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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph Community College | Asheboro, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| Richmond Community College | Hamlet, NC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Roanoke-Chowan Community College | Ahoskie, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| Robeson Community College | Lumberton, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Rockingham Community College | Wentworth, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury, NC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Sampson Community College | Clinton, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| South College | Knoxville, TN | Private for-profit | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN, ABSN, RN-BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, RN-MSN, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP, DNP-Leadership, MSN-DNP, Doctorate-CRNA, BSN-DNP | CCNE, COA |
| South Piedmont Community College | Polkton, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| South University-High Point | High Point, NC | Private for-profit | BSN | — |
| Southeastern College-Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Southeastern Community College | Whiteville, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| Stanly Community College | Albemarle, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| Surry Community College | Dobson, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Tri-County Community College | Murphy, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert, Grad Cert-Leadership, Post-Master's, DNP | CCNE |
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.