North Carolina has more than 20 colleges producing BSN graduates, including two nationally known research universities in the Research Triangle. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top five.
Imagine getting into both UNC-Chapel Hill and a large public university in the mountains or on the coast. North Carolina’s public system offers excellent nursing education at low in-state tuition. Here is how the options compare.
How we ranked these schools
We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in North Carolina that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.
North Carolina nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | Durham | Private nonprofit | 96% | 206 | $87,034 | $72,795 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Public | 91% | 215 | $76,947 | $9,095 |
| 3 | Appalachian State University | Boone | Public | 73% | 90 | $77,166 | $7,642 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | 71% | 775 | $80,708 | $7,266 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | Public | 69% | 150 | $77,285 | $7,317 |
| 6 | East Carolina University | Greenville | Public | 63% | 325 | $80,015 | $7,438 |
| 7 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 61% | 266 | $75,592 | $4,685 |
| 8 | Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private nonprofit | 60% | 45 | $76,934 | $42,830 |
| 9 | Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private nonprofit | 59% | 85 | $76,585 | $48,445 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | Public | 57% | 235 | $75,636 | $7,731 |
| 11 | North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 57% | 68 | $76,427 | $6,813 |
| 12 | Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private nonprofit | 51% | 76 | $81,099 | $36,350 |
| 13 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private nonprofit | 49% | 46 | $69,759 | $33,000 |
| 14 | Catawba College | Salisbury | Private nonprofit | 48% | 20 | $76,234 | $35,500 |
| 15 | Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 47% | 139 | $77,296 | $6,098 |
| 16 | Barton College | Wilson | Private nonprofit | 47% | 38 | $81,438 | $39,050 |
| 17 | University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private nonprofit | 47% | 21 | $83,084 | $29,100 |
| 18 | North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 44% | 29 | $82,930 | $6,733 |
| 19 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 44% | 74 | $80,728 | $3,611 |
| 20 | Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private nonprofit | 41% | 24 | $75,912 | $43,174 |
| 21 | Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 38% | 181 | $81,742 | $4,412 |
Also offering a BSN in North Carolina (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):
| College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University-North Carolina | Charlotte | Private for-profit | n/a | 102 | $89,974 | $21,655 |
| Watts College of Nursing | Durham | Private nonprofit | n/a | 71 | $79,798 | n/a |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | Charlotte | Public | n/a | 25 | $83,562 | $19,341 |
Top North Carolina nursing schools reviewed
1. Duke University
Duke University School of Nursing in Durham tops our North Carolina list by graduation rate. Its bachelor’s programme is an accelerated BSN for people who already hold a degree in another subject.
- Graduation rate: 96%, number 1 in North Carolina on our list
- Programme size: about 206 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $87,034 one year after graduating
- Cost: $72,795 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 6% (selective)
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing is one of the top public nursing schools in the US, linked to UNC Health.
- Graduation rate: 91%, number 2 in North Carolina on our list
- Programme size: about 215 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $76,947 one year after graduating
- Cost: $9,095 in-state tuition ($45,228 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 15% (selective)
3. Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University in Boone offers a public BSN in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with clinical placements across western North Carolina.
- Graduation rate: 73%, number 3 in North Carolina on our list
- Programme size: about 90 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $77,166 one year after graduating
- Cost: $7,642 in-state tuition ($25,932 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 90%
4. University of North Carolina Wilmington
The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a popular public BSN on the coast.
- Graduation rate: 71%, number 4 in North Carolina on our list
- Programme size: about 775 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, one of the largest in the state
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $80,708 one year after graduating
- Cost: $7,266 in-state tuition ($25,420 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 64%
5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers a large public BSN in the state’s biggest city, with links to Atrium Health and Novant Health.
- Graduation rate: 69%, number 5 in North Carolina on our list
- Programme size: about 150 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $77,285 one year after graduating
- Cost: $7,317 in-state tuition ($23,523 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 80%
East Carolina University in Greenville is one of the largest producers of nurses in the state, with a strong focus on rural eastern North Carolina.
Ways to become a registered nurse in North Carolina
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
- Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.
Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. North Carolina is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in North Carolina offer a BSN?
Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 24 colleges in North Carolina produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 3,306 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.
Which North Carolina nursing school has the highest graduation rate?
Duke University has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 96%.
Which is the largest nursing programme in North Carolina?
University of North Carolina Wilmington produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 775 a year.
How much do new BSN graduates earn in North Carolina?
Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $69,759 to $89,974, with a typical (median) figure of about $78,547. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.
How much does a public nursing degree cost in North Carolina?
In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $3,611 to $9,095 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- NCLEX pass rates: the North Carolina Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
- Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
- Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
- Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
- Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.
Your next step: Shortlist three schools from the table, then check each programme’s NCLEX pass rate on the North Carolina Board of Nursing website before you apply.
Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school
Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), North Carolina Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.
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