The first step towards a career as a licensed practical nurse is enrolling in an LPN diploma program at one of North Carolina’s community colleges or vocational schools. These programs are fairly brief, typically requiring twelve months of fulltime study. The North Carolina Board of Nursing has approved more than forty LPN diploma programs across the state, providing students a broad menu of options from which to choose.
Indeed, aspiring LPNs can find approved programs in all of the state’s major metropolitan areas. For example, Charlotte residents have three local options, while the Piedmont Triad boasts five schools with an LPN diploma. All approved programs prepare students for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), a prerequisite for licensure in the state of North Carolina.
After passing the NCLEX-PN exam, LPNs are ready to begin employment. They will measure and record vital signs, dress wounds, prepare and give injections, monitor catheters and medical equipment, and collect samples for testing. They must also possess good communication skills, since they will tend to the needs of patients and report to more senior nursing staff. Nearly 17,000 practical nurses are employed across North Carolina at an average annual salary of $45,880, according to recent data (May 2019) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local healthcare providers like Cone Health and Duke LifePoint are frequently hiring newly minted LPNs onto their teams.
To help aspiring nurses evaluate their options, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac has compiled an extensive database of student performance on the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. We analyzed this data over a lengthy period of time, typically the past decade, to calculate each program’s NCLEX pass rate among first-time test-takers. We then used this metric to rank North Carolina’s LPN programs, from the strongest NCLEX-PN performance (two schools with a perfect pass rate!) to the weakest (Nash Community College). Among the top two schools, we used program size as a final ranking tiebreaker. You can find the detailed results of our analysis below.
#1: Edgecombe Community College
100.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate225 Tarboro Street
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27801
https://www.edgecombe.edu100.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 11 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#2: Lenoir Community College
100.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate231 Highway 58 South
Kinston, North Carolina 28502
https://www.lenoircc.edu100.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 9 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#3: Brunswick Community College
99.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate50 College Road
Bolivia, North Carolina 28422
https://www.brunswickcc.edu99.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2020
#4: Gaston College
99.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate201 US Highway 321 South
Dallas, North Carolina 28034
https://www.gaston.edu99.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 50 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#5: Cape Fear Community College
99.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate411 North Front Street
Wilmington, North Carolina 28401
https://www.cfcc.edu99.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 22 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#6: Surry Community College
99.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate630 South Main Street
Dobson, North Carolina 27017
https://www.surry.edu99.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 11 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#7: Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
98.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate399 Biotechnology Lane
Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081
https://www.rccc.edu98.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#8: Mayland Community College
98.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate200 Mayland Drive
Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777
https://www.mayland.edu98.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 7 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#9: College of The Albemarle
98.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate1208 North Road Street
Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27906
https://www.albemarle.edu98.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 18 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#10: Sampson Community College
98.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate1801 Sunset Avenue
Clinton, North Carolina 28329
https://www.sampsoncc.edu98.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#11: James Sprunt Community College
97.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate133 James Sprunt Drive
Kenansville, North Carolina 28349
https://www.jamessprunt.edu97.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 9 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#12: Durham Technical Community College
97.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate1637 Lawson Street
Durham, North Carolina 27703
https://www.durhamtech.edu97.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 23 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#13: Wilson Community College
96.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate902 Herring Avenue
Wilson, North Carolina 27893
https://www.wilsoncc.edu96.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 15 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#14: Wayne Community College
96.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate3000 Wayne Memorial Drive
Goldsboro, North Carolina 27534
https://www.waynecc.edu96.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#15: Cleveland Community College
96.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate137 South Post Road
Shelby, North Carolina 28152
https://www.clevelandcc.edu96.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 13 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#16: Robeson Community College
96.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate5160 Fayetteville Road
Lumberton, North Carolina 28360
https://www.robeson.edu96.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 14 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#17: Craven Community College
95.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate800 College Court
New Bern, North Carolina 28562
https://www.cravencc.edu95.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 12 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#18: South Piedmont Community College
95.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate680 US Highway 74 West
Polkton, North Carolina 28135
https://www.spcc.edu95.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 11 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#19: Davidson-Davie Community College
95.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate297 DCC Road
Thomasville, North Carolina 27360
https://www.davidsondavie.edu95.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#20: Southeastern Community College
94.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate4564 Chadbourn Highway
Whiteville, North Carolina 28472
https://www.sccnc.edu94.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 22 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#21: McDowell Technical Community College
94.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate54 College Drive
Marion, North Carolina 28752
https://www.mcdowelltech.edu94.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 32 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#22: Forsyth Technical Community College
94.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate2100 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103
https://www.forsythtech.edu94.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 59 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#23: ECPI University - Charlotte
93.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate4800 Airport Center Parkway
Charlotte, North Carolina 28208
https://www.ecpi.edu93.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 53 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#24: Montgomery Community College
93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate1011 Page Street
Troy, North Carolina 27371
https://www.montgomery.edu93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 27 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#25: Coastal Carolina Community College
92.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate444 Western Boulevard
Jacksonville, North Carolina 28546
https://www.coastalcarolina.edu92.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 18 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#26: Beaufort County Community College
91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate5337 US Highway 264 East
Washington, North Carolina 27889
https://www.beaufortccc.edu91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#27: Bladen Community College
90.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate7418 Highway 41 West
Dublin, North Carolina 28332
https://www.bladencc.edu90.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 22 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#28: Richmond Community College
90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate1042 West Hamlet Avenue
Hamlet, North Carolina 28345
https://www.richmondcc.edu90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 13 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#29: Guilford Technical Community College
89.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate601 High Point Road
Jamestown, North Carolina 27282
https://www.gtcc.edu89.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 17 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#30: Isothermal Community College
88.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate286 ICC Loop Road
Spindale, North Carolina 28160
https://www.isothermal.edu88.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 24 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#31: Central Carolina Community College
88.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate1105 Kelly Drive
Sanford, North Carolina 27330
https://www.cccc.edu88.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 36 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#32: Fayetteville Technical Community College
86.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate2201 Hull Road
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303
https://www.faytechcc.edu86.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 46 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#33: Halifax Community College
84.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 College Drive
Weldon, North Carolina 27890
http://www.halifaxcc.edu84.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 9 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#34: Rockingham Community College
83.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate215 Wrenn Memorial Road
Wentworth, North Carolina 27375
https://www.rockinghamcc.edu83.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 19 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#35: ECPI University - Raleigh
83.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate4101 Doie Cope Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27613
https://www.ecpi.edu83.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 71 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#36: Vance-Granville Community College
83.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate200 Community College Road
Henderson, North Carolina 27536
https://www.vgcc.edu83.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 19 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#37: ECPI University - Greensboro
82.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate7802 Airport Center Drive
Greensboro, North Carolina 27409
https://www.ecpi.edu82.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 73 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2021
#38: Nash Community College
80.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate522 North Old Carriage Road
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
https://www.nashcc.edu80.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Diploma in Practical Nursing
Average of 12 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021