Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

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.