HPU’s Nursing School Earns National Accreditation
HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 10, 2026 – High Point University’s Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing has earned national accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), marking another major milestone in its development as one of the newest nursing schools in North Carolina.
The Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing was approved for accreditation from CCNE for five years, the maximum amount of time that the commission awards a nursing school applying for accreditation for the first time. The school’s accreditation runs through 2031, when the next review will be scheduled.
HPU received initial approval for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program from the North Carolina Board of Nursing in 2022 and full approval after graduating its inaugural class of nursing students in May 2024.
While it is not required for a nursing school in North Carolina to be accredited by CCNE, this milestone offers further proof of the Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing’s ability to provide students with a high-quality education. It also helps recruit faculty and students, strengthens partnerships with regional health systems and ensures that the school will continue to regularly assess itself.
“CCNE accreditation affirms what my team and I have worked tirelessly to build over the past few years. It is national recognition that the Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing meets the highest standards in nursing education, and it reflects the dedication poured into developing this program,” said Dr. Racquel Ingram, founding dean of the Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing. “For our students, it opens doors to graduate study, top health systems and careers in patient-centered care leadership. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this milestone, and we will keep improving to prepare extraordinary nurse leaders for our communities.”
Graduates of the nursing school will benefit from the school being nationally accredited. Many hospitals, federal agencies and the U.S. military will hire only nurses from nationally accredited programs. Some federal nursing scholarships and loan programs require national accreditation.
In addition, many nursing graduate programs require students to have a BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program. As a result, CCNE accreditation is essential for any HPU nursing students who plan to continue their education.
Before the Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing could be approved for accreditation, it needed to provide CCNE with self-study data showing its student success and resources. Its first cohort earned a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN, the national licensing exam for registered nurses.
The Class of 2026 also achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN — 12 points higher than the national pass rate for first-time test takers who were educated in the U.S., according to the most recent data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
“HPU is filled with professors who love what they teach and want to see you succeed,” said Piper Dillon, a Class of 2024 nursing alumna who earned her Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from HPU in May 2026. She now works as a registered nurse quality improvement coordinator in Anchorage, Alaska. “The small class sizes and support from my professors gave me the perfect environment to grow into a confident student and leader.”
A new feature of the Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing is the option for high-achieving high school seniors who are accepted to HPU and meet specific academic requirements to be admitted directly into the BSN program. This direct pathway would guarantee them a seat in the program instead of having to apply after completing their prerequisites.
The nursing school is the latest academic school at HPU to earn accreditation.
The Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law earned provisional approval from the American Bar Association earlier this year. The school can earn full accreditation following further evaluation by the association’s council on legal education.
The Webb School of Engineering received accreditation for its Bachelor of Science degree programs in computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering from ABET, the premier accreditation agency for engineering, computing and technology programs.
In 2023, the Workman School of Dental Medicine, the state’s only private dental school, received its initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation.