MSN Programs in North Carolina

By EveryNurse Staff on January 17, 2023

The nursing field welcomes nurses trained at the graduate-level for a variety of roles, including teaching younger nurses. Those who complete an MSN program in North Carolina open up more opportunities for themselves, including increased salaries and better positions within the field of nursing. A Master’s of Science Degree in Nursing qualifies these professionals to take on roles as educators, administrators, and more advanced nursing roles.

Schools With MSN Programs in North Carolina

Individuals in the Durham area of North Carolina can take advantage of Duke University’s School of Nursing, which offers two different routes to the MSN degree: the traditional route for those holding a BSN degree and the RN to MSN bridge program. The school offers several areas of specialty, including Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, HIV/AIDS Nurse Practitioner and many more. All individuals applying through the traditional route must hold a BSN from an accredited college or university, and have an undergraduate Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher.

East Carolina University’s College of Nursing provides several different routes for earning an MSN degree, including the traditional route for BSN holders, an RN to MSN route and a Direct Entry route for individuals with Bachelor’s degrees in other fields. Specialties in this school include: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwifery, Nurse Anesthesia, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership.

The Gardner-Webb University School of Nursing has a traditional MSN program as well as an RN to MSN bridge program. With the bridge program, RNs must hold a diploma or an Associate’s degree in nursing, and those who apply for the traditional program must hold a BSN from an accredited college or university. The school features programs to train nurses for roles as Family Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Administrators or Nurse Educators, and they also offer an MSN/MBA dual degree program.

Individuals in or around Charlotte, North Carolina can take advantage of the Queens University of Charlotte Presbyterian School of Nursing, which offers a traditional MSN program and an RN to MSN bridge program. This school features three areas of specialty, including Health Systems Management, Clinical Nurse Leader and Nurse Educator. They also offer an MSN/MBA dual degree program. Individuals who wish to be part of the RN to MSN bridge program will first need to be accepted into the RN to BSN program. Traditional route applicants must have a BSN degree from an accredited college or university.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Nursing also offers up the traditional MSN program and the RN to MSN bridge program. They feature a wide range of specialties, including Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Health Care Systems with various concentrations. There are special requirements for applicants of each program, including GPA requirements and prerequisite courses. The University of North Carolina also offers these programs at the Charlotte, Greensboro and Wilmington campuses.

Western Carolina University’s Cullowhee School of Nursing offers a traditional MSN program and an RN to MSN bridge program. Those who want to pursue the latter must first be a participant in the RN to BSN program. Specialty areas include Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Administrator and Nurse Educator. Those applying for the traditional program will need a BSN from an accredited program and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Winston-Salem State University’s Division of Nursing offers a traditional MSN program that prepares nurses to take on roles as Family Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Nurse Educators. The school offers a full-time study program designed to be completed in two years, as well as a part-time study program that must be completed within six years. Applicants must hold a BSN from an accredited nursing program and must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.7.

Level Up Your Career

DNP Programs

Nurse Practitioner Programs

RN to MSN Programs

North Carolina MSN Checklist

Gain licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of North Carolina.
Complete an accredited MSN program through the school of your choice, and if desired, focus on a specialization area.
Fulfill all state-mandated requirements regarding supervised clinical hours during your schooling.
Register with the North Carolina Board of Nursing and pay any required fees.

North Carolina MSN Salary & Job Outlook

Individuals who hold an MSN degree in the state of North Carolina can take on many roles within the nursing industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics gathers data on each of those roles on a regular basis. As of May 2013, the annual median salary of some professionals who hold MSN degrees are as follows: Nurse Practitioner – $94,910, Medical and Health Services Managers – $103,140, Nurse Anesthetists – $158,840, Nurse Midwives – $85,460.