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
Verified program profiles (23)
See all 23 programs →Individual programs whose details we verified on the school's own website, each fact with a source.
| Program | School | Award / pathway | Format | Tuition (basis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | Duke University | MSN, FNP | Online coursework | $2,345 per credit |
| Master of Nursing (MN) - Master's Entry to the Practice of Nursing | Duke University | MSN, Direct-Entry MSN | On-campus | $30,952 per semester |
| Nurse Anesthesia DNP | Duke University | DNP, BSN-to-DNP, CRNA | — | $2,345 per credit |
| PhD in Nursing | Duke University | PhD | — | Not published |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | Duke University | MSN, PMHNP | Hybrid | $2,345 per credit |
| Accelerated Second-Degree BSN (ABSN) | East Carolina University | BSN, Accelerated BSN (ABSN) | On-campus | Not published |
Schools (95)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance Community College | Graham, NC | Public | CNA, ADN | — |
| Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert | CCNE |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville, NC | Public | ADN | — |
| Barton College | Wilson, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Beaufort County Community College | Washington, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Bladen Community College | Dublin, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock, NC | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Brunswick Community College | Bolivia, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord, NC | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN, MSN-Leadership | CCNE, ACEN |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | Charlotte, NC | Public | ADN, BSN | ACEN, CCNE |
| Carteret Community College | Morehead City, NC | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Catawba College | Salisbury, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory, NC | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Central Carolina Community College | Sanford, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Chamberlain University-North Carolina | Charlotte, NC | Private for-profit | 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.