Best colleges for nursing in North Carolina
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in nursing, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for nursing in North Carolina33 schools
33 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in nursing, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 2
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 3
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 4
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 1% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- 5
Elon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofitTop 8% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 6
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 7
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 8
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 9
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 10
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 11
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 12
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public#18 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 13
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 14
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 15
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 16
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit#26 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 17Tie
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
- 17Tie
William Peace University
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 19Tie
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 19Tie
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 19Tie
Wingate University
Wingate, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 22
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit#33 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 23
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC · Private nonprofit#38 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 24
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, NC · Private nonprofit#40 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 25
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke, NC · PublicTop 16% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 41%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | About $30,000 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | About $12,000 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | About $18,000 | $16,000 | $58,708 | 71% |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | — | $15,337 | $64,624 | 100% |
| Elon University | About $42,000 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | About $20,000 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| Appalachian State University | About $17,000 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| High Point University | About $39,000 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | About $15,000 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | About $31,000 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| East Carolina University | About $16,000 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Western Carolina University | About $13,000 | $21,868 | $49,458 | 60% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | About $11,000 | $22,858 | $48,160 | 56% |
| North Carolina A & T State University | About $11,000 | $27,000 | $44,440 | 57% |
| Campbell University | About $25,000 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Catawba College | About $18,000 | $25,000 | $48,793 | 47% |
| Gardner-Webb University | About $18,000 | $24,222 | $48,039 | 55% |
| William Peace University | About $22,000 | $22,250 | $46,643 | 45% |
| Belmont Abbey College | About $25,000 | $26,000 | $47,937 | 47% |
| University of Mount Olive | About $19,000 | $27,209 | $47,139 | 52% |
| Wingate University | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $52,649 | 46% |
| Methodist University | About $25,000 | $27,000 | $48,050 | 44% |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | About $21,000 | $26,000 | $45,543 | 48% |
| Mars Hill University | About $20,000 | $26,000 | $44,781 | 45% |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | About $10,000 | $25,000 | $43,407 | 44% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 16
- Arizona 10
- Arkansas 14
- California 53
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 17
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 35
- Georgia 37
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 33
- Indiana 30
- Iowa 19
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 20
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 9
- Maryland 12
- Massachusetts 24
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 25
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 36
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 10
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 9
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 7
- New York 58
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 64
- Oklahoma 17
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 68
- Puerto Rico 33
- Rhode Island 5
- South Carolina 20
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 31
- Texas 52
- Utah 14
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 24