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2024 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina

51 Colleges in North Carolina
2,538 Associate Degrees
$55,846 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a associate degree in nursing, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #2 most popular program in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

College Factual looked at 51 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 2,538 associate degrees in nursing to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Associate Degree

Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina The nursing associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Early-Career Earnings

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina list, to help you choose the best school for you.


 

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Nursing in North Carolina

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for nursing students seeking a an associate degree.

10 Top North Carolina Schools for an Associate in Nursing

1
74 Annual Graduates
$58,677 Median Starting Salary
$23,749 Median Student Debt

Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in nursing needs to look into Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a fairly small private not-for-profit college located in the midsize city of Concord.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences earn $2,831 more than the typical nursing graduate.

More information about a associate in nursing from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

2
95 Annual Graduates
$60,164 Median Starting Salary
$24,499 Median Student Debt

Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in nursing needs to check out Carolinas College of Health Sciences. Located in the large city of Charlotte, Carolinas College of Health Sciences is a public college with a small student population.

Associate recipients from the nursing degree program at Carolinas College of Health Sciences earn $4,318 more than the typical college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in nursing from Carolinas College of Health Sciences

3
Gardner - Webb crest
Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC
12 Annual Graduates
$20,000 Median Student Debt

Every student who is interested in an associate degree in nursing has to look into Gardner - Webb University. Located in the distant town of Boiling Springs, Gardner - Webb is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a associate in nursing from Gardner - Webb University

4
102 Annual Graduates
$58,037 Median Starting Salary
$16,125 Median Student Debt

It is hard to beat Central Piedmont Community College if you wish to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Central Piedmont Community College is a large public college located in the city of Charlotte.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Central Piedmont Community College receive $2,191 more than the average nursing student.

More information about a associate in nursing from Central Piedmont Community College

5
131 Annual Graduates
$58,635 Median Starting Salary
$24,750 Median Student Debt

Located in the large suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

Associate recipients from the nursing major at Wake Technical Community College get $2,789 above the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in nursing from Wake Technical Community College

6
Gaston College crest
Gaston College
Dallas, NC
71 Annual Graduates
$55,092 Median Starting Salary
$12,750 Median Student Debt

Gaston College is a moderately-sized public college located in the midsize suburb of Dallas.

After graduation, nursing associate recipients typically earn about $55,092 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in nursing from Gaston College

7
36 Annual Graduates
$55,640 Median Starting Salary
$12,596 Median Student Debt

Located in the distant town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Soon after graduation, nursing associate recipients usually make about $55,640 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a associate in nursing from Sampson Community College

8
32 Annual Graduates
$59,790 Median Starting Salary
$21,448 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Nursing associate degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College get an earnings boost of around $3,944 above the average income of nursing graduates.

More information about a associate in nursing from Durham Technical Community College

9
Pitt Community College crest
Pitt Community College
Winterville, NC
113 Annual Graduates
$56,104 Median Starting Salary
$19,354 Median Student Debt

Pitt Community College is a moderately-sized public college located in the suburb of Winterville.

Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $56,104 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in nursing from Pitt Community College

10
38 Annual Graduates
$53,279 Median Starting Salary
$8,722 Median Student Debt

Richmond Community College is a small public college located in the distant town of Hamlet.

Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program state that they receive average early career wages of $53,279.

More information about a associate in nursing from Richmond Community College

Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Mississippi 143 1,269
Georgia 121 1,473
Florida 121 9,083
Arkansas 105 1,212
Tennessee 102 1,235
Virginia 97 2,569
West Virginia 92 813
Kentucky 90 1,848
Louisiana 80 966
South Carolina 77 1,223
Alabama 69 2,116

View All Rankings >

One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 2,538

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Allied Health Professions 1,137
Health & Medical Administrative Services 1,025
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 797
Mental & Social Health Services 389
Dental Support Services 189
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science 146
Health Sciences & Services 69
Health/Medical Prep Programs 61
Somatic Bodywork & Therapeutic Services 16
Ophthalmic & Optometric Support Services 10

Notes and References

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