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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke, NC | Public | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington, NC | Public | BSN, ABSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Nurse Educator, DNP, DNP-FNP, BSN-DNP | CCNE, CNEA (candidate) |
| Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, NC | Private nonprofit | MSN-CRNA, DNP | CCNE |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Watts College of Nursing | Durham, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | ACEN |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC | Public | BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| Western Piedmont Community College | Morganton, NC | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Wilkes Community College | Wilkesboro, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| William Peace University | Raleigh, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Wilson Community College | Wilson, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Wingate University | Wingate, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | ACEN |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem, NC | Public | BSN, MSN-FNP, 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.