10 Best MSN Programs in North Carolina – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
MSN programs in North Carolina can be a smart investment if you’re a registered nurse in the Tar Heel State. For one thing, MSN-prepared RNs make higher salaries that average $110,950 a year. For another, they have greater job responsibilities and an expanded scope of practice. With a Masters of Nursing Science degree, you can become a nurse practitioner or nurse administrator. Interested in learning more about this educational option? Take a look through this list of the 10 best MSN programs in North Carolina for 2025.
WHAT ARE THE BEST MSN PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
Based on our
Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 10 Best Master of Science in Nursing Programs in North Carolina (Online & Campus) for 2025.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care,
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Health Informatics,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,
Nursing and Health Care Leadership,
Nursing Education,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
MSN Nurses are invariably high in demand and this is estimated to keep growing further. Duke University's MSN degree ranks among the best MSN program in North Carolina, no wonder its nursing school is listed 2nd in the U.S. News and World Report's ranking of best graduate nursing schools in the country. By pioneering education, research, and community health the college is working towards making an impact in the healthcare industry. Here you can make the most of your mentorship by studying under an acclaimed faculty which includes renowned scholars, researchers, and clinicians of nursing science.
MSN Program Details:
You can choose from eight advanced practice registered nurse concentrations and three non-clinical concentrations. All the tracks are delivered through an online platform giving you the flexibility to study from the comfort of your home. However, all the concentrations will also comprise of few on-campus activities where you will be attending one-on-one classes of 2-5 days every semester. The program necessitates you to complete 11 credit hours of clinical core courses, where you will also participate in a clinical residency under the guidance of a seasoned clinician. To graduate you are required to earn credits varying from 42 to 49 credits depending on your concentration.
The Adult-Gerontology track- Acute Care trains you to demonstrate nursing care to adolescent and older populations. This concentration is ranked number one by the U.S news and requires you to earn a total of 48 credits. On the other hand, the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Primary care consists of courses in advanced pathology, diagnostic reasoning, clinical pharmacology, and advanced practice nursing. You can also opt to pursue the Family Nurse Practitioner specialization that focuses on teaching you advanced clinical practice to serve individuals and families across the lifespan. As an FNP student, you will also have access to specialized pediatric and perinatal care courses and opportunities to gain clinical experience through international travel experiences.
Specializations in the other eight tracks focus on providing you with rigorous didactic training, and hands-on experiences through its high-tech simulation laboratory.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult Psychiatric Mental Health(not offered),
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Community/Public Health Nursing,
Family Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan,
Nurse Administration,
Nurse Educator, and
Nursing Anesthesia Across the Lifespan
If you are inclined towards a specific field in healthcare such as advanced practice, administration, or education you can achieve this goal by pursuing University of North Carolina-Charlotte's MSN program. Its 50-year-old Charlotte School of Nursing through its high-quality master's degree curriculum prepares graduates to work in diverse healthcare facilities such as home health care, community health agencies, clinics, hospitals, universities, and advanced care centers. Just like the other few MSN programs in North Carolina, the program comes with abundant scholarship opportunities that help you achieve affordable education.
MSN Program Details:
The college offers you 6 concentration options of which the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Anesthesia Across the Lifespan tracks will take you around two years to graduate by taking classes on a full-time basis. These specializations require completing credits ranging between 46 and 67. Whereas, Community/Public Health Nursing, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Administration tracks are offered through a distance education program where you will study most of your courses online. You can graduate from any of the three majors by completing 12 to 39 credits which most students finish in one year.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) and Advanced Nurse Educators (ANE)
Are you aspiring to complete your nursing education from one of the best MSN programs in North Carolina? Well, then Winston-Salem State University will not fail to impress you. Its premiere nursing school is built on the foundations of research, community service, diversity in its students, and academic excellence. The college has two virtual hospitals that comprise of life-sized high-fidelity manikins capable of replicating various stages of different illnesses and responding to its treatment processes. The simulation activities allow you to gain clinical expertise in realistic environments and develop quick thinking, decision making, and problem-solving skills. Graduates of this program are known to be earning the second-highest salaries within the UNC system.
MSN Program Details:
The college offers two MSN concentration options that can be completed in 2 years when taken up on a full-time basis and in 3 years by enrolling in the part-time schedule. The Family Nurse Practitioner track's dynamic curriculum requires you to complete 51 credit hours of courses and 672 practicum hours. Here, classes are delivered one-on-one, through the on-campus format. You will learn advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, primary healthcare of older adults, primary healthcare of women, and advanced nursing technologies. When it comes to the Advanced Nurse Educator track you can conveniently enroll without any GRE or MAT scores. This 39-credit concentration is delivered fully online and makes you eligible to sit for the National League for Nursing Certified Educator Examinations upon graduating.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Nurse-Midwifery,
Nursing Education,
Nursing Leadership,
Clinical Nurse Specialist: Neonatal,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Anesthesia,
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and
Clinical Nurse Specialist: Adult-Gerontology
Being one of the oldest MSN schools in North Carolina, Western Carolina University's student-centric nursing school has been providing unparalleled education since 1959. With research and scholarships being a critical part of the college, you will get several opportunities to work alongside your instructors towards addressing various medical conditions. The school has also received recognition as a 'Centre of Excellence' by the National League of Nursing.
MSN Program Details:
At ECU you can choose from several MSN concentration options. The Nurse-midwifery track prepares you to deliver nursing care to women across lifespans and work towards minimizing differences within rural and backward regions. This program is presented through an online platform with a choice of full-time and part-time schedule and requires you to complete 53 credit hours of courses. Whereas the nursing education track includes courses in human physiology, healthcare quality safety and policy, and healthcare finance & economics, that train you into becoming a nurse educator in an academic or clinical environment. If you are looking to take up leadership and managerial positions at your workplace then the nursing leadership concentration might be the right choice for you. You can graduate in this major by participating in a 210-hour practicum and completing 42 credits worth of courses. Upon enrolling in the 43-credit Clinical Nurse Specialist-Neonatal track, you will be ready to take up the roles of a clinical consultant, researcher, program leader, clinician, or educator. On the other hand, the 5-7 semesters long Neonatal Nurse practitioner specialization is designed to train you to fulfill the needs of infants and their families. Finally, if you choose Psychiatric-mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist: gerontology as your major, you will complete anywhere between 21 to 43 credit hours.
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Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Nursing Administration and Nursing Education
The University of North Carolina offers community-oriented on-field experiences in as many as 500 clinical centers and service programs all around the world, providing you with the global exposure you deserve. Its high-fidelity simulation center comprises of an adult medical-surgical suite, a pediatric ICU suite, a community or home health suite, and finally one labor-delivery suite. What's more, you can also seek advice from the college's advising center that can help in supporting your academic goals and guide you in the right direction.
UNGC's MSN program was placed 14th in the country for being one of the finest online master's in nursing. To complete your MSN in North Carolina, the college offers two tracks, one in Nursing Administration and the other in Nursing Education. Apart from these two majors the college also offers an MSN/MBA curriculum that trains you in health management in collaboration with the university's Bryan School of Business and Economics. The MSN/MBA degree is presented through a blended format where you will have a mix of online and face-to-face classes.
MSN Program Details:
If you decide to major in nursing administration, you will complete a total of 37 credit hours in a time frame of 7 semesters. The coursework consists of synchronous and asynchronous courses such as research methods in nursing, information technology, leadership & management, law policy and economic healthcare, financial management, and inter-professional collaboration & negotiation. The program also entails 540 clinical hours which is inclusive of a nursing administration practicum of 4 credits. On the flip side, the nursing education concentration consists of 210 practicum hours and requires you to complete 38 credits. Here, you will take classes in theoretical foundations for the advanced nurse educator, curriculum design and evaluation, pharmacotherapeutics, and health assessment and diagnostic reasoning.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and
Nurse Educator
For registered nurses, higher education can prove to be a wise investment. This is because by leveling up in your training you will be earning much higher salaries by taking up top positions with greater responsibilities. University of North Carolina's MSN instructors go to great lengths to design a relevant curriculum by conducting several research activities and working together with interdisciplinary and inter-professional groups in the Department of Health and Human Services. The school has had an impressive history of contributing towards better healthcare through its various community service initiatives in the southeastern North Carolina area. By participating in these activities, you will gain actual on-job experience of working with real patients.
MSN Program Details:
This North Carolina Masters in Nursing degree necessitates you to have a minimum grade of 'B' in all the required courses. Depending on your interests, you can choose from the two concentrations offered by the college - Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator. The 46-credit, FNP track includes several advanced didactic and clinical education courses in healthcare delivery systems, pathophysiology, primary care of families, and evidence-based practice. You will also participate in 4 clinical practicums that provide you with the required practical exposure. Whereas the Nurse Educator track is delivered completely online and can be finished in as little as 12 months. This fast-paced 33 credit long coursework will train you in education informatics & technology, advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, population health, finance & policy.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Nurse Educator,
Nurse Administrator,
Clinical Nurse Leader, and
Nursing Informatics
With its nursing department being more than a century old, Queens Presbyterian nursing school is strategically located at close quarters from the state's major medical systems, allowing you to gain first-hand learning experience from the experts in the industry. With a student to faculty ratio of as little as 10:1 the college focuses on providing you an individualized educational experience. The main mission of the school is to train its students in providing a long-lasting commitment to leadership, scholarship, and service to the community.
MSN Program Details:
Regardless of the track you choose to specialize in, this North Carolina MSN program allows you to complete your education in two years. Each track is of 37 credits and comprises 6 core nursing courses. The coursework is delivered by utilizing a flexible asynchronous format allowing you to strike the right work-life balance. If you sign-up for the Nurse Educator concentration, your education will comprise of courses in research methods, informatics in healthcare, data interpretations, and health policy. The Nurse Administrator track, on the other hand, provides you with all-around knowledge in leadership principles, financial management, and nurse administrator residency. Upon graduating from the Clinical Nurse Leader track, you will gain expertise in patient care, management of inter-departmental teams, and advanced therapies. Lastly, the Nursing informatics concentration will prepare you to take up positions of a clinical terminologist, clinical informatics nurse, informatics specialist, and information practice specialist.
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Programs Offered:
RN to MSN and
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Clinical Nurse Leader,
Nurse Educator, and
Rural Case Manager
University of North Carolina's MSN programs in North Carolina provide you with a robust education in liberal arts, and humanities in addition to the regular nursing courses to prepare you for taking up leadership roles, professional growth, and a lifetime of service. The college understands that a rigorous curriculum like MSN could take a toll on its students, therefore the college supports your learning needs by offering you resources like the Learning Enhancement Center and the Center for Student Success. Here, you will also have access to the H.A.W.K Alert program, various tutoring facilities, academic resource mentors, and a resource learning laboratory.
RN to MSN Program Details:
The RN to MSN pathway is a 157-credit hour program that comprises 63 credits of general education courses, 25 credits of BSN training, and 39 credits of advanced MSN classes. If you are an aspiring nurse with an associate or diploma looking to climb the career ladder, then this coursework could fulfill your career goals.
MSN Program Details:
This BSN to MSN program allows you to major as a Clinical Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator, or a Rural Case Manager. The Clinical Nurse Leader pathway emphasizes the coordination evaluation, assessment, design, and implementation of evidence-based quality enhancing methods at the unit level. If you decide to specialize in the Nurse Educator concentration you will study various courses in classroom teaching and integration technology, educating diverse populations, pharmacology and, clinical teaching strategies. On the other hand, the Rural Case Manager track is designed to train you in the coordination and implementation of case management services that result in affordable health outcomes for rural populations. All the pathways require you to complete a total of 39 credits and are presented by employing an executive format where you will attend the majority of your lectures online. You can join as a full-time or part-time student based on your convenience.
9) Gardner-Webb University - Boiling Springs
Programs Offered:
RN to MSN and
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Nursing Education and Nursing Administration
Gardner-Webb University believes in the liberal values of the Christian and Baptist heritage, such as committing to self-giving services and the freedom of independent conscience. The student-oriented approach of this North Carolina Master of Science in nursing program encourages you to achieve your individual goals through collaborative teamwork. Community engagement will be a major part of your education here, offering you several opportunities to support campus, regional, national, and international communities. Upon enrolling, you will study at its main Boiling Springs campus that is stationed at the foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
RN to MSN Program Details:
The RN to MSN curriculum is carefully planned for registered nursing students to move forward in their education through its fast-paced master's coursework. This is a faith-based curriculum that provides you with a complete understanding of therapeutic relationships and compassionate nursing care practices. You will also gain the required practical competence by engaging in several simulation activities and real-time hands-on training at hospitals and other clinical centers.
MSN Program Details:
The college offers two MSN specialization tracks - Nursing Education and Nursing Administration. Both the tracks allow you to complete your education 100% online within 2 years. Based on your life schedule, you can choose to study through a full-time format where you will take 2 courses per semester or through a part-time format that allows you to train in one course per semester. In addition to the courses included in your specialization track, you will also study core nursing courses of 15 credits in the theoretical basis of advanced practice, methods of advanced research, statistical techniques, professional role development, and nursing & healthcare systems & issues.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Educator, and
Nursing Leadership
Are you keen on moving forward in your nursing career? If so, pursuing an MSN degree could be the right choice for you. Being among the well-known MSN programs in North Carolina, Western Carolina University's graduate program in nursing is not only nationally ranked but is also very affordable. The curriculum is offered on-campus at its Ashville site on the Cullowhee campus. You can complete your coursework through a mixture of online and one-on-one formats or through a fully online platform. Here, the student-to-faculty ratio is not more than 17:1, allowing you to form a personal connection with your instructors.
MSN Program Details:
The college offers 3 specialization tracks of which the
Family nurse Practitioner concentration boasts of impressive pass rates on the national certification exam. This rigorous 52 credit-hour curriculum comprises 640 clinical hours and is delivered on a full-time basis through a hybrid format. On the other hand, the
Nurse Educator track prepares you to become an academic educator, staff educator, or patient educator. Once enrolled, you will be taking classes online, on a part-time basis for 18 months. The training includes 38-39 credits worth of courses in clinical specialties, teaching-learning in nursing education, nursing leadership, and pathophysiology. The
Nursing Leadership concentration also allows you to graduate by finishing 18 months of part-time study. The 40-credit coursework is divided into 5 semesters where you will learn various core nursing and nurse leadership-oriented courses.
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