Compare 25 Nursing Science. programs in North Carolina. Average earnings: $67,742.
With top graduates earning $78,472, Nursing Science stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $10K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The data puts University Of Mount Olive first, with Nursing Science graduates earning $78,472 compared to the $67,742 average across 25 programs. Fayetteville State University follows at $74,916, and Winston-Salem State University at $73,285—demonstrating how regional publics deliver strong outcomes regardless of overall school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Duke University graduates borrow just $13,000 and face a 3.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families considering parent loans, Fayetteville State University leads with an 8.7% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of Mount OlivePrivate | $78,472 | 53 | $27,209 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good |
| #2 | $74,916 | 200 | $22,987 | Excellent | $8,791 | Good | |
| #3 | $73,285 | 268 | $25,000 | Excellent | $12,030 | Good | |
| #4 | $73,033 | 73 | $28,250 | Excellent | $19,245 | Manageable | |
| #5 | Lees-Mcrae CollegePrivate | $72,955 | 29 | $17,375 | Excellent | $17,576 | Good |
| #6 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $71,426 | 133 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Manageable |
| #7 | $71,322 | 727 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,737 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Campbell UniversityPrivate | $70,772 | 43 | $22,500 | Excellent | $40,055 | Challenging |
| #9 | Catawba CollegePrivate | $70,522 | 15 | $25,000 | Excellent | $30,535 | Manageable |
| #10 | $68,752 | 187 | $22,858 | Excellent | $14,638 | Good | |
| #11 | $68,684 | 50 | $25,000 | Excellent | $10,984 | Good | |
| #12 | Methodist UniversityPrivate | $67,630 | 25 | $27,000 | Good | $36,335 | Challenging |
| #13 | Gardner-Webb UniversityPrivate | $66,782 | 78 | $24,222 | Excellent | $19,524 | Manageable |
| #14 | $66,479 | 191 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,809 | Manageable | |
| #15 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $66,390 | 356 | $22,750 | Excellent | $19,710 | Manageable |
| #16 | Barton CollegePrivate | $66,223 | 34 | $25,877 | Good | $26,818 | Manageable |
| #17 | $66,132 | 118 | $25,000 | Excellent | $22,545 | Manageable | |
| #18 | $65,830 | 178 | $21,868 | Excellent | $18,241 | Manageable | |
| #19 | $65,602 | 183 | $20,231 | Excellent | $21,919 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $65,538 | 187 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Manageable | |
| #21 | Mars Hill UniversityPrivate | $63,302 | 21 | $26,000 | Good | $15,115 | Manageable |
| #22 | Wingate UniversityPrivate | $63,103 | 19 | $25,000 | Good | $27,506 | Challenging |
| #23 | $62,160 | 58 | $27,000 | Good | $20,004 | Manageable | |
| #24 | Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityPrivate | $60,268 | 47 | $26,000 | Good | $28,512 | Challenging |
| #25 | Pfeiffer UniversityPrivate | $53,984 | 9 | $26,163 | Good | $19,277 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
