Best RN Programs in North Carolina, Ranked for 2026

The UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing offers four undergraduate paths to RN licensure: the traditional on-campus BSN, an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) for students who already hold a bachelor's degree, an Assured Admissions track, and a Military Pathway. The school also runs the Hillman Scholars Program for a select cohort. That range of entry points is uncommon at a flagship public university, and each track shares the same curriculum emphasis on research, interprofessional learning, and clinical preparation the program describes as producing nurses who are "highly sought-after in whatever field of nursing they choose."

The numbers anchor why this program earns a Hakia Score of 97.8, the top mark among NC programs in this ranking. A 15% admit rate signals genuine selectivity, and a 91% graduation rate confirms that students who get in largely finish. In-state tuition sits at $7,019 per year, making it one of the most cost-efficient paths to a BSN from a research university of this caliber. Out-of-state students pay $39,228, a gap worth weighing. This program fits high-achieving in-state students who want a rigorous flagship experience and career-switchers who qualify for the ABSN track.

Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS. UNC Chapel Hill graduates enter that market with a degree from a program that combines faculty-led research, interprofessional training, and multiple clinical environments. The school encourages prospective students to request transcript evaluations to confirm prerequisite completion before applying.

The Duke University School of Nursing offers one undergraduate nursing degree: the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), a 16-month program designed for people who already hold a bachelor's degree in any field and want to enter nursing. The program is not a traditional four-year BSN. It targets career-changers and is built around small clinical cohorts, high-fidelity simulation through the Center for Nursing Discovery, and global health opportunities including community health immersion trips to Rwanda, Tanzania, and Guatemala. The curriculum also allows students to earn 6 credits toward a future graduate degree. Duke's page notes the school was named the #1 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program by U.S. News and World Report in 2024.

Duke is private, and tuition reflects that: $66,325 per year with no in-state differential. That is the central tradeoff here. The program carries a Hakia Score of 95.5 and a 97% graduation rate, the highest of any NC program in this ranking. The university's 6% overall admit rate signals institutional selectivity, though the ABSN has its own admissions process. Need-based scholarships are available, with awards ranging up to 100% of tuition over four semesters for students demonstrating the greatest financial need. This program fits motivated degree-holders who want clinical depth, access to a major academic medical center, and are prepared to move quickly through an intensive curriculum.

The ABSN includes access to Duke's Student Success Center, NCLEX coaching, and a peer support network. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN upon program completion. The national median wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per year per the BLS OEWS. Duke's clinical partnerships with major medical centers and community organizations expand the range of practice settings students encounter before graduation.

The UNC Wilmington School of Nursing runs three program options under its BSN umbrella: a prelicensure track for students entering nursing for the first time, an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) that takes four semesters for applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree, and an RN-to-BSN completion program that can be finished in one year and is delivered mostly online. The prelicensure track accepts 120 students per year across fall and spring cohorts, with a secondary application required after initial UNCW admission. Minimum prelicensure requirements include a combined GPA of 2.7, completion of five prerequisite courses, and a TEAS Assessment score.

UNCW's Hakia Score of 92.7 reflects strong value relative to its cost. In-state tuition is $4,443 per year, the second-lowest among the top four NC programs in this ranking. Out-of-state students pay $21,318. The 64% admit rate makes UNCW the most accessible of the selective programs here, which suits students who may not qualify for UNC Chapel Hill's 15% admit threshold but still want a UNCW degree with multiple pathway options. The 71% graduation rate is the lowest among these four programs and worth factoring in, particularly for students who want to model completion risk against the cost of attendance.

The curriculum is organized around professional values the school names explicitly: client-centered care, lifelong learning, and quality improvement. Graduates from all three tracks are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS. For in-state students who want a flexible entry point and a low tuition cost, UNCW's three-track structure offers real optionality.

The UNC Charlotte School of Nursing offers three BSN options: the Upper Division Pre-Licensure BSN (the primary traditional track), an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) for applicants who hold a prior bachelor's degree, and an RN-to-BSN completion program. The prelicensure track admits students in both fall and spring semesters through a holistic review process that weighs prerequisite GPA, essays, direct patient care experience, volunteer hours, and prior degree completion. A key admission requirement specific to Charlotte: all admitted prelicensure students must be certified as a Nurse Aide I (CNA I) and listed in the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry before upper-division enrollment. Prerequisite science courses require a grade of B or above, and each may be repeated once.

UNC Charlotte holds the lowest in-state tuition of the four programs in this ranking at $3,812 per year. Out-of-state tuition is $19,065. The 80% university admit rate makes it the most accessible entry point here. The program earns a Hakia Score of 86.6, with a 69% graduation rate. That completion figure is the lowest in this group and should be weighed against the cost advantage. The school notes its program capacity has expanded, meaning more seats are available than in prior years. This program fits in-state students who are cost-focused, already working toward CNA I certification, and want fall and spring admission windows.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN upon program completion. Beyond the BSN, Charlotte offers MSN and DNP graduate programs for students who plan to advance in the field. The national median wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS. Clinical training covers hospitals, clinics, public health, home health, hospice, and long-term care facilities.

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences offers a traditional four-year BSN at its Atrium Health hospital-based campus in Concord. The program is direct-admit: students satisfy general education requirements and move into the nursing curriculum without a separate competitive application. Hands-on clinical experience begins in semester five, and students have access to high-tech simulation labs on campus and at Atrium Health facilities. The college also accepts transfer students and waives ACT/SAT requirements under certain conditions.

The numbers reflect a selective, small program. With a 23% admit rate and enrollment of 924 across the institution, cohorts stay small. The 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio backs that up. Graduation rate sits at 71%, and the program sets a published goal of 70% of incoming students graduating within 150% of the standard program length (six years). Tuition is $16,000 per year regardless of residency, which places it above most public options but below many private universities. The Hakia Score of 85.7 reflects strong selectivity and institutional focus on clinical placement, though the grad rate trails top-ranked programs in the state. This program fits students who want direct pipeline access to one of the region's largest health systems and can absorb private-school tuition in exchange for a tightly structured path to licensure.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN upon verification by the college that education requirements are met. The program targets an annual first-time NCLEX pass rate at or above the national BSN mean, with a floor of 80%. CCNE accreditation status should be confirmed directly with the college.

Elon University's four-year BSN is a pre-licensure, direct-entry program housed within the School of Health Sciences. Students declare nursing as their major upon admission to Elon; there is no separate clinical application at the end of the first or second year. The curriculum pairs coursework closely with clinical experiences across multiple settings, including international and diverse community placements. The program emphasizes population-level thinking and value-based care alongside individual patient skills. Admission requires a minimum SAT of 1100 or ACT of 22, and students must earn a B- or higher in all nursing courses to maintain enrollment.

Elon's 84% graduation rate is the strongest figure in this ranked group and signals that students who gain admission tend to finish. The 66% admit rate makes Elon the most accessible of the four programs on this list, but self-selection and the B- grade floor create internal standards that filter outcomes. Tuition is $46,451 per year with no distinction between in-state and out-of-state students, making cost the central tradeoff. At that price point, Elon fits students who prioritize a high-completion, mentored environment and are prepared for private university pricing. The Hakia Score of 85.4 reflects the strong graduation outcome relative to the cost burden. IPEDS reports total enrollment at 7,239.

Registered nurses earn a national median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS. Elon does not publish NCLEX pass rate data on the scraped program page; prospective students should request that figure directly from the School of Nursing before enrolling.

North Carolina A&T State University offers a traditional four-year BSN through the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences. The first two years cover university core requirements and foundation science courses; the upper division (years three and four) shifts almost entirely to nursing coursework, totaling 124 credit hours for the degree. The program draws on innovative classroom instruction, clinical experiential learning, and research-informed practice to prepare graduates for settings ranging from hospitals and public health departments to military service and home health. Admission to the upper division requires a competitive secondary application submitted once per year, with a February 15 deadline; the average GPA of admitted upper-division students is 3.77, and a TEAS score at or above the national mean is required along with a current CNA I credential listed in the NC Nurse Aide Registry.

The cost advantage at A&T is significant: $3,540 per year for in-state students versus $17,400 out-of-state. That in-state figure is lower than any other program in this NC ranking set. The 50% admit rate reflects a moderately competitive university-level entry, but the internal upper-division process is rigorous. The 57% graduation rate is the lowest in this group and worth weighing against the tuition savings; students who struggle in lower-division pre-nursing coursework do not advance to the clinical sequence. Enrollment of 14,311 means a much larger institutional context than Cabarrus or Elon. The Hakia Score of 83.9 accounts for the grad rate drag while recognizing the exceptional affordability and regional access the program provides.

Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN upon completion. For accreditation status, check with ACEN or CCNE directly; the program page does not specify the accrediting body.

Appalachian State University's pre-licensure BSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), as stated on the program page. The 63-credit nursing curriculum is completed in two years of full-time study after admission, which happens once per year at the end of the sophomore year. Applications open October 15 and are due the first day of spring semester. Approximately 75 students are admitted per cohort, with 150 total enrolled in the two-year sequence at any given time. Clinical rotations span adult health, community and mental health, obstetrics and pediatrics, and critical care, with sites ranging up to 90 miles from Boone including Winston-Salem, Hickory, and Morganton. Students must have reliable personal transportation. The program also offers a formal pathway for military medics and corpsmen, with options to earn credit toward specific nursing courses based on Joint Services Transcript review.

App State's in-state tuition of $4,242 per year makes it the second most affordable option in this group after NC A&T, while its 75% graduation rate and 99% three-year average NCLEX pass rate (per the program page) represent stronger completion and licensure outcomes than any other program here. The 90% admit rate at the university level means entry to App State itself is broadly accessible, but the competitive nursing application at the end of year two creates a meaningful internal filter; a minimum 3.0 GPA is required to apply, and a B- or better is needed in all science prerequisites. Out-of-state students pay $21,875, which shifts the value calculus considerably. The Hakia Score of 82.8 reflects the broad university admit rate tempering an otherwise strong outcomes picture.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. The program cites CCNE accreditation; prospective students can verify current status at AACN. The national median annual wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per the BLS OEWS.

Queens University of Charlotte houses its nursing programs within the Presbyterian School of Nursing (PSON) and offers four distinct paths to the BSN: a Traditional Pathway for incoming pre-nursing students, a Direct Admit option for high school applicants who meet a 3.5 GPA and test score threshold, a Transfer track for students arriving with at least 45 credit hours and a 2.7 GPA, and a one-year Accelerated BSN (ABSN) for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree. The ABSN requires a TEAS score of 65 or higher and a 2.7 GPA in eight science and social science prerequisites. Clinical placements draw on Charlotte's major health systems, and the curriculum includes coursework in applied informatics, evidence-based practice, and community health nursing.

Queens earned a Hakia Score of 82.3, ranking it 9th among North Carolina BSN programs in this analysis. The program's 62% admit rate makes it moderately selective. The graduation rate sits at 61%, a figure worth factoring in alongside the $43,200 annual tuition that applies equally to all students regardless of residency. The private nonprofit structure means there is no in-state tuition break. The program fits students who want multiple structured entry points and direct access to a large metro healthcare market, but the cost-to-graduation-rate ratio warrants careful attention before committing. Enrollment and financial data are reported to IPEDS. Registered nurses nationally earn a median wage of $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS.

High Point University's Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing offers a traditional upper-division BSN designed around four program goals: preparing safe nurse generalists, building competency in person-centered care across the lifespan, developing leadership in fiscally responsible care coordination, and readying graduates for graduate-level study. The school page notes that the baccalaureate program is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); as the school itself states, applying for accreditation does not guarantee it will be granted. Students train in Parkway Commons, a 50,000-square-foot facility equipped with 14 low-to-high fidelity simulators and three dedicated high-fidelity suites covering adult health, maternal newborn, and pediatric nursing. Clinical agreements with Piedmont Triad healthcare organizations anchor real-world placement.

High Point University holds a Hakia Score of 82.0, placing it 10th among North Carolina BSN programs in this index. Its 74% graduation rate is the stronger outcome metric here, and the 75% admit rate signals an accessible but not open-enrollment program. Tuition is $39,714 per year with no residency distinction, typical of private nonprofit institutions. At roughly $3,500 less per year than Queens, HPU offers a lower sticker price paired with a meaningfully higher graduation rate, making it a worth-considering option for students who want a traditional BSN pathway with strong simulation infrastructure. Enrollment and financial data are reported to IPEDS. The national median wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per year per the BLS OEWS.