Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Louise Harkey School of Nursing at Cabarrus College—an Atrium Health–affiliated, hospital-based college in Concord, North Carolina—offers ADN, Traditional BSN, ABSN, online RN-BSN, and an online MSN. This guide summarizes official tuition (2026–27), school-published ADN NCLEX outcomes, and where to confirm BSN-level rates with the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Cabarrus College is a specialized health sciences college on a hospital campus with long-standing nursing education (Louise Harkey School of Nursing, established 1942) and strong ties to Atrium Health for clinical access and pipeline hiring—worth weighing if you want a small-college setting embedded in a large regional health system.
Overview & Why Students Choose Cabarrus College
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences sits in Concord, North Carolina, as a private college aligned with Atrium Health. The Louise Harkey School of Nursing markets more than 80 years of nursing education and emphasizes early, hospital-connected clinical learning on a hospital-based campus—plus preferred access to Atrium Health sites and technology.
Degree pathways span pre-licensure (Associate of Science in Nursing; Traditional BSN; Accelerated BSN for second-degree students), completion (online RN to BSN), and graduate nursing (online MSN with Leadership or Clinical Research tracks). Always confirm track availability, prerequisites, and clinical requirements on the official program page for your entry term.
On the Associate of Science in Nursing program page, Cabarrus College publishes annual first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for the ADN program (for example, 92% in 2024, with comparison rows for North Carolina and national ADN cohorts). The Traditional BSN program page does not publish the same year-by-year NCLEX table; for BSN-level rates, use the North Carolina Board of Nursing NCLEX pass rates and the college’s disclosures. Confirm all outcomes with the Board and Cabarrus College.
Reasons students choose Cabarrus College
Atrium Health pipeline
Program materials highlight preferred access to Atrium Health clinical sites, technology, and career pathways within one of the region’s largest health systems.
Hospital-adjacent learning
The college stresses a hospital-based campus and early hands-on experience—useful if you want clinical training tightly coupled with acute-care delivery.
Multiple RN entry points
Students can pursue a two-year ADN, a four-year Traditional BSN, or an Accelerated BSN after a prior bachelor’s—letting you match timeline and prior education to your goals.
Online advancement options
Working RNs can move toward a BSN (online RN-BSN) or MSN (Leadership or Clinical Research) with flexible scheduling described on the program pages.
Private college, published tuition bands
The college publishes per-credit nursing rates and states the same tuition for North Carolina and out-of-state students—compare total program cost with aid using the official Tuition & Fees PDFs.
Nursing Programs Offered
The following list reflects program titles and descriptions on Cabarrus College’s nursing program and accreditation pages. Use the links in Resources & next steps for the latest catalog language.
Pre-licensure (NCLEX-RN)
Associate of Science in Nursing (ADN)
Approximately two years to an RN credential; 44 nursing major credits and 28 general education credits (72 total) per the curriculum overview. Graduates qualify to sit for NCLEX-RN. The ADN program is ACEN-accredited and North Carolina Board of Nursing-approved.
Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Four-year pre-licensure BSN; students are admitted directly into nursing and complete 60 credits in the major and 60 in general education (120 total). CCNE accredits Cabarrus baccalaureate nursing programs per the college’s accreditation page.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)—at Cabarrus College the program is titled Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing—is for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. At least 120 semester hours total with nursing coursework structured after transfer/prerequisite review.
Post-licensure & graduate
RN to BSN
Online BSN completion for licensed RNs; 121 credit hours minimum including awarded lower-division nursing credits and upper-level NSG courses in five-week blocks. No additional clinical practicum beyond RN licensure as described on the RN-BSN page.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Online MSN for RNs with a BSN; Leadership (36 credits including practicum) or Clinical Research (35 credits including practicum). CCNE-accredited per the MSN program page.
Pathways, prerequisites, and clinical obligations differ by program. If a detail is not shown on the page you are reading, treat it as not publicly disclosed until you confirm with admissions or the program chair.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
Associate (ADN) program, school-published table: Cabarrus College’s Associate of Science in Nursing page includes a multi-year table of first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for Cabarrus graduates compared with North Carolina and national ADN cohorts. For example, the table shows 92% for Cabarrus ADN graduates in 2024 (with 82% for NC ADN graduates and 91% for national ADN graduates in the same display). The page also lists additional years (for example 71% in 2025 in the same table); treat very recent calendar years as cohort-dependent and confirm with the college whether a year is final or partial.
North Carolina Board of Nursing: The North Carolina Board of Nursing publishes NCLEX pass-rate materials that you can use to compare programs and reporting periods. Automated download of Board PDFs was not used in this build; we rely on the college’s on-page ADN table and the Board’s public index for your own lookup.
Traditional BSN / ABSN: The Traditional BSN web page emphasizes program goals for NCLEX performance but does not reproduce the same detailed annual table found on the ADN page. For the most recent first-time rates by program, cross-check the Board’s publications and any Cabarrus consumer/accreditation disclosures.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| ADN first-time NCLEX-RN (2024) | 92% (Cabarrus College Associate of Science in Nursing program page, Student Achievement Outcome Data) |
| BSN / ABSN first-time rate on this page | Not broken out here—use NC BON pass-rate publications and school disclosures. |
| Source | Cabarrus College AS program — NCLEX table; North Carolina Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass rates. Confirm current cohorts with the Board and Cabarrus College. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and program. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the North Carolina Board of Nursing and Cabarrus College.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international applicants and internationally educated nurses vary by program and change over time. Use the checklist below as a starting point, then confirm details with Cabarrus College’s admissions office and the North Carolina Board of Nursing. This section is informational only—not legal or immigration advice.
- English-language proficiency: Ask whether Cabarrus College requires TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for your program and how minimum scores apply to clinical courses.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Determine whether the college requires a specific evaluator (for example WES or CGFNS) for prior non-U.S. coursework.
- North Carolina Board of Nursing: For RN licensure by examination or endorsement, confirm NCLEX eligibility, criminal background, and documentation rules with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Clinical nursing programs have strict attendance and placement requirements; confirm F-1 or other visa types with the school’s designated official before assuming enrollment.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Cabarrus College’s admissions office and the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Cabarrus College publishes program-specific “How to Apply” pages for each nursing pathway. Common themes include general college requirements (application, fee, transcripts, references, essay) plus program-specific prerequisites, standardized tests, and—for pre-licensure clinical programs—Nurse Aide I completion or active North Carolina NA-I registry status before the first nursing course where applicable.
Application timeline
| Entry Term | Priority deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | January 1 (priority) | Rolling after priority until programs fill; acceptance letters for priority applicants noted by March 15 per admissions FAQ. |
| Spring semester | October 1 (priority) | Rolling after priority; acceptance letters for priority applicants noted by November 15 per admissions FAQ. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate (Nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Standardized tests (examples) | ADN: SAT (Reading ≥480, Math ≥440) or ACT composite ≥21 (waived for some U.S. degree holders). Traditional BSN: similar ACT/SAT thresholds or waiver if four prerequisite courses meet GPA ≥3.0—see BSN “How to Apply.” |
| TEAS / HESI | Not listed on the reviewed ADN/BSN how-to-apply pages; confirm with Admissions if a test is required for your cycle. |
| Clinical prerequisite | Nurse Aide I within 14 months or active NC NA-I registry before first nursing course (per ADN/BSN transfer language on how-to-apply pages). |
Applicant tips
If you are an Atrium Health teammate, ask whether the application fee waiver or fast-track RN-BSN/MSN application options apply to you. If you are a transfer student, review transcript and science recency rules (sciences within five years for some pathways) early.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
The figures below come from the 2026–2027 Tuition & Fees Schedule (Undergraduate and Graduate PDFs) linked on Cabarrus College’s Tuition and Fees page. The college states that tuition is the same for North Carolina residents and out-of-state students; some North Carolina state aid may still require residency certification via NCresidency.org. Add fees (technology, student activity, background check, etc.) from the same PDF.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| ADN & Traditional BSN (per credit, 2026–27) | $679/credit hour |
| ABSN (per credit, 2026–27) | $764/credit hour |
| RN-BSN (per credit, 2026–27) | $461/credit hour |
| MSN (per credit, 2026–27) | $573/credit hour (plus graduate fees per semester listed in graduate PDF) |
| Health sciences block (12–16 credits, non-nursing band) | $8,487/semester in 2026–27 for the general health science band—verify whether your pathway bills this band or the nursing per-credit lines. |
| Source | Cabarrus College — Tuition and Fees (2026–2027 undergraduate and graduate PDFs). Confirm current amounts with the Business Office. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Cabarrus College publishes NCLEX and employment tables on the Associate of Science in Nursing program page. The BSN program lists outcome goals (for example, employment and NCLEX targets) but does not duplicate the ADN’s full historical table on the pages reviewed for this guide.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| ADN first-time NCLEX-RN | Example: 92% in 2024 (Cabarrus College AS program Student Achievement table). |
| Employment as RN within 1 year (ADN table) | Program goal: 90% employment within one year; table lists May and December graduate cohort percentages by year (for example 95% May 2024 and 93% December 2024—school-reported survey data). |
| Source | Cabarrus College AS program outcomes. Confirm methodology and response rates with the college. |
Is Cabarrus College the Right Fit for You?
Cabarrus College fits a specific niche: a small health-sciences college embedded with Atrium Health, strong clinical connectivity, and multiple nursing pathways—but not the broad student-life footprint of a large public university.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want early exposure to hospital-based nursing education and Atrium Health clinical networks in the Charlotte metro region.
- Value clearly published per-credit tuition bands and multiple entry points (ADN, Traditional BSN, ABSN).
- Plan to work locally and appreciate a college that highlights employer partnerships and pipeline language.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a large residential campus experience, NCAA athletics, or a wide range of non-health majors.
- Expect the lowest absolute tuition among all North Carolina options without considering aid—compare net price after grants with the financial aid office.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Concord sits within the Charlotte metropolitan area—one of the fastest-growing U.S. regions for population and healthcare demand. Cabarrus College explicitly ties its nursing programs to Atrium Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast, with additional community hospitals, outpatient networks, and specialty centers across the Piedmont.
| Facility / system | Details |
|---|---|
| Atrium Health Cabarrus | Major acute-care hospital adjacent to the college’s campus footprint; frequently referenced in college materials for clinical learning. |
| Charlotte metro employers | From large integrated systems to community clinics, the region supports diverse RN roles—especially for graduates comfortable with acute-care pace. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Cabarrus College is a compact, mission-driven campus: expect small classes, health-professions peers, and emphasis on clinical readiness over traditional “big-school” extracurricular breadth. Nursing students can explore student organizations such as the North Carolina Association of Nursing Students (NCANS) as referenced from the ADN program resources. Simulation and skills labs are integral to pre-licensure tracks; online RN-BSN and MSN students complete coursework remotely with practicum requirements coordinated individually for graduate tracks.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Concord, NC
- Address
- 401 Medical Park Drive, Concord, NC 28025, US
- Telephone
- 704-403-1556 (Admissions)
- Contact email
- Admissions@CabarrusCollege.edu
- Website
- cabarruscollege.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Visit the nursing programs hub and open the “How to Apply” page for your pathway (ADN, BSN, ABSN, RN-BSN, or MSN).
- Download the 2026–2027 Tuition & Fees Schedule PDFs and estimate total program cost with fees.
- Review SAT/ACT or waiver pathways for pre-licensure programs; confirm whether TEAS/HESI applies to your entry.
- Plan Nurse Aide I training or registry status if you are entering a pre-licensure clinical program.
- Register for a campus visit or information session—recommended by the college even if not mandatory.
- Start the online application and gather transcripts for transcripts@cabarruscollege.edu.
- Bookmark the North Carolina Board of Nursing NCLEX pass rates for independent verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing programs does Cabarrus College of Health Sciences offer?
The college lists an Associate of Science in Nursing (ADN), Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN, online RN-BSN, and an online MSN with Leadership or Clinical Research tracks under the Louise Harkey School of Nursing. Confirm current tracks and start dates on the official program pages.
What is the NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for Cabarrus College’s ADN program?
The Associate of Science in Nursing program publishes a multi-year table: for example, 92% first-time pass rate in 2024 (school-reported). Confirm newer cohorts with the North Carolina Board of Nursing and the college.
How much is tuition for Cabarrus College nursing programs?
The 2026–2027 schedule lists nursing per-credit rates such as $679 for ADN and Traditional BSN, $764 for ABSN, $461 for RN-BSN, and $573 for MSN, plus fees. Confirm on the official Tuition and Fees PDFs.
Does Cabarrus College require the TEAS exam for nursing?
The ADN and Traditional BSN “How to Apply” pages emphasize SAT/ACT minimums (or waiver criteria) rather than the TEAS. Always confirm the current testing policy for your program with Admissions.
What are the priority application deadlines at Cabarrus College?
The college gives priority to applications received by January 1 for fall and October 1 for spring, with rolling admissions thereafter until programs fill.
Is Cabarrus College nursing accredited?
The college states the ADN program is accredited by ACEN; baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs are accredited by CCNE. The institution is SACSCOC-accredited. Confirm status with the accreditors and the college.
How is Cabarrus College connected to Atrium Health?
Marketing materials describe a hospital-based campus and preferred access to Atrium Health clinical sites, technology, and hiring pipelines. Clinical assignments follow program policy.
Does Cabarrus College charge out-of-state tuition?
The Financial Information FAQ states tuition is the same for North Carolina residents and out-of-state residents; some state aid may still require NC residency.
Who should I contact for Cabarrus College nursing admissions?
Use Admissions@CabarrusCollege.edu or 704-403-1556 for admissions questions, and documents@cabarruscollege.edu for transcripts.
References
- Cabarrus College — Nursing programscabarruscollege.edu/academic-programs/nursing-programs
- Cabarrus College — Associate of Science in Nursing (NCLEX table)Associate program page
- Cabarrus College — Tuition and Fees (2026–2027 PDFs)Tuition and Fees
- Cabarrus College — Accreditation and approvalAccreditation & approval
- North Carolina Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass ratesncbon.com/nclex-pass-rates
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for alignment with Cabarrus College program pages, the 2026–2027 tuition PDFs, the Associate of Science in Nursing outcome table, and North Carolina Board of Nursing resources.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
Published: March 30, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 30, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy