UNC Greensboro Nursing Review (2026): Programs, Costs & Admissions
The UNC Greensboro School of Nursing stacks multiple prelicensure and post-licensure BSN pathways—which now include the UNC System’s first-year direct admit option—alongside entry-level MSN, nurse practitioner MSN tracks, COA-accredited nurse anesthesia, other DNP concentrations, and a research PhD. This guide uses live content from nursing.uncg.edu, tuition summaries from Spartan Central, and the North Carolina Board of Nursing pass-rate hub; confirm every deadline, fee, and exam outcome with UNCG and NCBON.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Differentiators here include VR-enhanced learning, the new direct-admit BSN lane for qualifying first-year students, Minerva’s Mobile Health Unit for community engagement, and doctoral options such as DNP nurse anesthesia (accredited by COA through 2034). UNCG’s homepage lists a 90.91% NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for 2024 alongside other board-exam banners—pair that school summary with the annual program tables published by the North Carolina Board of Nursing because cohort definitions can differ.
Overview & Why Students Choose UNC Greensboro
Within the Piedmont Triad, UNC Greensboro pairs a large public university footprint with a School of Nursing that deliberately highlights simulation, virtual-reality learning, and community-embedded practicum experiences such as the Minerva Mobile Health Unit. Marketing pages also cite national rankings for online MSN quality and for the nurse-anesthesia track—always cross-check ranking methodology before weighing those headlines.
Because UNCG teaches everyone from first-year direct-admit prelicensure students to DNP nurse anesthesia residents, you should choose your lane early: upper-division prelicensure, veterans access, RN completion, entry-level MSN, MSN nurse practitioner, DNP, or PhD each carries distinct admission tests, licensing rules, and calendars.
The UNC Greensboro School of Nursing homepage lists a 90.91% NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for 2024 and shows a 92.10% national average beside that figure (school-reported display). Official annual program pass rates are also published by the North Carolina Board of Nursing (including PDFs such as the 2024 one-year RN report when available). Compare those board tables with the school summary because cohort timing and definitions can differ.
Reasons students choose UNC Greensboro
Breadth from BSN to doctoral nursing
One school houses traditional and direct-admit BSN paths, online RN-to-BSN, veterans access, entry-level MSN, nurse practitioner MSNs, multiple DNP concentrations (including nurse anesthesia), and a PhD.
Technology-forward skills labs
UNCG markets immersive VR alongside conventional simulation for skill repetition before live clinicals.
Community care immersion
The Minerva Mobile Health Unit anchors service-learning and outreach that complement inpatient rotations.
Triad clinical partners
Students rotate through major Greensboro systems plus Winston-Salem and regional partners—plan for reliable transportation.
Published tuition transparency
Spartan Central summarizes main-campus versus online undergraduate tuition and fees to help residents compare budgets quickly (housing and differentials still add cost).
Nursing Programs Offered
Program names below mirror the School of Nursing academic programs hub, the BSN overview, and the UNCG undergraduate catalog. Accelerated BSN (second-degree) is not listed among UNCG’s public BSN pathways; career-changers should review the Prelicensure Entry-Level MSN instead.
Pre-licensure undergraduate
Traditional Prelicensure BSN
Designed as a four academic year plus one summer plan per the prelicensure BSN and catalog guidance. Students apply to the School of Nursing during the sophomore year: the catalog specifies an October 1 deadline, 2.8 cumulative GPA on all college work, and C or better in prerequisites with strict repeat rules.
BSN First-Year Direct Admit
UNCG’s BSN overview notes the UNC System’s first direct admission track for eligible first-year students beginning Fall 2025. Selective majors guidance requires a Fall Early Action application and minimum 3.5 high school GPA for consideration; students who are not selected can still enter Nursing Pathways and later compete for upper-division seats (including TEAS completion).
Veterans Access Program (VAP)
Military-affiliated applicants submit the School of Nursing VAP packet before the undergraduate application when instructed, with portfolio review for military coursework per the admissions materials.
Post-licensure undergraduate
RN to BSN
Described as 100% online. Active NC or compact RN licensure is required before nursing coursework, and the admissions page lists GPA minimums plus term deadlines (Aug 1, Dec 1, May 1, June 1 depending on entry).
Graduate nursing & doctoral
Prelicensure Entry-Level MSN
For applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree but need RN preparation—check the concentration page and graduate deadlines for holistic review requirements.
MSN — Family NP & Leadership
FNP and Nursing Leadership & Management pathways include online delivery notes, clinical hour expectations, and references to holistic admissions on the graduate admissions hub.
Post-baccalaureate certificates
Includes Nursing Leadership and Management and PMHNP-focused graduate certificates referenced on the academic programs index (confirm availability each cycle).
DNP concentrations
Post-baccalaureate Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (July 15 deadline), Nurse Anesthesia (CCNE + COA accreditation stack), and Post-Master’s DNP for certified APRNs.
PhD in Nursing
Research doctorate with March 15 deadline, mission-focused research statement, and flexible full- versus part-time plans described in graduate admissions.
Catalog course codes, clinical hour minimums, and application PDFs update frequently. Verify every pathway in the UNCG catalog and the relevant School of Nursing concentration page before paying application fees.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the UNC Greensboro School of Nursing homepage, the program’s NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate was 90.91% in 2024; the same block cites a 92.10% national average for 2024 (definitions per the school’s display). Always compare those marketing-ready figures with the North Carolina Board of Nursing NCLEX pass-rate publications, including downloadable annual tables such as the 2024 one-year RN report, because boards may group cohorts differently than a university homepage summary.
For advanced-practice graduates, the homepage separately advertises NBCRNA and AANPCB first-time pass rates with national comparisons—use those only when you understand which program (CRNA vs NP track) produced the cohort.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (school-reported) | 90.91% (2024; UNC Greensboro School of Nursing homepage) |
| National comparison on same display | 92.10% (2024; cited on School of Nursing homepage beside UNCG figure) |
| North Carolina Board of Nursing program table | Look up “University of North Carolina at Greensboro” in the latest NCBON annual NCLEX-RN PDF for the board’s first-time percentage and test volumes. |
| Source | nursing.uncg.edu · North Carolina Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass rates. Confirm current cohorts with both. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort, entry option, and reporting window. Confirm the latest first-time pass rates with the North Carolina Board of Nursing and UNC Greensboro before making enrollment decisions.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international applicants and internationally educated nurses depend on visa type, prior nursing education, and North Carolina licensure rules. Use the checklist below as a starting point; this is general guidance, not legal advice.
- English-language proficiency: Meet Global Engagement / international student services and The Graduate School testing requirements for your applicant type (undergraduate vs graduate).
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Graduate nursing pages reference CGFNS validation for certain internationally educated applicants—submit whatever evaluation stack the Graduate School lists for your country.
- North Carolina Board of Nursing: For RN licensure and NCLEX eligibility, review ncbon.com for examination and endorsement requirements.
- Immigration & clinical placement: All pre-licensure pathways require in-person clinicals; confirm visa work authorization and insurance requirements with the international office before accepting a seat.
Policies change frequently. Verify with UNC Greensboro Global Affairs / international admissions, the School of Nursing graduate or undergraduate office, and the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
UNC Greensboro’s catalog makes clear that general admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the nursing major. Prelicensure students complete prerequisites, then submit a formal School of Nursing packet; RN-to-BSN applicants bypass upper-division review but must maintain active RN licensure. Graduate pathways add holistic reviews, background checks, immunization policies, and—on several tracks—graduate test requirements when GPA thresholds are not met.
Pre-licensure BSN & Nursing Pathways
The Nursing B.S.N. catalog section lists prerequisite sciences, a 2.8 cumulative GPA requirement on all college coursework before upper-division review, strict repeat limits, and an October 1 application deadline with packets issued through the Office of Student Success. First-year direct-admit candidates follow the selective majors rules (Fall Early Action, ≥3.5 high school GPA). Students who relocate into the Nursing Pathways route must later complete the ATI TEAS along with prerequisite coursework before upper-division review.
RN-to-BSN & veterans pathways
The undergraduate admissions page specifies RN licensure in North Carolina or a compact state, minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA for university admission, and term-based application due dates. Veterans Access Program applicants use the dedicated PDF referenced on that page before completing the UNCG application sequence described for active-duty students.
Graduate nursing
MSN–FNP materials emphasize holistic review, resume/CV, three professional references (with at least one clinical reference), criminal background checks, BLS, and a May 1 deadline for fall cohorts. MSN Nursing Leadership and Post-Bacc DNP-NP tracks may require GRE or MAT scores when BSN GPA is below 3.2. DNP Nurse Anesthesia applicants must document critical-care experience, CCRN certification, shadowing, and competitive GRE/MAT percentiles unless waived at the program’s discretion.
Application timeline (selected)
| Pathway | Deadline / window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensure upper division | October 1 annually (catalog) | Applications distributed by Office of Student Success; transcripts from all colleges required. |
| Direct-admit first-year BSN | Fall Early Action (selective majors) | Minimum 3.5 HS GPA plus standard UNCG application requirements. |
| RN-to-BSN | Aug 1 / Dec 1 / May 1 / Jun 1 | Term-specific deadlines per School of Nursing admissions page. |
| MSN–FNP fall | May 1 | Graduate nursing admissions; confirm deposit timeline after acceptance. |
| MSN Leadership | July 1 (stated on admissions page) | Interview may be required for selected applicants. |
| Post-baccalaureate DNP AGPCNP | July 15 | Requires one year of full-time RN experience plus holistic review items. |
| PhD in Nursing | March 15 | 300-word research goals statement plus faculty interview for selected applicants. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| GPA (upper division) | ≥2.8 college GPA required per catalog; Direct admit requires ≥3.5 HS GPA. |
| TEAS | Required for Nursing Pathways upper-division applicants per selective majors listing. |
| Graduate tests | GRE/MAT appear on Leadership, Nurse Anesthesia, and other tracks when GPAs fall below published cutoffs. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
The figures below come from the Spartan Central Tuition & Fees “at a glance” tables (main campus and online programs). They include tuition plus required fees only; housing, unlimited meal plans, course/program differentials, and clinical expenses are additive. UNCG notes that main-campus programs bill main-campus rates even if individual courses meet online, while fully online degree programs bill the online grid—confirm your degree’s campus designation before budgeting.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate main campus (annual tuition & fees) | $7,864 in-state · $25,347 out-of-state (Spartan Central undergraduate table). |
| Undergraduate online programs (annual tuition & fees) | $5,625 in-state · $23,108 out-of-state (Spartan Central online table; aligns with fully online RN-to-BSN). |
| Graduate main campus (annual tuition & fees) | $8,845 in-state · $24,622 out-of-state (Spartan Central graduate table—use DNP/MSN PDFs for concentration differentials). |
| Graduate online programs (annual tuition & fees) | $6,606 in-state · $22,383 out-of-state (Spartan Central online graduate table). |
| Detailed schedules | Download the active-year PDFs linked under “Undergraduate Tuition and Fees Archive” / “Graduate Tuition and Fees Archive” on the same Spartan Central page (e.g., 2025–26, 2026–27 postings) to see per-semester totals at specific credit loads. |
| Source | Spartan Central — Tuition & Fees · Cashier’s Office 336-334-5831 / cashier@uncg.edu. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Licensure and certification metrics for UNCG graduates should be read in two layers: the School of Nursing marketing site publishes attractive pass-rate banners, while the North Carolina Board of Nursing publishes authoritative program tables. Always reconcile both before comparing institutions.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (school-reported) | 90.91% in 2024 with a 92.10% cited national average on the same School of Nursing homepage display. |
| NBCRNA National Certification Exam (school-reported) | 96% first-time in 2024 (homepage lists national comparison). |
| AANPCB certification (school-reported) | 95% first-time in 2024 (homepage lists national comparison). |
| Source row | School of Nursing homepage for marketing figures; NCBON PDF tables for board-documented NCLEX-RN rates by program. Confirm methodology for each metric directly with UNCG. |
Is UNC Greensboro the Right Fit for You?
UNC Greensboro fits students who want a research-minded public university in the Triad with the ability to stay for BSN through DNP/PhD, leverage VR/simulation-heavy skills labs, and rotate through large nonprofit systems. It may be less ideal if you expect a published Accelerated BSN replica of other UNC campuses—UNCG emphasizes direct admit, traditional upper division, and entry-level MSN pathways instead.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want multiple BSN entry designs (direct admit, upper division, veterans, online RN completion) plus graduate nursing in the same school.
- Are targeting CRNA or NP training with COA/CCNE oversight spelled out on public accreditation pages.
- Can commute or relocate for unpredictable clinical shifts across Greensboro and neighboring counties.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a condensed second-degree BSN—review the entry-level MSN instead of expecting an ABSN brochure.
- Cannot meet October 1 / Early Action deadlines or TEAS expectations outlined for Nursing Pathways.
- Prefer a single small cohort model—UNCG is a large public university with selective nursing majors layered on top.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Greensboro is the heart of the Piedmont Triad, giving nursing students access to large integrated delivery networks, academic medical centers, community hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and rural wrap-around clinics across Guilford and neighboring counties. Demand remains strong for bedside nurses, care coordinators, and public-health nurses who can serve diverse urban and rural populations—exact clinical affiliates rotate, so ask the School of Nursing for the current partner list.
| Facility / system | Details |
|---|---|
| Cone Health | Greensboro-based nonprofit system with Moses Cone Hospital and regional hospitals—common Triad employer for new graduate RNs. |
| Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist | Academic medical center ~30 minutes east in Winston-Salem; Triad students often encounter its clinics and tertiary services during specialty rotations. |
| UNC Health / affiliate networks | Additional referral pathways connect Greensboro patients to tertiary quaternary programs—useful exposure for capstone or specialty electives. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Undergraduate and graduate nursing courses are headquartered in the Nursing and Instructional Building (1007 Walker Avenue), where the school publicizes contemporary simulation suites and VR-enabled learning. Student-life resources—Spartan athletics, hundreds of student organizations, and the broader Greensboro metro—sit outside the nursing building but shape the social experience, while online RN-to-BSN learners interact primarily through the LMS yet must still satisfy any required synchronous or on-ground checkpoints published in syllabi.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Greensboro, NC
- Address
- Nursing and Instructional Building, 1007 Walker Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27412-5019, US
- Telephone
- 336-334-5400 (School of Nursing)
- Contact email
- nursing@uncg.edu
- Website
- School of Nursing · uncg.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Choose among direct admit, Nursing Pathways → upper division, VAP, RN-to-BSN, or graduate entry, then read the matching School of Nursing + catalog pages.
- Map prerequisites to transcripts; flag any catalog repeat limits before you register for repeats.
- If Nursing Pathways applies, schedule the ATI TEAS early enough to meet the selective-majors guidance.
- Download upper-division or graduate application PDFs and calendar the October 1, May 1, July 1/15, or RN-to-BSN deadlines that fit your cohort.
- Review Spartan Central PDFs for your residency status and program campus (main vs online).
- Bookmark the latest NCBON NCLEX tables for objective comparisons.
- Email nursing@uncg.edu or phone 336-334-4686 (advising center) with situational questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What NCLEX-RN pass rate does UNC Greensboro publish for 2024?
The School of Nursing homepage lists a 90.91% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2024 and references a 92.10% national comparison figure beside it. Always verify the matching row for UNC Greensboro on the latest North Carolina Board of Nursing PDF.
How much are tuition and fees for a UNC Greensboro undergraduate on the main campus?
Spartan Central lists $7,864 in annual tuition & fees for in-state residents and $25,347 for out-of-state students in its undergraduate main-campus summary (housing/meals extra).
Does UNC Greensboro require the TEAS?
Selective majors language states that Nursing Pathways students must complete the ATI TEAS along with other requirements before upper-division application. Confirm how TEAS interacts with direct admit versus transfer timelines with the Office of Student Success.
When are upper-division prelicensure applications due?
The undergraduate catalog specifies applications are due October 1 each year with materials from the Office of Student Success.
Is UNC Greensboro nursing accredited by CCNE?
Yes for BSN, MSN, and DNP according to the School of Nursing accreditation page; DNP nurse anesthesia also holds COA accreditation through 2034.
Does UNC Greensboro offer an Accelerated BSN?
Public BSN marketing emphasizes traditional prelicensure, direct admit, veterans access, and online RN-to-BSN—not a separate accelerated second-degree BSN. Non-nursing bachelor’s graduates should explore the Prelicensure Entry-Level MSN concentration instead.
What are RN-to-BSN application deadlines?
The School of Nursing admissions page lists August 1, December 1, May 1, and June 1 deadlines depending on the entry term, plus active RN licensure requirements.
What graduate exams does UNC Greensboro require?
MSN Leadership applicants may need GRE/MAT if BSN GPA is under 3.2; Nurse Anesthesia expects competitive GRE/MAT percentiles unless waived after a master’s per program discretion. Always read the current concentration page.
Where will I complete clinicals?
Expect Triad-wide acute and community sites (Cone Health, Wake Forest Baptist, etc.) coordinated by faculty—request the official affiliation roster each year.
What nurse anesthesia outcomes does UNCG advertise?
The homepage cites a 96% first-time NBCRNA exam pass rate for 2024 with a national benchmark printed alongside it—confirm cohort size and definition with the program director.
References
- UNC Greensboro — School of Nursingnursing.uncg.edu
- UNC Greensboro — Academic programsAcademic programs
- UNC Greensboro — Admissions (SON)Admissions
- UNC Greensboro — AccreditationAccreditation
- UNC Greensboro — Undergraduate catalog (Nursing B.S.N.)catalog.uncg.edu/nursing/nursing-bsn
- UNC Greensboro Admissions — Selective majors (Nursing)Selective admissions majors
- Spartan Central — Tuition & FeesTuition & Fees
- North Carolina Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass ratesncbon.com/nclex-pass-rates
- North Carolina Board of Nursing — 2024 annual RN pass rates (PDF)1-year-rn-pass-rates-2024.pdf
- 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 NCLEX figures against the UNC Greensboro School of Nursing homepage, tuition tables on Spartan Central, program inventories on nursing.uncg.edu, and admissions rules in the UNCG catalog and selective-majors pages.
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