North Carolina BSN Programs: The 10 Best Ranked For 2023

North Carolina BSN programs are some of the highest-achieving we’ve looked at when ranking the best undergraduate nursing programs by state. 

Of the 30 universities offering a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in North Carolina, 12 of them had an NCLEX pass rate of at least 90%, indicating students are well-prepared to become Registered Nurses.

In this post, we’ve ranked the best BSN programs in North Carolina to help you in your search for the right school. Unlike other school ranking sites with questionable methodology, we based our rankings on hard numbers.

To do this, we compiled the NCLEX pass rates for every undergraduate nursing degree program in the state from the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

Before we jump in, don’t forget that you’re not limited to the schools on this list. In fact, there are lots of high-quality online BSN programs you may want to consider. 

For now though, let’s take a look at the top-ranked BSN program in North Carolina.

What Is The Best BSN Program In North Carolina?

While there are five different programs whose graduates achieved a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2022, the best BSN program in North Carolina is South College. 

Not only did this school have a perfect pass rate, but they also graduated more students than any of the other four schools that had every graduate pass the exam.

However, just because we’ve ranked South College as the top BSN program in North Carolina doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you. There are lots of other things to consider, like the degree types offered, location, or alumni feedback.

Read on to learn more about South College and the other top-ranked BSN programs in North Carolina.

10 Best BSN Programs In North Carolina Ranked

The table below ranks every BSN program in North Carolina based on their average NCLEX pass rate for the full year of 2022. You can learn more about the top ten programs by scrolling past the table.

It’s also worth noting that the source we drew this data from, the North Carolina Board of Nursing, includes pass rates for colleges offering an Associate Degree in Nursing as well. However, we’re only covering Bachelor’s programs here.

School	NCLEX Pass Rate
CATAWBA COLLEGE	100.00%
ELON UNIVERSITY	100.00%
METHODIST UNIVERSITY	100.00%
SOUTH COLLEGE	100.00%
WINGATE UNIVERSITY	100.00%
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY	97.87%
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY	97.22%
WATTS COLLEGE OF NURSING	95.65%
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY	94.55%
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA [Greensboro]	91.74%
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA [Chapel Hill]	90.40%
PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY	90.00%
CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING	89.47%
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA [Charlotte]	88.17%
DUKE UNIVERSITY – ACCELERATED	87.84%
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY	86.44%
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY	85.71%
CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY	84.78%
SOUTH UNIVERSITY – HIGH POINT	83.33%
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA [Wilmington]	83.33%
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA [Pembroke]	83.33%
BARTON COLLEGE	80.56%
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	78.22%
QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE – PRESBYTERIAN	77.67%
FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY	77.65%
LENOIR RHYNE UNIVERSITY	75.00%
MARS HILL UNIVERSITY	73.68%
LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE	71.43%
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY	71.43%
NC AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY	70.73%

1. South College

As we mentioned earlier, the number one school in our rankings of the best BSN program in North Carolina is South College with an NCLEX pass rate of 100% in 2022. Of the 25 graduates who took the exam, all 25 passed.

This college offers four different degree pathways for earning your Bachelor’s degree:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• RN to BSN
• Hybrid BSN
• LPN to BSN

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the only traditional, in-person track offered at the North Carolina campus. Additionally, it offers this program at campuses in cities in other states:

• Asheville
• Atlanta
• Indianapolis
• Knoxville
• Nashville
• Orlando

South College also offers an online RN to BSN pathway for nurses who are already ADN-educated nurses. Classes are delivered with a flexible schedule, which means you can continue working while you earn your degree should you wish to do so.

The other two degree pathways aren’t delivered at the North Carolina Campus, but they’re worth mentioning. 

Instruction in the Hybrid BSN pathway is completed online, while lab hours are completed at either the Knoxville or Nashville campus during the weekend. Finally, the LPN to BSN track is designed for Licensed Practical Nurses looking to bridge to a Bachelor’s degree and is available at the Atlanta, Knoxville, and Nashville campuses.

The salary stats from GradReports don’t look all that impressive for this school, but that’s likely because South College has multiple campuses across different states, most of which have a lower cost of living. According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 98%
• Median debt after graduation is $37,500 (based on 78 students)
• Median alumni salary is $45,960 (based on 56 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 4/100 salary score

2. Wingate University

Wingate University also had a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2022 and is second in our rankings of the top BSN programs in North Carolina. 20 students took and passed the exam, the second-most of the schools who achieved a perfect pass rate.

This school offers just one pathway to earn your degree: the traditional Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

To gain admission into this program, you first need to complete prerequisite courses during your first two years of undergraduate study. Once you complete these courses and display academic proficiency, you can enter into the Upper Division nursing program for your second two years of study.

At Wingate University, you’ll also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a variety of different nursing settings, like hospitals, public school systems, and mental health facilities.

Additionally, you can participate in poverty simulation, community clinics, and a multitude of community outreach opportunities.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $27,000 (sample size not reported)
• Median alumni salary is $61,020 (based on 13 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 34/100 salary score

3. Catawba College

Catawba College is third on our list of North Carolina’s best BSN programs, and it also had an NCLEX pass rate of 100% in 2022. Of the 16 graduates that took the exam, all 16 passed.

This college offers two pathways to earn your Bachelor’s degree:

• BSN Pre-licensure Nursing
• RN to BSN Nursing

The Pre-licensure Nursing track follows a traditional format and is offered at their campus in Salisbury, NC. The school partners with healthcare facilities like Novant Health, Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Hospitals, and Atrium Health where you can complete clinical hours

Students also have the chance to participate in service learning and community service opportunities such as:

• Going on mission trips
• Helping patients at a community clinic
• Developing teaching products at community agencies

Meanwhile, the RN to BSN track is completed entirely online and features eight-week courses. You can choose from three start dates a year, and earn your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree on a more flexible schedule that allows you to work and study at the same time.

Unfortunately, GradReports has no data on Catawba College nursing outcomes. However, if you’re looking for a program with small class sizes, it could be a good option. One reviewer on Niche wrote:

“Class sizes are small which means that there is a great opportunity to connect with professors.”

-Senior, Feb 2023

4. Methodist University

Methodist University also had a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2022. Of the 14 graduates that took the exam, all 14 passed, so this school ranks as the fourth best BSN program in North Carolina.

This university provides two different pathways for getting your undergraduate nursing degree:

• Traditional BSN Pre-licensure
• RN to BSN Completion

The Traditional Pre-licensure program began in 2010 and is delivered at their campus in Fayetteville, NC. Clinical sites are located throughout Cumberland County and surrounding counties.

The RN to BSN track is 100% online and can be completed in just one to two years. 

It’s also worth noting that there are options to advance your education further after earning your BSN at this school. Methodist University also offers a:

• Certificate in Nursing Education (CNE)
• MSN in Administrative Leadership
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Executive Leadership

For graduates of the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program, GradReports states:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 97%
• Median debt after graduation is $25,500 (based on 28 students)
• Median alumni salary is $56,230 (based on 35 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 20/100 salary score

5. Elon University

Number five in our rankings of the best BSN programs in North Carolina is Elon University. It’s the last school on this list to achieve a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2022.

While only three graduates sat for and passed the exam, the nursing program at Elon University only began in Fall of 2021. The program had been in development for about five years, and the first cohort consisted of over thirty students.

Elon University offers two different pathways for earning your undergraduate nursing degree:

• Four-year BSN
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN)

The four-year BSN is a traditional format delivered at the school’s campus in Elon, NC. This track allows you to earn a biology minor in addition to the completion of your nursing prerequisites. 

The Accelerated BSN track is designed for students who already hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree. With this pathway, you can earn your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree in just sixteen months.

Since Elon University nursing is a new program, we weren’t able to find any reviews or outcome data.

6. Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University is ranked as the sixth best Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program in North Carolina. While graduates from this school didn’t quite achieve a perfect NCLEX pass rate, they came very close.

The pass rate for this university was 97.87%. Of the 94 exams delivered in 2022, 92 test-takers passed.

This school offers four different pathways for earning your undergraduate nursing degree:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
• WNC Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate (WNC RIBN)
• RN to BSN

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing track is a traditional four-year degree pathway. Instruction is delivered at their campus in Cullowhee, NC, and clinicals are completed at healthcare facilities and agencies across Western North Carolina.

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is designed for students who already hold an undergraduate degree in a different field of study. Students are typically admitted in the Fall and graduate the following year in December.

The WNC RIBN track allows students to dually enroll in a community college and Western Carolina University. This is a four-year pathway that allows you to begin working as an RN at the beginning of your fourth year. Participating community colleges include:

• Asheville-Buncombe Technical
• Blue Ridge
• Isothermal
• Southwestern

Finally, the RN to BSN track allows ADN-educated nurses to earn their Bachelor’s degree completely online in just four semesters.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $16,390 (based on 199 students)
• Median alumni salary is $57,710 (based on 220 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 24/100 salary score

7. Appalachian State University

The seventh best Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program in North Carolina is Appalachian State University. This school had an impressive 97.22% NCLEX pass rate, just slightly missing the number six spot.

Of the 36 students who took the exam, just one failed to pass.

This school offers two pathways for earning your nursing Bachelor’s degree:

• BSN (Pre-licensure)
• RN to BSN

In the Pre-licensure BSN track, students attend class on-campus in Boone, NC. Clinical experiences are offered in a variety of different nursing areas, including:

• Adult health
• Community health
• Mental health
• Obstetric
• Pediatric
• Critical care
• Emergency room

The RN to BSN track program is 100% online and can be completed in one, two, or three years. The school also has a partnership with Wilkes Community College which allows you to complete your Associate Degree in Nursing at Wilkes before entering the one-year RN to BSN at App State.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 99%
• Median debt after graduation is $10,990 (based on 135 students)
• Median alumni salary is $57,920 (based on 236 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 24/100 salary score

8. Watts College of Nursing

Watts College of Nursing is the eighth ranked BSN program in North Carolina with an NCLEX pass rate of 95.65% in 2022. Of the 46 graduates that took the test, 44 of them passed. It’s also worth noting that their 2021 pass rate was 100% according to their website.

This is one of the few schools in our rankings only offering one track to get your degree: the traditional BSN.

Watts College of Nursing only provides Upper Division Nursing education, which means you’ll need to complete your prerequisites before you can enter the program. You’ll spend about two years earning your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree at this school.

The program consists of four 15-week semesters and no summer courses. It is also affiliated with Duke University Health System, meaning you can completed your clinical experiences in facilities like:

• Duke Regional Hospital
• Duke University Hospital
• Duke Raleigh Hospital
• Other area hospitals and community-based settings

Unlike many of the schools on this list, there are no online course options, and you must attend classes at their campus in Durham, NC. However, they do recognize prerequisites completed through online or hybrid courses.

GradReports does not provide any data on this college. However, one student did leave a positive review on Niche:

“I have had the most wonderful experience. I can honestly say that I feel prepared each semester. The teachers spend so much time ensuring our success. While nursing school is hard in general, they really go above and beyond to help us with school/life balance. I am so glad I picked a school who is so open to recommendation and puts their students first. We have many clinical units we go to and clinical instructors are very willing to help you not overwhelm you.”

-Senior (August 31, 2021)

9. East Carolina University

East Carolina University is ninth in our rankings of the best BSN programs in North Carolina with a 2022 NCLEX pass rate of 94.55%. Of the 220 graduates who took the exam, 208 of them passed.

This school offers six different pathways for earning your undergraduate nursing degree:

• BSN
• RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Early Assurance
• RIBN
• aRIBN
• ABSN

The BSN track is a traditional four-year degree in which you enter the university as an Intended Nursing major and attend classes at their campus in Greenville, NC. Their website claims that this is the largest BSN program in North Carolina, offering 130 clinical seats each Fall and Spring semester.

The RN to BSN pathway is delivered entirely online and allows you to earn your bachelor’s degree in as little as 16 months. Meanwhile, the Early Assurance option allows you an enrollment guarantee up to one year in advance of enrollment as long as you complete all the admission requirements.

The RIBN (Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurse) pathway is another four-year option in which students complete both their ADN and BSN simultaneously. The aRIBN allows you to do the same thing but only takes three years.

Finally, the Accelerated Second-Degree BSN (ABSN) is designed for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. This track can be completed in just 12 months of full-time study.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 99%
• Median debt after graduation is $24,250 (based on 357 students)
• Median alumni salary is $59,660 (based on 396 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 29/100 salary score

10. University of North Carolina (Greensboro)

The final school in our rankings of the top ten BSN programs in North Carolina is University of North Carolina. While UNC has multiple campuses offering undergraduate nursing degrees, UNC Greensboro had an NCLEX pass rate of 91.74% in 2022.

Of the 109 exams delivered at this university, 100 of them passed. The pass rates for the other UNC locations were:

• Chapel Hill: 90.40%
• Charlotte: 88.17%
• Wilmington: 83.33%
• Pembroke: 83.33%

University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers three different pathways for earning your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree:

• Traditional BSN
• Active Duty Military BSN
• RN to BSN

The traditional BSN track is designed to be completed in four years of academic study in addition to one summer. Students entering this track must be prepared to complete 16 to 17 semester hours each semester.

The Active Duty Military BSN track allows students of military veterans, active reservists, and active duty military to earn their degree through the Veterans Access Program (VAP). This provides students with additional support while working through the program. 

Depending on your previous medical experience as a veteran or active military, you may be able to accelerate through the program faster. Additionally, in case of deployment, you can withdraw from courses without academic penalty.

Finally, UNC Greensboro offers an RN to BSN pathway in both hybrid and online-only format. Students can earn their degree in just three semesters of study.

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 99%
• Median debt after graduation is $19,250 (based on 208 students)
• Median alumni salary is $60,640 (based on 226 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 33/100 salary score

What Is The Average BSN Nurse Salary In North Carolina?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average annual salary for a Registered Nurse in North Carolina is $71,200 per year as of May 2021.

Unfortunately, BLS does not differentiate salaries based on education level, so the figure above represents both ADN- and BSN-educated nurses. 

However, since nurses with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing receive additional education and training, they should expect to earn more than nurses with their Associate degree.

Is A BSN Program In North Carolina Right For You?

If you’re looking to enroll in an in-person BSN program in North Carolina, any of the options above could make a good choice. All ten schools in our rankings achieved at least a 90% pass rate on the NCLEX, indicating these schools all prepare their students well.

However, don’t forget that you’re not limited to the schools in this post. For example, there are plenty of top-quality online BSN programs you may want to consider.

To discover a BSN program suited to your needs and interests, click here!