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Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in North Carolina

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2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in North Carolina

19 Colleges
$65,879 Avg Salary
$19,587 Avg Student Debt

Nursing is the most popular major in North Carolina with 7,425 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for healthcare students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 19 schools in North Carolina to see which online programs were the most popular for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Check out the online nursing programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in North Carolina.

#1

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC

Our analysis found East Carolina University to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue an online degree in North Carolina. Located in the city of Greenville, ECU is a public college with a very large student population.

Nursing majors at ECU take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $261.

Read full report on Nursing at East Carolina University

Out of the 19 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the # 2 spot on the list. UNC Greensboro is a large public school located in the large city of Greensboro.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UNC Greensboro carry an average student debtload of $22,250. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $151.

Full Nursing at University of North Carolina at Greensboro Report

#3

Winston - Salem State University

Winston-Salem, NC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Winston - Salem State University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in North Carolina list. Located in the midsize city of Winston-Salem, WSSU is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from WSSU carry an average student debtload of $24,946. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $135, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Winston - Salem State University Report

#4

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC

Out of the 19 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Fayetteville State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Fayetteville State University is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Fayetteville.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Fayetteville State University take out is $22,125.

Read full report on Nursing at Fayetteville State University

The excellent online programs at University of North Carolina at Charlotte helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in North Carolina. UNC Charlotte is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Charlotte.

Nursing majors at UNC Charlotte take out an average of $23,828 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $166.

Read More…

Western Carolina University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. WCU is a fairly large public school located in the town of Cullowhee.

On average, nursing graduates from WCU take out $23,614 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $215.

Full Nursing at Western Carolina University Report

North Carolina Central University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in North Carolina ranking. North Carolina Central University is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Durham.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from North Carolina Central University carry an average student debtload of $40,658. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $197.

Full Nursing at North Carolina Central University Report

North Carolina A & T State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. NC A&T is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Greensboro.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at NC A&T take out is $30,303.

Read More…

Carolinas College of Health Sciences did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the city of Charlotte, Carolinas College of Health Sciences is a public college with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Carolinas College of Health Sciences accumulate an average of around $23,000 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Carolinas College of Health Sciences

#10

University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive, NC

University of Mount Olive landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. UMO is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Mount Olive.

Nursing majors at UMO take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at University of Mount Olive Report

Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region

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

State Degrees Awarded
Florida 21,209
Tennessee 6,004
Georgia 7,112
Kentucky 6,395
West Virginia 1,771
Virginia 6,775
Alabama 7,364
Louisiana 3,502
Mississippi 2,838
South Carolina 3,296
Arkansas 2,882

More Nursing Rankings in North Carolina

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 19 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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