Western Carolina University nursing

Cullowhee, North Carolina · Public. Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate · first-time NCLEX 99% · CCNE and COA accredited.

Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctorateRN, bachelor’s degree NCLEX 99%
Full institution profile North Carolina nursing schools

State board approval and NCLEX

ProgramCampusApprovalFirst-time NCLEX pass rate
RN, entry-level master’sCullowheeInitial Approval
Board source
RN, bachelor’s degreeCullowheeFull Approval99% (2025)
Board source

Nursing awards

2014: 2172015: 2412016: 2522017: 2842018: 2752019: 2782020: 2392021: 2292022: 3082023: 2962024: 31821720143182024
Nursing completions at Western Carolina University by year, IPEDS. Up 47% from 2014 to 2024.
YearCompletions
2014217
2015241
2016252
2017284
2018275
2019278
2020239
2021229
2022308
2023296
2024318
Program (CIP)Award levelCompletions, 2023-24
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 51.3801Bachelor's degree266
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 51.3801Master's degree35
Nursing Practice 51.3818Doctor's degree, professional practice17
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 51.3801Post-master's certificateNone reported
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 51.3803Postbaccalaureate certificateNone reported

Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.

Accreditation

AccreditorProgramNext review
CCNEBaccalaureateFall 2026
CCNEMaster'sFall 2026
CCNEDoctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)Fall 2027
CCNEPost-Graduate APRN CertificateFall 2026
COADoctor of Nursing Practice (Entry Level)
Continued Accreditation		October 2032

Federal funding

13 federal awards under nursing assistance listings, fiscal year 2016 onward, totaling $8.0m. Awards are made to the institution; amounts are award values from USAspending.gov. The 12 largest are shown.

AmountProgramPeriodAgency
$2.0mNurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention
93.359		2018-07-01 to 2023-10-31Health Resources and Services Administration
$2.0mNursing Workforce Diversity
93.178		2021-07-01 to 2025-12-31Health Resources and Services Administration
$1.5mAdvanced Nursing Education
93.247		2017-07-01 to 2019-06-30Health Resources and Services Administration
$1000kNurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention
93.359		2016-07-01 to 2019-06-30Health Resources and Services Administration
$949kNursing Workforce Diversity
93.178		2014-07-01 to 2017-12-31Health Resources and Services Administration
$375kNursing Research
93.361		2021-03-09 to 2024-02-29National Institutes of Health
$76kNurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention
93.359		2020-05-01 to 2021-10-31Health Resources and Services Administration
$42kNursing Research
93.361		2024-01-25through UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$42kNursing Research
93.361		2024-01-25through UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$14kNursing Research
93.361		2025-01-25through UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$0Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention
93.359		2016-07-01 to 2019-06-30Health Resources and Services Administration
$-267Advanced Nursing Education
93.247		2017-07-01 to 2020-06-30Health Resources and Services Administration

From Western Carolina University’s nursing pages

NCLEX

“100% NCLEX pass rate and strong regional partnerships, our graduates move quickly”

wcu.edu

Nursing schools nearby