Find Healthcare Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in North Carolina

Find Schools Near

2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in North Carolina

33 Colleges
$64,238 Avg Salary
$28,730 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree School for You

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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search has developed this Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 33 schools in North Carolina to see which bachelor's degree programs were the most popular for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing a bachelor's degree.

Our analysis found University of North Carolina at Wilmington to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in North Carolina. Located in the medium-sized city of Wilmington, UNCW is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 782 students majoring in nursing at UNCW, 10% are male and 90% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from UNCW take out $23,602 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $212, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at University of North Carolina at Wilmington Report

#2

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC

The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at East Carolina University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in North Carolina. Located in the small city of Greenville, ECU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 343 students majoring in nursing at ECU, 9% are male and 91% are female.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at ECU accumulate an average of around $24,172 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $261.

Full Nursing at East Carolina University Report

#3

Winston - Salem State University

Winston-Salem, NC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winston - Salem State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Located in the medium-sized city of Winston-Salem, WSSU is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

About 90% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 10% are male.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at WSSU accumulate an average of around $25,916 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $135, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#4

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Fayetteville State University is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville.

About 92% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 8% are male.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Fayetteville State University take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $25,561.

Read More…

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large public school located in the city of Greensboro.

Women make up 89% of the nursing majors at the school.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at UNC Greensboro accumulate an average of around $23,245 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $151.

Read full report on Nursing at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

With a ranking of #6, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. UNC Charlotte is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Charlotte.

Of the 197 students majoring in nursing at UNC Charlotte, 14% are male and 86% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from UNC Charlotte take out $23,270 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. 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 full report on Nursing at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

With a ranking of #7, Western Carolina University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. WCU is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee.

Of the 167 students majoring in nursing at WCU, 18% are male and 82% are female.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from WCU carry an average student debt load of $25,055. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $215.

Read full report on Nursing at Western Carolina University

#8

Duke University

Durham, NC

Duke University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Duke is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham.

Of the 147 students majoring in nursing at Duke, 10% are male and 90% are female.

Nursing majors at Duke take out an average of $29,049 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Read More…

With a ranking of #9, Appalachian State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the distant town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 92% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at Appalachian State take out an average of $19,323 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $180, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Appalachian State University

Queens University of Charlotte landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Charlotte, Queens is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Queens carry an average student debt load of $35,660.

Read full report on Nursing at Queens University of Charlotte

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

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 26 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.

Featured Schools

Find Healthcare Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited healthcare schools across the U.S.