RN Programs in North Carolina
North Carolina RN Programs at a Glance
RN Programs Offered in North Carolina
- ADN Programs: 60
- BSN Programs: 20
ADN Program Stats
- NCLEX-RN Average: 91%
- NCLEX Rate Range: 79% to 100%
- Average Net-Price $8,982.61
- Net-Price Range: $61.00 to $29,428.00
- Average Student Loan : $7,473.00
BSN Program Stats
- NCLEX-RN Average: 90%
- NCLEX Rate Range: 75% to 99%
- Average Net-Price $13,929.65
- Net-Price Range: $5,914.00 to $24,751.00
- Average Student Loan : $18,262.05
Help You Will Find on This Page
North Carolina RN Program Guide
There are over 17 accredited RN and BSN programs in the state of North Carolina. Nursing schools are making educational advancement opportunities that are readily available for registered nurses within the state. Obtaining an associate degree in nursing or a bachelors degree in nursing is very advantageous to a working nurse. In fact, many hospitals and healthcare settings prefer hiring a nurse who has obtained a bachelors degree. More than have of the registered nurses in North Carolina have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which makes North Carolina the best-educated state in the nation. Now is a better time than ever for nurses to seek out higher education to meet the needs of the constantly evolving profession. Nurses are encouraged to request information from multiple schools to improve chances of getting accepted into one.
In our North Carolina RN program guide, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key North Carolina RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.
The State of North Carolina offers 77 RN programs in 65 different cities. Public institutions offer 68 of the RN programs in the state while there are 1 private, for-profit and 8 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.
In the State of North Carolina, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate’s degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.
Nurses who graduate from an RN program are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.
Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to North Carolina RN Programs.
ADN Programs in North Carolina
It is not uncommon for LPN or ADN programs in the state of North Carolina to require its applicants to obtain their certified nurses aide (CNA) certification prior to enrollment in their degree program. North Carolina also has a program called Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN); this program seeks to increase the education of nurses in North Carolina. Through this program, collaborations have been made between community colleges and universities that enable nurses to easily continue their education – “RIBN brings a unique value through educational partnerships between community or private colleges and state or private funded universities that will increase the proportion of BSN prepared nurses in our workforce in an economically-feasible and community-focused manner.” You’ll note that many of the community colleges listed below have this option for their students.
NCLEX Passing Rates for North Carolina ADN Programs
College of the Albemarle has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in North Carolina of 100.00%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $6,723.00 a year.
- ADN Programs Offered in North Carolina: 60
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 90.61%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 79.00% to 100.00%
How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in North Carolina?
We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in North Carolina so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.
When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.
The lowest cost ADN program in North Carolina is offered by Cleveland Community College at about $61.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of N/A*%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by South College-Asheville and it will cost about $29,428.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of N/A*%.
- Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inNorth Carolina: $8,982.61
- Net-Price Range for North Carolina ADN Programs: $61.00 to $29,428.00
Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for North Carolina Schools: $7,473.00
- Student borrowing range for ADN programs in North Carolina: $2,000.00 to $21,000.00
ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions
- Public Institutions: 56
- Private For-Profit Institutions: 1
- Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 3
BSN Programs in North Carolina
BSN programs can be completed online through a web-enhanced program or in a traditional campus setting. Programs are designed with flexibility to meet the need of busy, working nurses. Programs can be completed in about a year of full-time study or part-time in about 3-5 semesters. There are also classes offered in the day and evening. Before students can enroll, they must have an active RN license, complete the Global courses, and pass special examinations.
NCLEX Passing Rates for North Carolina BSN Programs
Western Carolina University wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in North Carolina with a score of 98.86%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $11,978.00 a year.
- BSN Programs Offered in North Carolina: 20
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 89.86%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 74.75% to 98.86%
How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in North Carolina?
We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in North Carolina to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.
The lowest cost BSN degree program in North Carolina is offered by Fayetteville State University and will cost you about $5,914.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 97.25%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by Queens University of Charlotte and will cost you about $24,751.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 85.43%.
- Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in North Carolina: $13,929.65
- Net-Price Range for North Carolina BSN Programs: $5,914.00 to $24,751.00
Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for North Carolina Schools: $18,262.05
- Student borrowing range for BSN programs in North Carolina: $6,569.00 to $25,000.00
BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions
- Public Institutions: 12
- Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
- Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 8
MSN Programs in North Carolina
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in North Carolina offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.
North Carolina RN Licensing Requirements
North Carolina State Board of Nursing
4516 Lake Boone Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 782-3211
Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $75
License renewal (every two years), RN: $92
Continuing Education Requirements:
All nurses: 30 contact hours every renewal period
Before licensure can be obtained, a registered nurse must complete an approved nursing program in North Carolina or a professional nursing program that has been approved by the board in one of the other states. Coursework completed online will be accepted as long as the program is accredited.
RN Licensure by Exams
Candidates who are applying for licensure by examination will need to pass a background check and NCLEX exam. In-state candidates will be required to have prints done through Live Scan. The application for licensure will cost $75. After this step, the candidate will apply for the licensing exam through Pearson VUE and pay the $200 testing fee. When authorization to test has been received, the candidate can schedule the computer-adapted exam. Candidates will be fully licensed when the credential has been verified online.
RN Licensure by Endorsement
Nurses who obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states can obtain licensure in North Carolina by endorsement. The fee for license by endorsement is $150. Candidates will be allowed to work under a temporary license while paperwork is being processed. A notarized copy of the license and official verification will also be required.
RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
Candidates who completed their education in a foreign country are required to have their education evaluated by either the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools or Josef Silny & Associates. International candidates will be required to take an English proficiency exam unless they completed their education in one of the following nations/ territories: Australia, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), Guam, Ireland, the Mariana Islands, New Zealand, Samoa, The United Kingdom, or the Virgin Islands. The accepted exams are the IELTS and the TOEFL. This requirement must be met before the candidate can be authorized to take the NCLEX. They must also submit a criminal background check and submit a social security number before licensure can be issued.
RN Salaries in North Carolina
There are approximately 86,150 registered nurses working in the state of North Carolina. It has been predicted that nursing is the fastest growing industry and will continue to grow through the year 2020. There is a great need for nurses who obtained a bachelor’s degree. The mean annual salary for registered nurses in North Carolina is $59,290 and this tends to fluctuate with experience and education level. There are management and other executive positions available to a baccalaureate-prepared nurse who wishes to get away from bedside nursing.
North Carolina Registered Nursing Salaries
The Charlotte metropolitan area has the largest amount of registered nurses across the state. Registered nurses in the Durham metropolitan area make a higher hourly mean wage and annual median wage than nurses in any other party of North Carolina.
| Area name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 5,640 | $29.82 | $61,170 |
| Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC | 18,110 | $28.49 | $58,370 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 8,610 | $32.29 | $66,140 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 3,110 | $29.96 | $61,030 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 1,050 | $26.66 | $55,080 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 6,050 | $29.50 | $60,410 |
| Greenville, NC | 3,070 | $30.35 | $62,490 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 2,800 | $26.86 | $55,050 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 710 | $27.05 | $54,870 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 9,030 | $28.98 | $59,600 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1,250 | $27.32 | $55,740 |
| Wilmington, NC | 3,360 | $27.14 | $55,910 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 8,110 | $29.33 | $60,290 |
| Northeastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 3,460 | $26.93 | $55,520 |
| Other North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 6,560 | $27.43 | $56,660 |
| Western Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 5,030 | $28.03 | $56,950 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 3,160 | $26.70 | $54,630 |
Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data
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