per semester in-state; $10,619 per semester out of state
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or ADN; current RN license; minimum 2.5 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: Four years
- Onsite Requirements: Yes
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 97.2% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $56,415 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)
Western Carolina University runs a fully online DNP for advanced practice nurses, community health nurses, and nursing administrators, plus DNP family nurse practitioner and nurse anesthesia tracks, a nurse educator MSN, and a nursing leadership MSN. Undergraduates can pursue a traditional BSN, an RN-to-BSN, or an accelerated BSN.
- Program: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Campus: Cullowhee, North Carolina
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $6,289 per semester in-state; $11,648 per semester out of state
- Admission Requirements: MSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; valid RN license; APRN national certification and state licensure; essay; three letters of recommendation; CV; documentation of 500 clinical hours
- Minimum Time Commitment: Four semesters
- Onsite Requirements: No
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 97.9% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $103,913 for master's graduates (College Scorecard)
How to Choose a Nursing Program in North Carolina
Weigh cost (tuition and aid), NCLEX-RN pass rate, and acceptance rate. Check application requirements, the logistics of attending, and whether the program places students for clinicals in your home community. Accreditation matters: it confirms the program is a legitimate investment, and every program listed here is accredited.
Why Become a Nurse in North Carolina
More than 100,000 RNs and NPs work in North Carolina, and the cost of living runs lower than in coastal tech hubs. Because the state belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, graduating here lets you apply for a multistate license recognized across the more than 40 participating states, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in North Carolina
RN pay sits below the national average, but so does the cost of living, with a cost-of-living index of 96.4. RNs earn an average of $82,530 a year in North Carolina, against a national mean of about $98,430 (BLS, May 2024).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong RN job growth in North Carolina, well above the 5% projected nationally from 2024 to 2034 (about 189,100 openings each year). Charlotte anchors Atrium Health, one of the largest health systems in the Southeast, with more than 40 hospitals. The Research Triangle of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill is a growing tech hub with several major teaching hospitals.
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for RNs in North Carolina
| Metropolitan Area | Average RN Salary |
|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $75,530 |
| Winston-Salem | $70,640 |
| Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia | $70,420 |
| Raleigh | $70,110 |
| Greenville | $68,390 |
Source: BLS
Steps to Becoming a Nurse in North Carolina
Every state board of nursing requires a nursing degree, a passing score on the national exam, and a background check. If you trained in North Carolina, apply for licensure by examination.
RN Requirements
Earn an ADN or BSN, pass the NCLEX, and clear a criminal background check. Send an official transcript to the North Carolina Board of Nursing, pay the $75 application fee and $200 examination fee, and submit fingerprints. Renew every two years by meeting continuing competence requirements, such as 30 contact hours of continuing education, or 15 hours plus a completed research project as principal investigator.
APRN Requirements
Earn an MSN or DNP, pass the relevant board certification exam, and hold a valid North Carolina or other compact-state RN license. NPs practice under physician supervision, renew their approval to practice annually, and maintain board certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a nurse in North Carolina?
An RN program takes two to four years depending on the degree. Full-time students finish an ADN in about two years and a BSN in four; part-time study runs longer.
What do nurses earn in North Carolina?
RNs in North Carolina earn an average of about $82,530 a year, below the national RN mean of roughly $98,430 (BLS, May 2024), though the state's lower cost of living offsets part of the gap. Pay also varies by metro, education, and experience.
How much does nursing school cost in North Carolina?
Cost depends on the program. ADN programs run $6,000 to $40,000 and BSN programs $40,000 to $200,000. Advanced degrees vary by entry point: BSN-to-MSN runs $20,000 to $180,000, BSN-to-DNP $25,000 to $250,000, and MSN-to-DNP $17,000 to $170,000.
Is North Carolina a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. North Carolina belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a license earned here can serve as a multistate license recognized across the more than 40 participating states (NCSBN). It also gives nurses who trained elsewhere an easier path to licensure here.
Is there a nursing shortage in North Carolina?
Yes. Mercer has projected North Carolina among the worst states for nursing shortages over the first half of the decade, estimating a shortfall of roughly 13,000 nurses, which points to steady hiring demand.