Question 1

How many accredited nursing programs are in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

South Carolina has dozens of accredited nursing programs across community colleges and four-year universities, listed in full on this page. Every school on this page is verified in the federal IPEDS database and carries either CCNE or ACEN accreditation. The map above plots each program's location and the sortable table below shows in-state tuition, program length, and completion rate for direct comparison.

Question 2

Which South Carolina nursing program has the highest NCLEX-RN pass rate?

Accepted Answer

The South Carolina Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for every approved program in the state. Rates fluctuate year to year. Our NCLEX pass rates guide compiles the most recent state-level and top-program data for South Carolina and every other state, updated after each board release. Check the current annual report from South Carolina Board of Nursing before your final enrollment decision.

Question 3

What is the average cost of nursing school in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Public community college ADN programs in South Carolina typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 per year for state residents. Public university BSN programs run $8,000 to $15,000 per year in-state and $22,000 to $35,000 per year out-of-state. Private university BSN programs charge $28,000 to $45,000 per year regardless of residency. Institutional aid, state grants, and federal Pell grants substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost for most students.

Question 4

Do South Carolina hospitals hire ADN-prepared nurses or require a BSN?

Accepted Answer

Most South Carolina hospitals hire ADN registered nurses for medical-surgical, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Larger urban systems and magnet-status facilities increasingly prefer or require a BSN for hospital positions, especially in specialty units like ICU, ER, and OR. If you start at ADN level, plan for an online RN-to-BSN completion within three years of your first job. Most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for this bridge.

Question 5

How does South Carolina RN licensure work?

Accepted Answer

After graduating from a South Carolina Board of Nursing approved program, apply for RN licensure through South Carolina Board of Nursing, complete a criminal background check, and register for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE. Once approved to test, you have 90 days to schedule your exam. See the how-to-become-a-nurse guide for the complete step-by-step process, including timing, fees, and endorsement rules for nurses moving to South Carolina from other states.

Question 6

Is South Carolina part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Accepted Answer

Compact membership varies by state and changes as legislatures act. Once you hold a compact-state RN license, you can practice in any of the 41 other compact states without additional licensure. Check the current status of South Carolina in the Nurse Licensure Compact through South Carolina Board of Nursing before assuming multi-state privileges. Non-compact states require endorsement application and fees for each additional state you plan to practice in.

Question 7

What is the RN salary in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows RN median wages in South Carolina vary significantly by metro area, hospital type, and specialty. Statewide medians typically fall between $65,000 and $90,000 per year. Urban acute care and specialty units pay above the state median. Rural and long-term care settings pay below. Travel nursing contracts in South Carolina commonly pay $2,000 to $2,800 per week. Full salary breakdown by specialty and years of experience is on the nurse salary guide.

Question 8

Are there online nursing programs available to South Carolina residents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. South Carolina residents can enroll in any CCNE-accredited online BSN, RN-to-BSN, or MSN program that accepts out-of-state students. Six commonly-available accredited online programs are compared on the online nursing programs page, including options that place students at local South Carolina hospitals for clinical rotations. Online programs are particularly popular for working nurses in South Carolina who need scheduling flexibility around 12-hour shift work.

Question 9

What prerequisite classes do I need before applying to a South Carolina nursing program?

Accepted Answer

Nursing programs in South Carolina typically require the same core prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology with lab, General Chemistry, Nutrition, English Composition, College Algebra or Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Sociology. Community colleges in South Carolina offer these prerequisites at low cost and credits transfer directly to state university BSN programs. Plan for two full semesters to complete prerequisites before applying to your first-choice program.

Question 10

How long does nursing school take in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Timing depends on the program type. Practical nurse (LPN) diploma programs run 12 to 18 months. Associate degree (ADN) programs at community colleges run two years. Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs at four-year universities take four years. Accelerated BSN options for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field can finish in 12 to 16 months. RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs for working nurses typically take 12 to 24 months of part-time study.


Aiken Technical College	Graniteville, SC	$5,174	Public	34%
Anderson University	Anderson, SC	$34,970	Private non-profit	66%
Bob Jones University	Greenville, SC	$24,470	Private non-profit	65%
Central Carolina Technical College	Sumter, SC	$5,715	Public	34%
Charleston Southern University	Charleston, SC	$32,520	Private non-profit	47%
Citadel Military College of South Carolina	Charleston, SC	$12,570	Public	75%
Claflin University	Orangeburg, SC	$18,282	Private non-profit	52%
Clemson University	Clemson, SC	$15,554	Public	87%
Coastal Carolina University	Conway, SC	$11,640	Public	48%
Coker University	Hartsville, SC	$33,416	Private non-profit	40%
Columbia College	Columbia, SC	$22,214	Private non-profit	37%
Columbia International University	Columbia, SC	$27,900	Private non-profit	47%
Florence-Darlington Technical College	Florence, SC	$4,636	Public	34%
Fortis College-Columbia	Columbia, SC	$14,777	Private for-profit	43%
Francis Marion University	Florence, SC	$11,160	Public	43%
Galen Health Institutes-Myrtle Beach	Myrtle Beach, SC	$16,364	Private for-profit	Not reported
Greenville Technical College	Greenville, SC	$5,495	Public	21%
Horry-Georgetown Technical College	Conway, SC	$4,468	Public	38%
Lander University	Greenwood, SC	$11,700	Public	50%
Medical University of South Carolina	Charleston, SC	Not reported	Public	Not reported
Midlands Technical College	West Columbia, SC	$5,100	Public	18%
Newberry College	Newberry, SC	$31,100	Private non-profit	45%
Northeastern Technical College	Cheraw, SC	$5,664	Public	21%
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College	Orangeburg, SC	$5,210	Public	32%
Piedmont Technical College	Greenwood, SC	$4,775	Public	33%
South Carolina State University	Orangeburg, SC	$11,060	Public	37%
South University-Columbia	Columbia, SC	$18,145	Private for-profit	23%
Southeastern College-Charleston	North Charleston, SC	$25,080	Private for-profit	67%
Southeastern College-Columbia	Columbia, SC	$25,080	Private for-profit	67%
Southern Wesleyan University	Central, SC	$29,800	Private non-profit	52%
Spartanburg Community College	Spartanburg, SC	$5,071	Public	28%
Technical College of the Lowcountry	Beaufort, SC	$6,156	Public	18%
Tri-County Technical College	Pendleton, SC	$4,448	Public	42%
Trident Technical College	Charleston, SC	$4,546	Public	30%
University of South Carolina Aiken	Aiken, SC	$10,760	Public	40%
University of South Carolina Beaufort	Bluffton, SC	$10,730	Public	34%
University of South Carolina-Columbia	Columbia, SC	$12,688	Public	79%
University of South Carolina-Lancaster	Lancaster, SC	$7,558	Public	25%
University of South Carolina-Upstate	Spartanburg, SC	$11,588	Public	43%
Williamsburg Technical College	Kingstree, SC	$4,488	Public	15%
York Technical College	Rock Hill, SC	$8,036	Public	30%

Nursing Programs in South Carolina

All accredited programs in South Carolina

Top-completion nursing programs in South Carolina

Clemson University

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Southeastern College-Charleston

Southeastern College-Columbia

Becoming an RN in South Carolina

Paying for nursing school in South Carolina

Prefer to start online this month? South Carolina residents qualify for these programs.

Questions about nursing school in South Carolina

Compare programs in nearby states

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