2021 - Best Nursing Schools in North Carolina

Gardner-Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.  The Hunt School of Nursing has had an ADN program since 1965 and has expanded to include a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program, an MSN program, which includes either education, FNP, or administration, and a DNP program.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina. The Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) is unique in that their only BSN program is an accelerated BSN (ABSN) - it is designed for adult learners with a prior bachelors degree.  DUSON's primary focus is on educating nurses to advanced degrees; in fact, aside from the ABSN degree students, they graduated their last BSN students in 1983.

Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina.  Their nursing department offers a pre-licensure BSN program, an accelerated BSN program (allowing a student with a prior bachelor's degree to obtain a BSN degree) and an RN to BSN program, which is an online program.  Their programs are also offered at Biltmore Park Towne Square in Asheville, North Carolina; this location offers only a selection of majors, nursing being one of the few.

Western Carolina University’s School of Nursing offers nationally ranked, accredited, affordable undergraduate and graduate programs at WCU’s main campus in Cullowhee, NC, at Asheville instructional site, and online. Students have access to state-of-the-art classroom and lab space as well as opportunities for hands-on experience through on and off-site clinical partnerships and service learning programs.

East Carolina University is located in Greenville, North Carolina.  They offer several BSN degree options - a traditional BSN degree, an accelerated BSN degree (for second degree students), an an RN to BSN degree.  East Carolina University has been in existence since 1908, when it broke ground as a teachers training institution.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  UNC offers a bachelor's degree.  Unique to their program is the RN to MSN option that they offer, in addition to various other graduate and doctoral options. UNC's BSN program originated in 1950, and was the first baccalaureate nursing program in North Carolina. They were also the first to offer an MSN program in North Carolina, in 1955.

Clinical rotations are held at various health care locations in Orange County as well as all counties contiguous to Orange.

The UNC’s baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing—as well as the post-graduate APRN certificate program offered by the UNC School of Nursing—are accredited by CCNE.

University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in Wilmington, North Carolina.  They offer a prelicensure BSN program and an RN to BSN program.  The RN to BSN program is offered online.  The RN to BSN program has six start-times throughout the year, making it a desirable option for the working nurse.

Fayetteville State University is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Fayetteville State University offers a BSN program and an RN to BSN program.  The RN to BSN program has two options - a full-time option that is 2.5 semesters and a part-time option that is 5 semesters.  The traditional program requires students to attend on a full-time basis.

Queens University of Charlotte offers two pre-licensure tracks for students to earn their BSN-- the traditional track and the accelerated ABSN.

Their baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master's degree program are both accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Traditional BSN - The traditional BSN path is open to students completing their first bachelors or who hold a bachelor’s degree, students can start nursing courses in the fall or spring terms and complete the program in as few as four semesters. Students completing their first degree should be prepared to take additional courses to meet university graduation requirements.

Accelerated BSN - Open only to students who currently hold a bachelor’s degree, this program starts in the summer (mid-May) and takes three semesters to complete - summer, fall and spring (one year).

Students enrolled in the traditional undergraduate nursing track and the ABSN track will take 58 hours of nursing courses and about 450 clinical hours in the areas of basic and advanced medical-surgical nursing, maternity, pediatrics and community health nursing. All courses take place on campus during daytime hours.

Queens Presbyterian School of Nursing has many opportunities to learn from industry leaders, and with close proximity to two of the state's premier healthcare systems, students have access to state-of-the-art healthcare facilities. The on-campus, Hunt Nursing Simulation Center offers cutting-edge technology for students to hone their practice while gaining knowledge from school faculty.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.  They have a traditional BSN option, BSN for second-degree students and an RN to BSN option.  Their nursing program "is recognized by the National League for Nursing as a Center for Excellence in Nursing Education—one of just three in North Carolina."

University of North Carolina at Pembroke is located in Pembroke, North Carolina.  UNC Pembroke was founded in 1887 as the Croatan Normal School and educated American Indian teachers.  Today, 62% of the student population is a minority.  They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program; they also partner with local community colleges in the RIBN program.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute has two campuses - Hudson and Boone, North Carolina.  They offer an associate's degree program.  They also offer the Hickory RIBN Program, which is basically a collaborative program between CCC & TI and Lenoir-Rhyne University that allows a simultaneous transition for students to earn their BSN degree.

Western Piedmont Community College is located in Morganton, North Carolina.  WPCC offers an associate's degree in nursing.  They are proud to note that in 2008, they were one of seven North Carolina community colleges to be designated an "exceptional" community college.

College of the Albemarle is located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  They offer an LPN program an LPN to ADN program and an ADN program.  They also offer a pre-BSN nursing pathway, which is for students who would like to obtain their general education credits but have not yet been admitted to a nursing program.  They also have an RN to BSN Step Center, which helps students who have recently graduated with their ADN assistance in selecting an RN to BSN/RN to MSN program.

Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, North Carolina.  CFCC offers a practical nursing program, an RN program and a nursing transition option, which is an LPN to RN option.  They are proud to announce that their 2015 NCLEX-RN pass rate was 100%.

Carolinas College of Health Sciences is located within the Carolinas HealthCare System. Their college is devoted entirely to educating healthcare professionals.  They offer an associate's degree program and an LPN to ADN program.  They like to brag that 80% of their graduates choose to take a position with Carolinas HealthCare System after graduating.

Forsyth Technical Community College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  They offer a practical nursing an associate's degree program.  They also offer an LPN to RN transition option.  Annually, they offer 144 students admission into their ADN programs.  Students are accepted in the fall and spring semesters, with LPN to RN students gaining entrance during the fall semester only.  The LPN to RN program has classes in a traditional pattern on-campus, with the clinical portion during the evenings and weekends.

Mitchell Community College is located in Statesville, North Carolina.  They offer an associate's degree RN.  MCC has a collaboration with Lenoir-Rhyne University called the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN), which allows a seamless transition for students after graduation in competing their BSN degree.

Surry Community College is located in Dobson, North Carolina.  They offer a practical nursing program, an ADN program, and a separate LPN to ADN program.  The programs uses a points system to determine entrance in the program.

Wake Technical Community College is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.  They offer an ADN degree and an advanced placement option for LPNs.  The WTCC Department of Nursing is "proud of our reputation in the community for preparing excellent, well-qualified nurses."