Top Nursing Schools in North Carolina
This page lists 94 schools in North Carolina that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 38 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 60 associate degree (ADN), 35 bachelor's (BSN), 17 master's and 9 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 69 public, 21 private nonprofit and 4 private for-profit. 53 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Charlotte (6), Durham (4), Fayetteville (3) and Winston-Salem (3).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory / official school websites
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (95)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Community College | Shelby, NC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Craven Community College | New Bern, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville, NC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, MSN-WHNP, Direct-Entry MSN, Grad Cert, Grad Cert-FNP, Grad Cert-Leadership, Grad Cert-WHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-CRNA, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, DNP-WHNP, BSN-DNP, Doctorate-CRNA, PhD | CCNE, COA |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | Public | BSN, ABSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-CNM, MSN-PMHNP, Grad Cert-Public Health, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-CNM, Post-Master's-CNS, Post-Master's-Leadership, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-CRNA, BSN-DNP, PhD | CCNE, COA, ACME |
| Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Elon University | Elon, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | — |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville, NC | Public | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville, NC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Galen Health Institutes-Asheville | Asheville, NC | Private for-profit | ADN | — |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN, MSN, Grad Cert-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, PhD, PhD-FNP, PhD-PMHNP | ACEN |
| Gaston College | Dallas, NC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN, LPN-RN | ACEN |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Halifax Community College | Weldon, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| High Point University | High Point, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | — |
Before you apply in North Carolina
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of North Carolina. See online coursework and clinical requirements.