South Carolina Nursing Schools & Programs

South Carolina has more than two dozen state-approved nursing schools and steady demand for nurses, so the real work is matching a program to your goals and budget. This guide covers the strongest programs in the state, what nurses earn here, and how to get licensed.

Nursing Schools in South Carolina

Whether you want a two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN), a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), or a graduate degree, South Carolina has a program for it. The schools below are accredited, with tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and graduate earnings drawn from each school and federal data. Note that this list was last reviewed before 2025, so confirm current tuition and program details directly with the school.

Anderson University

A private Christian university in Anderson with undergraduate and graduate nursing. Options run from a traditional BSN to an accelerated BSN you can finish in 15 months with prior college credit, plus online and hybrid graduate tracks for working nurses.

• Programs: Traditional BSN; Accelerated BSN; RN to BSN; BSN to MSN (family NP, psychiatric mental health NP); BSN to DNP (family NP, psychiatric mental health NP); MSN to DNP (advanced practice nursing, executive leadership)
• Campus: Anderson, SC
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $500/credit (BSN); $890/credit (ABSN); $755/credit (MSN); $855/credit (DNP)
• Admissions: Undergraduates need a high school diploma and minimum standardized test scores by program; graduate applicants need an undergraduate or graduate degree
• Time: 15 months to 4 years, depending on program
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 92.42%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $113,692 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)

Bob Jones University

A private Christian institution in Greenville offering an onsite BSN that mixes nursing and religious coursework. Students complete clinicals over six semesters, plus a six-week capstone practicum and a research course in the fourth year. Short-term medical mission trips are available.

• Programs: BSN
• Campus: Greenville, SC
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
• Tuition: $10,605/semester (undergraduate); $6,900/semester (graduate)
• Admissions: High school transcripts or GED, a personal profession of faith, two references
• Time: Four years
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 83.87%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $60,240 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)

Clemson University

A public university with nursing degrees for students at several career stages. The traditional BSN runs four years with clinicals in years two and three and practice on high-tech patient simulators. The accelerated BSN is a full-time, 16-month track for students who already hold a bachelor's degree. The RN-to-BSN is online, and there is an MSN with a nursing education concentration.

• Programs: BSN (traditional); BSN (accelerated); RN-to-BSN; MSN
• Campus: Clemson, SC
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition (undergraduate): $8,560/semester in-state, $20,532/semester out-of-state. Graduate: $9,930/semester in-state, $17,450/semester out-of-state
• Admissions: BSN needs a high school diploma; RN-to-BSN needs an ADN with a 2.75 GPA and RN license; MSN needs a BSN with a 3.25 GPA, three recommendation letters, and an RN license
• Time: Depends on program
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 90.61%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $57,874 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)

Lander University

A public university in Greenwood with three nursing degrees: a traditional BSN, an online RN-to-BSN, and an online MSN. The BSN is 120 credits over four years. The MSN includes a clinical nurse leader concentration with clinical nurse leader practicum courses and 400 clinical hours, and graduates can sit for the clinical nurse leader certification exam.

• Programs: BSN; RN-to-BSN; MSN (clinical nurse leader)
• Campus: Greenwood, SC
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition (undergraduate): $11,700/year in-state, $21,300/year out-of-state. Graduate: $6,540/year
• Admissions: BSN needs a high school diploma; RN-to-BSN needs an ADN and RN license; MSN needs a BSN with a 3.0 GPA and RN license
• Time: Depends on program
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 95.83%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $56,189 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)

University of South Carolina Aiken

A public university offering a traditional BSN and an online RN-to-BSN. The four-year BSN requires applying after prerequisite coursework and ends with a senior clinical practicum. RNs can finish the online RN-to-BSN in as few as 12 months.

• Programs: Traditional BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Aiken, SC
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $10,398/year in-state, $20,856/year out-of-state (BSN); $306/credit (online RN-to-BSN)
• Admissions: BSN needs a high school diploma, a 3.0 GPA in prerequisites, two references, and an essay; RN-to-BSN needs an ADN, a 2.5 GPA in prior coursework, and an RN license
• Time: Four years (BSN); 12 months (RN-to-BSN)
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 85.33%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $60,689 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)

How to Choose a Program

Stick to accredited schools, then weigh total cost (tuition, fees, and financial aid), NCLEX-RN pass rate, acceptance and graduation rates, program format, curriculum, and where you can get clinical placements. Location matters most if you plan to attend online.

Salary and Job Outlook

South Carolina nurses earn below national medians, but the cost of living is lower too. The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center puts the state's cost-of-living index at 94.8, under the U.S. baseline of 100. Registered nurses in South Carolina earn a mean wage of about $81,390, below the national RN median of $93,600 (BLS, May 2024). Nurse practitioners earn a median around $116,240, below the national NP median of $132,050.

Pay is highest in metro areas with academic medical centers, led by Charleston-North Charleston and the upstate around Spartanburg, with coastal areas like Hilton Head close behind. Demand for nurses remains strong: BLS projects registered nursing employment to grow about 6 percent nationally through 2033, with nurse practitioner roles growing far faster.

How to Get Licensed in South Carolina

South Carolina is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, so a multistate license from another compact state lets you practice here. If you move your residence to South Carolina, you must apply for a South Carolina license.

RN Requirements

Graduate from an ADN or BSN program and pass the NCLEX-RN. The South Carolina Board of Nursing also requires a copy of your driver's license, passport, or equivalent ID, plus a notarized signature affidavit with a 2 x 2 color passport photo. You must pass a criminal background check. Graduates of South Carolina schools submit a certificate of endorsement; out-of-state graduates submit official transcripts. Full requirements are on the board's website.

APRN Requirements

For advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensing, you need an MSN or DNP and must pass the board certification exam. Requirements include a valid South Carolina RN license and confirmation of education and specialization. To prescribe, you apply for prescriptive authority and must show 45 hours of pharmacology coursework completed within the two years before applying, including at least 15 hours in controlled-substance pharmacology or a graduate-level pharmacology course.