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Author: Ellery Weil, PhD
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Ellery Weil, PhD, is a writer and content professional who specializes in higher education, nutrition, nursing, and allied health. She has collaborated with registered nurses across the U.S. to pen features on working with children in healthcare, entry-level nursing programs, accelerated BSN programs, and much more. Ellery holds her PhD and master's in history from University College London.
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Wes Ricketts has created award-winning content in higher education and healthcare for nearly 20 years. He founded EduMed in 2018 to give future college students a go-to resource for information on degree programs in nursing and allied health. Wes’s research and writing interests include Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as caregiving for loved ones with degenerative conditions. Wes holds a master’s degree in history from Western Washington University, where he also led workshops focused on historical research and longform writing skills.
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Online Nursing Schools in NC: Choosing Top Programs

Whether you want to become North Carolina’s newest registered nurse or build on your existing qualifications, an online nursing program can help you reach your goal. From entry-level degrees to doctorates, NC offers online and hybrid programs for every level of nursing. Read on to learn more about online nursing schools in North Carolina and see if one might be the right fit for you.

The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:

A smiling woman with short dark hair, holding a red and transparent umbrella, is photographed outside with green blurred background.
Author: Ellery Weil, PhD
A smiling woman with short dark hair, holding a red and transparent umbrella, is photographed outside with green blurred background.
Ellery Weil, PhD Arrow up right
Staff Writer
Ellery Weil, PhD, is a writer and content professional who specializes in higher education, nutrition, nursing, and allied health. She has collaborated with registered nurses across the U.S. to pen features on working with children in healthcare, entry-level nursing programs, accelerated BSN programs, and much more. Ellery holds her PhD and master's in history from University College London.
Areas of Expertise
Check HealthcareNursingAdv Nursing
HealthcareNursingAdv Nursing
Editor: Wes Ricketts
A man with short hair and a beard looks upward with a slight smile. The image is in sepia tones, and the background is plain and light-colored.
Wes Ricketts Arrow up right
Wes Ricketts has created award-winning content in higher education and healthcare for nearly 20 years. He founded EduMed in 2018 to give future college students a go-to resource for information on degree programs in nursing and allied health. Wes’s research and writing interests include Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as caregiving for loved ones with degenerative conditions. Wes holds a master’s degree in history from Western Washington University, where he also led workshops focused on historical research and longform writing skills.
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Check EditorialSenior CareDementia Care
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Exploring North Carolina’s Online Nursing Programs

Online nursing programs offer a convenient option for pursuing all educational levels. From certifications and associate degrees to a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and everything in between, each type of nursing degree has an online or hybrid program option — and North Carolina is no exception.

However, even nursing programs that describe themselves as fully online may require you to complete in-person clinical rotations at a site convenient to you, and some hybrid programs may require you to come to campus for labs. That’s why North Carolina residents choose local schools for online nursing programs. Apart from location, things like accreditation, tuition, and timelines all factor into your decision regarding which school to attend and which nursing degree to pursue.

While your path forward may not be apparent yet, our breakdown of North Carolina’s various online and hybrid nursing degrees and schools will help clarify your options and set you on the correct route to becoming a nurse.

Online Undergraduate Nursing Degree Programs

Online and hybrid undergraduate nursing programs are generally the first step in your nursing education. These programs are designed for students with no prior nursing experience or education and range from certificate programs — which can be completed in a few months — to full degrees, which can take several years to complete.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

A certified nursing assistant, or CNA, assists physicians and nurses in hospitals and other clinical settings. Becoming a CNA results in a career helping patients with activities of daily life (ADLs), such as changing clothing and eating, administering medications, and checking and recording patient vitals.

Example: Carolinas College of Health Sciences

  • Cost: $1,200
  • Length: 2-3 Months
  • Mode: Hybrid

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Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Like CNAs, LPNs, or licensed practical nurses, assist nurses and physicians in various clinical settings. LPNs often specialize in helping with ADLs, moving patients, and handling supply issues, such as ensuring nurse stations have sufficient bandages and other equipment.

Example: Cape Fear Community College

  • Cost: $3,196
  • Length: 12 Months
  • Mode: Hybrid

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Associate degrees in nursing support students who want to earn their RN license but aren’t ready to commit to a four-year bachelor’s degree. These programs, commonly offered by community colleges and vocational schools, usually take two years to complete and provide affordable tuition rates.

Example: Carolinas College of Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

A traditional bachelor of science in nursing also supports those looking to become RNs. These programs take four years to complete, typically leading to higher starting salaries than an ADN. Plenty of public and private colleges throughout the state offer these programs online and on campus.

Example: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Accelerated BSN (ABSN)

Accelerated BSN programs can help you enter nursing if you already have a bachelor’s degree in another subject but want to change careers. Lasting approximately 18 months, accelerated BSNs build on existing general education knowledge and focus on targeted nursing coursework and clinical experiences.

Example: UNC Charlotte

Graduate and Post-Graduate Degree Programs

The most advanced nursing qualifications — graduate and postgraduate nursing degrees — include master’s, doctorate, and postgraduate certificates. The programs are designed for those with prior nursing degrees and potentially previous nursing experience in a professional setting and may take several years to complete.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

MSN programs exist for those who already have a BSN and individuals who earned a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated subject. Depending on previous credentials, these degrees take two to three years to complete. They can utilize both online and in-person learning.

Example: UNC Charlotte

DNP and PhD Doctoral Programs

DNP programs take three to five years to complete and support nurses who want to continue in professional practice at the top of the career ladder. PhD in nursing programs usually take four to six years and build the skills needed to transition into research and/or academic positions.

Example: UNC Charlotte

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Post-graduate certificates support graduates of MSN programs who want to gain specialized knowledge in a particular nursing area. These North Carolina nursing programs can be found online and on-campus, covering topics such as nurse administration and management, nurse education, forensic nursing, and various nurse practitioner specialty areas.

Example: UNC Charlotte

Bridge Degree Programs

If you’ve already earned some nursing qualifications but want to go to the next level, you might consider a bridge program. Nursing bridge programs are designed to build on your prior qualifications to help you complete your advanced degree quicker while saving time and money.

LPN to RN and LPN to BSN

If you’ve worked as a licensed practical nurse and feel ready to take the next professional step, these bridge programs can help. The LPN to RN leads to an associate degree and takes 18-24 months to complete. The LPN to BSN leads to a bachelor’s degree and takes three to four years to finish.

LPN to RN Example: Cape Fear Community College

RN to BSN

An accelerated RN to BSN program could be the right option if you already have your ADN and RN license but want to upgrade your credentials. Building on knowledge already gained in your associate degree, these North Carolina bridge programs usually take about two years to complete.

Example: UNC Charlotte

  • Cost: $189.48/credit​
  • Length: 1 Year
  • Mode: Online

RN to MSN

Designed for ADN-educated RNs, these bridge programs allow you to skip the BSN and earn a master’s degree in less time than doing both separately. You can usually find these NC nursing programs online or in person, lasting 30-36 months.

Example: UNC Pembroke

BSN to DNP

For BSN graduates looking to earn a professional doctorate as quickly as possible, a BSN to DNP program allows them to bypass a master’s degree and earn a doctoral degree more quickly. These programs can be highly competitive and take several years to complete.

Example: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Direct-Entry MSN

If you already hold a bachelor’s in a non-nursing field and want a career change into nursing, you might be the right candidate for a direct-entry MSN. These advanced, competitive programs are designed to provide master ‘s-level nursing education to students who haven’t previously studied nursing.

Example: UNC Greensboro

Licensing Information & Requirements for Registered Nurses in North Carolina

There’s more to becoming a nurse in North Carolina than simply graduating from nursing school. Given the high level of responsibility involved in nursing, licensure is a complex process. Read on for a step-by-step guide to becoming a nurse in North Carolina and keeping your license valid throughout your career.

1 – Earn an Accredited Nursing Degree

In North Carolina, all registered nurses must hold an ADN or BSN to meet minimum education requirements. Your nursing degree must come from an accredited school with institutional and programmatic nursing accreditation. Whether your degree is online, in-person, or hybrid, accreditation makes it legitimate and ensures that the state board of nursing will recognize your qualifications.

2 – Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam

One of the most important steps towards earning your North Carolina nursing license is passing the NCLEX-RN. Your nursing program will have explained the details of the NCLEX and what makes it essential, and depending on the program, it may have provided you with study sessions and/or access to prep materials. Either way, developing an independent study routine in the lead-up to your test day can be a good idea.

3 – Apply for State Licensure

After you’ve passed the NCLEX, it’s time to apply for your North Carolina nursing license. Each state has different nursing license requirements and procedures, and in North Carolina, the relevant authority is the North Carolina Board of Nursing or NCBN. They have multiple paths to licensure, and which is the best fit for you will depend on your education and experiences, so check their website for further details.

4 – Maintain and Renew Licensure

Even after earning your license, you’ll need to maintain it in good standing and renew it before it expires. In North Carolina, all nursing licenses come with an expiry date, and you must renew your nursing license within 90 days of the expiration date to maintain it. Remember, if you let your license lapse, you must repeat the entire initial licensure process, which can be expensive and lengthy.

5 – Pursue Specialty Certifications (Optional)

Even once you’ve been established as a nurse in North Carolina, your nursing education and qualifications may still have room to grow. You may pursue specializations, such as nurse midwifery, nurse leadership, and more. How you go about this will vary from specialization to specialization but may involve more education, whether a certification or another full degree, such as an MSN or DNP.

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Area ↕ 10th Percentile ↕ Median ↕ 90th Percentile ↕
North Carolina $64,180 $81,860 $107,110
Asheville, NC $62,770 $80,720 $110,860
Burlington, NC $65,580 $87,110 $102,740
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $67,140 $84,780 $107,280
Fayetteville, NC $61,940 $81,260 $119,230
Goldsboro, NC $66,600 $79,910 $100,980
Greensboro-High Point, NC $67,660 $84,200 $105,380
Greenville, NC $65,110 $80,870 $148,810
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $62,950 $77,680 $97,360
Jacksonville, NC $58,610 $77,860 $99,040
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $61,900 $78,140 $106,770
Raleigh-Cary, NC $67,460 $84,870 $107,800
Rocky Mount, NC $61,490 $81,090 $102,680
Wilmington, NC $64,020 $75,710 $97,850
Winston-Salem, NC $69,050 $84,270 $108,320

Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.

Area ↕ Curr. Jobs ↕ Proj. Jobs ↕ New Jobs ↕ Growth % ↕ Avg. Ann. Openings ↕
United States 3,172,500 3,349,900 177,400 5.60% 193,100
North Carolina 106,190 123,650 17,460 16.40% 7,930

Source: Projections Central

Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.

North Carolina’s Leading Online Nursing Programs

The “best” online nursing program in North Carolina will vary from student to student. That being said, we’ve considered programs from multiple perspectives using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Our rankings consider the availability and ease of online learning, financial aid availability and tuition costs, student resources for online students, and graduation rates and time to completion. See the methodology tab for more, or read on for the rankings.

# School Name Online Enrollment Tuition Students w/ Aid
1
1
58% Online Enrollment
$ Tuition
74% Students w/ Aid
2
2
57% Online Enrollment
$ Tuition
83% Students w/ Aid
3
3
55% Online Enrollment
$$$ Tuition
100% Students w/ Aid
4
4
54% Online Enrollment
$ Tuition
81% Students w/ Aid
5
5
51% Online Enrollment
$ Tuition
47% Students w/ Aid
6
6

Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs, NC
36% Online Enrollment
$$$$ Tuition
99% Students w/ Aid
7
7
70% Online Enrollment
$ Tuition
55% Students w/ Aid
8
8
56% Online Enrollment
$$$ Tuition
78% Students w/ Aid
9
9
51% Online Enrollment
$$$$ Tuition
99% Students w/ Aid
10
10
62% Online Enrollment
$$$$ Tuition
100% Students w/ Aid

Ellery Weil, PhD AUTHOR

Ellery Weil, PhD, is a writer and content professional who specializes in higher education, nutrition, nursing, and allied health. She has collaborated with registered nurses across the U.S. to pen features on working with children in healthcare, entry-level nursing programs, accelerated BSN programs, and much more. Ellery holds her PhD and master's in history from University College London.

Read More About Ellery Weil

Wes Ricketts EDITOR

Wes Ricketts has created award-winning content in higher education and healthcare for nearly 20 years. He founded EduMed in 2018 to give future college students a go-to resource for information on degree programs in nursing and allied health. Wes’s research and writing interests include Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as caregiving for loved ones with degenerative conditions. Wes holds a master’s degree in history from Western Washington University, where he also led workshops focused on historical research and longform writing skills.

Read More About Wes Ricketts
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