by our College Data Analytics TeamNursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 91 schools to find the best for nursing students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in North Carolina.
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 school for nursing. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 545 nursing degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $116,855. Duke University graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Get the full nursing details for Duke University
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Wake Forest University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest University awarded about 29 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $202,919 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577. Get the full nursing details for Wake Forest University
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #3. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 307 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $91,154 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,026 to complete this degree. See the full nursing program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Wilmington one of the top schools for nursing. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 953 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $83,408 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree. See the full nursing program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Elon University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. Elon University awarded about 44 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,619. More information about a degree in nursing from Elon University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #6 for nursing this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 225 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $95,753 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $25,044 in student loans. Get the full nursing details for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
High Point University came in at #7 for nursing this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 11 nursing degrees were awarded at High Point University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. High Point University graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans. Read more about the nursing program at High Point University
East Carolina University came in at #8 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 550 nursing degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $96,898. Students borrow a median of $25,264 to complete this degree. Read more about the nursing program at East Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #9 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 393 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $103,649. Students borrow a median of $24,701 to complete this degree. Read more about the nursing program at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Appalachian State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 108 nursing degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Appalachian State University earn around $69,420 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing from Appalachian State University
Forsyth Technical Community College earned the #11 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. Forsyth Technical Community College awarded about 109 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $68,379 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,748 to complete this degree. See the full nursing program report for Forsyth Technical Community College
Western Carolina University placed #12 among the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Carolina University awarded about 344 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $87,701. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $23,163 in student loans. Read more about the nursing program at Western Carolina University
Rowan Cabarrus Community College landed the #13 spot for nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Salisbury. Rowan Cabarrus Community College awarded about 117 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $67,501 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,062. Read more about the nursing program at Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #14 for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. About 124 nursing degrees were awarded at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $72,523 early in their careers. Fayetteville Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $14,937 in student loans. See the full nursing program report for Fayetteville Technical Community College
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #15 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 95 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $73,310 early in their careers. Central Piedmont Community College graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. See the full nursing program report for Central Piedmont Community College
Brunswick Community College came in at #16 for nursing this year. Brunswick Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Bolivia. There were roughly 52 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Brunswick Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $71,605 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. Read more about the nursing program at Brunswick Community College
Gaston College came in at #17 for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 104 nursing degrees were awarded at Gaston College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $68,245 early in their careers. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing from Gaston College
Stanly Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Albemarle. Stanly Community College awarded about 22 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Stanly Community College generally make around $76,008. Read more about the nursing program at Stanly Community College
Surry Community College placed #19 among the best nursing schools. Located in the rural area of Dobson, Surry Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 56 nursing degrees were awarded at Surry Community College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Surry Community College earn a median of $69,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,574 to complete this degree. See the full nursing program report for Surry Community College
Campbell University landed the #20 spot for nursing this year. Located in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 56 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Campbell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $70,772. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full nursing program report for Campbell University
Winston Salem State University landed the #21 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 186 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Winston Salem State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $84,648. Students borrow a median of $24,082 to complete this degree. Get the full nursing details for Winston Salem State University
Sampson Community College came in at #22 for nursing this year. Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clinton. There were roughly 49 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Sampson Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $69,040 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,596. Get the full nursing details for Sampson Community College
Craven Community College landed the #23 spot for nursing this year. Set in the town of New Bern, Craven Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 73 nursing degrees were awarded at Craven Community College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Craven Community College earn a median of $63,478 early in their careers. Craven Community College graduates carry a median of $10,349 in student loans. See the full nursing program report for Craven Community College
Wake Technical Community College landed the #24 spot for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 116 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Wake Technical Community College earn around $68,266 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,750. Read more about the nursing program at Wake Technical Community College
North Carolina Wesleyan College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 16 nursing degrees were awarded at North Carolina Wesleyan College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $40,202 in their early career. North Carolina Wesleyan College graduates carry a median of $26,713 in student loans. Get the full nursing details for North Carolina Wesleyan College
These schools also placed among the best for nursing this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 91 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.