Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

About Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Cabarrus College traces its history to the Cabarrus County Hospital School of Nursing, established by Louise Harkey in 1942 to address wartime demand for registered nurses. The school became Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in 1996 as it expanded into allied-health education. Its first master’s program followed in 2014, and the current institution offers credentials ranging from diplomas and associate degrees through bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The college is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees. Individual professional programs also carry specialized accreditation or approval where applicable, including nursing, medical assisting, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, and surgical technology. Applicants should still review the exact accreditation status of their intended program; the 2026–2027 catalog identifies candidacy or provisional status for certain newer offerings. Cabarrus is closely integrated with healthcare practice. Its main facility is on the Atrium Health Cabarrus campus, and the college describes preferred access to Atrium Health clinical sites for relevant programs. This environment may appeal to students who want a professionally focused education with clinical exposure, but it differs from a comprehensive residential university with a large range of non-health majors and traditional campus amenities. The boards of Cabarrus College and Carolinas College of Health Sciences have approved a proposed combination. The official update says implementation was anticipated for 2026–2027 but remained dependent on regulatory and organizational approvals. Cabarrus therefore continues to be treated as a separately operating institution as of August 20, 2026.

Admission is program-specific. The college’s general process may require an application, a fee, supporting documentation, official transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, recommendations, and an essay. Individual programs impose additional academic, prerequisite, credential, or experience requirements, so applicants should use the requirements page for the exact credential they want rather than relying only on the general admissions summary. Completion programs and graduate pathways may require an existing degree, professional license, or prior healthcare qualification. Cabarrus accepts applications on a rolling basis until programs fill. Its current admissions page gives priority dates of January 1 for fall entry and October 1 for spring entry. Applications received later may be considered if space remains. These are college-wide priority dates, not a guarantee that every program accepts students in both terms or uses identical requirements. Official transcripts and test scores must be submitted through accepted official channels. For most programs, two recommendations are required, although the college identifies exceptions, including certain occupational therapy pathways and its fast-track application. Applicants to associate-degree or diploma programs are told to provide a high-school transcript, even if they already hold another degree. The current admissions FAQ also says these applicants must provide SAT or ACT scores, while noting possible flexibility for applicants with a previous degree; candidates should obtain written confirmation of how that policy applies to them in 2026–2027. After admission, healthcare programs may require pre-enrollment documentation and compliance steps. Prospective students should review current program materials for immunizations, background checks, technical standards, drug screening, CPR credentials, or other clinical-site requirements before paying a deposit.

Cabarrus College concentrates on healthcare and health sciences. The 2026–2027 offerings include undergraduate pathways in nursing, biomedical sciences, community health and wellness, community paramedicine, health sciences leadership and development, interdisciplinary health studies, life sciences, medical assisting, medical imaging, occupational therapy assisting, respiratory therapy, and surgical technology. Graduate study includes occupational therapy, nursing, and health sciences. The catalog also lists diplomas and certificates, but these should not be confused with degree programs. The nursing portfolio serves students at different career stages. It includes an associate route to registered nursing, a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing, an accelerated option for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree, an online RN-to-BSN completion pathway, and graduate nursing study. Allied-health options likewise range from entry-level preparation to completion and advancement programs. Medical imaging, for example, is designed for credentialed imaging professionals with prior college preparation, while the Master of Occupational Therapy has entry requirements tied to previous occupational therapy assistant education. Delivery and scheduling are program-specific. The college uses on-campus, online, and hybrid formats, and selected programs offer full-time or part-time study. Students should not assume that every program is available in every format or entry term. Clinical, fieldwork, practicum, laboratory, and simulation requirements can make in-person attendance necessary even when academic coursework is online. The hospital-based setting is academically significant. Clinical programs can use Atrium Health sites and healthcare technology, while the college library provides health-sciences databases, research support, computer workstations, and badge-access study space. Because professional licensure and certification requirements vary, prospective students—especially those planning to practice outside North Carolina—should confirm that their chosen program satisfies the rules of the relevant jurisdiction.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1942 as a hospital nursing school
• Accredited to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees
• Hospital-based campus on the grounds of Atrium Health Cabarrus
• Proposed combination with Carolinas College was still awaiting required approvals as of August 20, 2026

Student Life & Environment

Student life at Cabarrus is organized around a small, healthcare-focused commuter community rather than a large residential campus. The 2026–2027 catalog describes the college as a commuter campus, and it does not document college-operated housing. Students who need accommodation should verify local options, transportation, lease costs, and clinical-placement travel before enrolling. Student Affairs runs campus programs, personal-development and student-success workshops, volunteer opportunities, social events, blood drives, and open forums with college leadership. Professional and interest-based organizations include groups connected with biomedical sciences, medical assisting, nursing, occupational therapy, surgical technology, and other healthcare interests. Club activity can change from year to year, so students should confirm which organizations are active. Each college student is assigned a student success coach. Support can include supplemental advising, study and time-management strategies, social connection, and access to tutoring. The 2026–2027 catalog describes free peer tutoring and on-demand professional tutoring through the Knack platform, alongside early- and midterm-alert systems intended to connect students with help before academic problems become more serious. Counseling and disability services also sit within the Division of Student Affairs. Community service is closely tied to professional preparation. The college states that most students must complete 15 volunteer hours before graduation, creating opportunities to encounter community health needs outside formal clinical work. Campus expectations also emphasize professional conduct, patient confidentiality, appropriate identification and attire, and safe behavior at clinical and fieldwork sites.

Location & Surroundings

Cabarrus College is located at 401 Medical Park Drive in Concord, North Carolina, on the campus of Atrium Health Cabarrus. The setting places classrooms and student facilities beside a working regional hospital rather than within a self-contained traditional university campus. For students in clinical disciplines, that proximity supports contact with professional healthcare settings, clinical sites, simulation resources, and potential employers. Concord is part of the Charlotte metropolitan region. The college says downtown Concord is nearby and Charlotte is about 30 minutes away, although actual travel time varies with traffic. The location can provide access to healthcare employers and services across Cabarrus County and the broader metropolitan area. Daily transportation deserves careful planning. The official catalog calls Cabarrus a commuter campus, and students may also need to reach clinical, fieldwork, internship, or practicum locations away from the main building. Applicants should ask their program about placement geography, parking, start times, and whether a private vehicle is effectively necessary. Those relocating should budget for independently arranged housing and food because the current official materials do not identify college-operated residences or a comprehensive meal plan.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Cabarrus publishes program-specific prices rather than one universal tuition figure. For 2026–2027, standard undergraduate health-science tuition is $8,487 per semester for 12–16 credits, $5,835 for 7–11 credits, or $530 per credit. Nursing and respiratory-therapy rates differ: ADN and traditional BSN tuition is $679 per credit, RN-to-BSN is $461 per credit, accelerated BSN is $764 per credit, and BS respiratory therapy is $679 per credit. Graduate tuition is $11,246 per semester for the Master of Occupational Therapy and $573 per credit for the MS in Health Sciences and MS in Nursing. Required fees and program-specific expenses are additional. These 2026–2027 figures should not be confused with the database’s older $11,330 annual tuition field. Actual cost depends on program, credit load, clinical requirements, books, equipment, transportation, and independently arranged housing and food. The college offers an interest-free semester payment plan with a $50 enrollment fee. Eligible students can pursue federal, state, institutional, and private aid; the college instructs 2026–2027 applicants to file the FAFSA using school code 015358. North Carolina residency is required for consideration for state scholarships, with further eligibility rules. Career preparation is embedded in clinical education, fieldwork, practicums, simulation, and professional coursework. Affiliation with Atrium Health provides preferred clinical-site access for relevant programs and a potential employment pipeline, but it does not guarantee a position. Licensure-dependent students must complete the appropriate credentialing process after graduation. Because outcomes differ by program and year, applicants should review current program-level licensure pass rates, completion data, and employment disclosures rather than relying solely on college-wide promotional figures.