Accredited nursing programs in North Carolina
52 schools in North Carolina have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 29 BSN, 26 ADN, 9 LPN, 14 MSN programs. 2 hold both accreditors across their programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 25 of 29 listings are CCNE and 4 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 29
- 4 ACEN, 25 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 26
- 26 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 9
- 9 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 14
- 1 ACEN, 13 CCNE
Accredited schools in North Carolina
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | Boone | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Brunswick Community College | Bolivia | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord | Private | CCNE | ACEN | – | CCNE |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | Charlotte | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| Carteret Community College | Morehead City | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Cleveland Community College | Shelby | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Duke University | Durham | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| East Carolina University | Greenville | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private | ACEN | ACEN | – | ACEN |
| Gaston College | Dallas | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Johnston Community College | Smithfield | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Mayland Community College | Spruce Pine | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Mitchell Community College | Statesville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | ACEN | – | – | – |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Sampson Community College | Clinton | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Watts College of Nursing | Durham | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Western Piedmont Community College | Morganton | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Durham Technical Community College, LPN: For Good Cause. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Gardner-Webb University, ADN: Closing. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in North Carolina
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The North Carolina board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Bachelor's programs are the most common accredited level here, with 29. For bachelor’s degrees, 29 of 35 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (83%). Compare North Carolina BSN programs by NCLEX pass rate, cost and pay.
Common questions
How many nursing schools in North Carolina are accredited?
We matched 52 North Carolina schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 29 BSN, 26 ADN, 9 LPN, 14 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in North Carolina?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all North Carolina bachelor’s programs accredited?
29 of the 35 North Carolina schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.