Nursing Schools in North Carolina (2026)
101 accredited nursing programs found
North Carolina has 101 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with a public-heavy split of 72 public and 29 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $11,351, with public schools averaging $3,476 and private schools averaging $34,033 — one of the widest public/private spreads of any state. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $2,532 to $16,896, and the median tuition of $2,657 is among the lowest in the country. The cheapest tracked program is Pamlico Community College at $1,867 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is the University of North Carolina at Charlotte at about 23,567.
Across North Carolina programs the average graduation rate is 46.3 percent and the average retention rate is 68.9 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $36,095 and median federal debt at graduation averages $18,359. The state's deep North Carolina Community College system supplies a broad pipeline of low-cost ADN routes, while the UNC system and Duke produce a smaller but high-prestige BSN tier; both feed into a healthcare-employer market anchored by Duke Health, UNC Health, Atrium, and Novant.
Registered Nurse Market in North Carolina
BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses
Registered Nurse Salary in North Carolina
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Matches the North Carolina average of $11,351.
Matches the North Carolina average of 46.3%.
Matches the North Carolina median of $36,095.
Tuition Overview
| Avg Public Tuition | $3,476 |
| Lowest Tuition | $1,867 |
| Highest Tuition | $65,805 |
| Avg Private Tuition | $34,033 |
Student Outcomes
| Avg Graduation Rate | 46.3% |
| Avg Earnings After Grad | $40,079 |
| Avg Student Debt | $18,359 |
| Total Enrollment | 348,208 |
All Nursing Schools in North Carolina
| Institution | City | Type | Tuition (In-State) | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | Public | $7,214 | 23,567 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Public | $8,989 | 20,556 |
| East Carolina University | Greenville | Public | $7,361 | 19,857 |
| Appalachian State University | Boone | Public | $7,541 | 19,304 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | Public | $2,336 | 18,605 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | $7,317 | 14,176 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | Public | $7,593 | 13,848 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Public | $2,792 | 13,640 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | $6,748 | 11,925 |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | $4,532 | 9,867 |
| Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington | Public | $2,748 | 9,497 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | Public | $2,628 | 8,814 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown | Public | $2,319 | 8,179 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | Public | $2,256 | 6,939 |
| Duke University | Durham | Private | $65,805 | 6,417 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private | $44,536 | 6,402 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | $3,969 | 5,493 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | $6,542 | 5,400 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | $3,571 | 5,386 |
| Pitt Community College | Winterville | Public | $1,972 | 5,175 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | Public | $2,882 | 4,909 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | $6,735 | 4,244 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury | Public | $2,064 | 4,073 |
| Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | Public | $2,367 | 3,517 |
| Gaston College | Dallas | Public | $3,186 | 3,359 |
| Central Carolina Community College | Sanford | Public | $2,554 | 3,255 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | Public | $1,986 | 3,195 |
| Johnston Community College | Smithfield | Public | $2,657 | 2,998 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private | $40,410 | 2,790 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | Asheville | Public | $7,461 | 2,790 |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | Public | $2,462 | 2,682 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private | $40,196 | 2,462 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | Public | $1,978 | 2,454 |
| Alamance Community College | Graham | Public | $2,528 | 2,393 |
| Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | Public | $2,040 | 2,375 |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson | Public | $2,537 | 2,331 |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | Public | $2,524 | 1,998 |
| Wilkes Community College | Wilkesboro | Public | $2,572 | 1,881 |
| Craven Community College | New Bern | Public | $2,022 | 1,877 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private | $33,450 | 1,836 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock | Public | $2,660 | 1,788 |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private | $25,950 | 1,754 |
| Mitchell Community College | Statesville | Public | $2,651 | 1,692 |
| Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson | Public | $1,956 | 1,613 |
| Beaufort County Community College | Washington | Public | $2,540 | 1,560 |
| South Piedmont Community College | Polkton | Public | $2,022 | 1,555 |
| Robeson Community College | Lumberton | Public | $2,571 | 1,454 |
| Randolph Community College | Asheboro | Public | $2,416 | 1,446 |
| Surry Community College | Dobson | Public | $2,545 | 1,445 |
| Stanly Community College | Albemarle | Public | $2,672 | 1,430 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private | $39,664 | 1,425 |
| Nash Community College | Rocky Mount | Public | $2,883 | 1,422 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private | $43,285 | 1,362 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private | $30,900 | 1,348 |
| Western Piedmont Community College | Morganton | Public | $2,650 | 1,332 |
| Lenoir Community College | Kinston | Public | $2,568 | 1,311 |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva | Public | $5,806 | 1,304 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private | $43,936 | 1,288 |
| Richmond Community College | Hamlet | Public | $2,552 | 1,279 |
| College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City | Public | $2,249 | 1,271 |
| Cleveland Community College | Shelby | Public | $2,602 | 1,236 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private | $35,536 | 1,169 |
| Carteret Community College | Morehead City | Public | $2,310 | 1,144 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private | $33,400 | 1,127 |
| Brunswick Community College | Bolivia | Public | $2,532 | 1,124 |
| Rockingham Community College | Wentworth | Public | $1,966 | 1,071 |
| Isothermal Community College | Spindale | Public | $2,030 | 1,056 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private | $20,480 | 1,047 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private | $35,600 | 1,020 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private | $41,140 | 1,011 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private | $37,270 | 995 |
| Sampson Community College | Clinton | Public | $2,830 | 941 |
| Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | Public | $2,640 | 938 |
| Bladen Community College | Dublin | Public | $2,558 | 880 |
| Montgomery Community College | Troy | Public | $2,538 | 854 |
| Southeastern Community College | Whiteville | Public | $2,600 | 821 |
| Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk | Private | $31,140 | 817 |
| Wilson Community College | Wilson | Public | $2,572 | 807 |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde | Public | $2,612 | 793 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private | $16,896 | 766 |
| James Sprunt Community College | Kenansville | Public | $2,592 | 761 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private | $31,250 | 760 |
| Piedmont Community College | Roxboro | Public | $2,556 | 707 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private | $33,150 | 661 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private | $20,400 | 656 |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private | $33,930 | 654 |
| McDowell Technical Community College | Marion | Public | $1,958 | 614 |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord | Private | $16,070 | 602 |
| Halifax Community College | Weldon | Public | $2,608 | 540 |
| Tri-County Community College | Murphy | Public | $2,363 | 435 |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | Charlotte | Public | $19,095 | 409 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private | $32,236 | 390 |
| Mayland Community College | Spruce Pine | Public | $2,560 | 371 |
| Martin Community College | Williamston | Public | $2,523 | 302 |
| Roanoke-Chowan Community College | Ahoskie | Public | $2,642 | 265 |
| Pamlico Community College | Grantsboro | Public | $1,867 | 240 |
| Southeastern College-Charlotte | Charlotte | For-Profit | $24,184 | 217 |
| College of Wilmington | Wilmington | For-Profit | N/A | 154 |
| Watts College of Nursing | Durham | Private | N/A | 134 |
| Gwinnett College | Raleigh | For-Profit | N/A | 117 |
| Center for Massage | Asheville | For-Profit | N/A | 57 |
Nursing Schools by City in North Carolina
Nursing Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the average student debt at nursing schools in North Carolina?
How much do registered nurses earn in North Carolina?
What is the RN job outlook for North Carolina?
North Carolina Nursing Market Context
BLS data for North Carolina shows an RN median annual wage of $73,150 and a mean of $75,580. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $54,380 to $98,800. Statewide RN employment is approximately 97,930 and the projected growth rate is 7 percent — above the national 6 percent figure.
Median program debt of $18,359 against a $73,150 RN median wage is a workable but not effortless payback ratio, particularly for graduates of higher-cost private programs. Graduates of the community-college pipeline carry meaningfully less debt and can reach the licensure threshold for substantially below the state-average cost. The 7 percent projected growth rate translates to a steady tailwind for new graduates, and the major Research Triangle and Charlotte hospital systems offer measurable specialty-pay paths above the state median, with the 90th-percentile figure of $98,800 reflecting what experienced and credentialed North Carolina RNs can earn.