Best colleges for Practical Nursing in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Isothermal Community College, McDowell Technical Community College and Rockingham Community College are the top Practical Nursing programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. Isothermal Community College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,324, College Scorecard. Gaston College, Carolinas College of Health Sciences and Davidson-Davie Community College award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in North Carolina: 141, 134 and 108 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 North Carolina colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 1,259 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isothermal Community College Spindale Public · Certificate | $51,324 | 26 | 55% | — | $6,625 |
| 2 | McDowell Technical Community College Marion Public · Certificate | $51,299 | 27 | 48% | — | — |
| 3 | Rockingham Community College Wentworth Public · Certificate | $49,931 | 23 | 35% | — | — |
| 4 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem Public · Certificate | $48,466 | 47 | 34% | — | $15,550 |
| 5 | Durham Technical Community College Durham Public · Certificate | $46,533 | 29 | 45% | — | $22,313 |
| 6 | Central Carolina Community College Sanford Public · Certificate | $44,904 | 26 | 43% | — | $13,500 |
| 7 | Richmond Community College Hamlet Public · Certificate | $42,826 | 70 | 46% | — | — |
| 8 | Gaston College Dallas Public · Certificate | $42,358 | 141 | 63% | — | $13,576 |
| 9 | Montgomery Community College Troy Public · Certificate Small program | $47,578 | 18 | 84% | — | — |
| 10 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville Public · Certificate | $47,495 | 43 | 24% | — | $14,746 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in North Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaston College Dallas Public | 141 | $42,358 |
| 2 | Carolinas College of Health Sciences Charlotte Public | 134 | Not reported |
| 3 | Davidson-Davie Community College Thomasville Public | 108 | Not reported |
| 4 | Richmond Community College Hamlet Public | 70 | $42,826 |
| 5 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem Public | 47 | $48,466 |
| 6 | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Hudson Public | 41 | Not reported |
| 7 | Southeastern College - Charlotte Charlotte Private for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 8 | Cleveland Community College Shelby Public | 36 | Not reported |
| 9 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte Public | 35 | Not reported |
| 10 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington Public | 31 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 36 North Carolina colleges offering Practical Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Gaston College (141 graduates a year), Carolinas College of Health Sciences (134 graduates a year) and Davidson-Davie Community College (108 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 North Carolina colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Isothermal Community College leads among Practical Nursing programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,324, College Scorecard. McDowell Technical Community College and Rockingham Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Gaston College is the largest, with 141 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Isothermal Community College tops the list at $51,324. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in North Carolina is $39,280 (median $38,460), across about 64,010 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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