Best Nursing Schools in South Carolina (2026): Rankings and Reviews

South Carolina has more than a dozen colleges producing BSN graduates, led by its two big public research universities. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top 5.

Imagine you want to become a nurse in South Carolina, a fast-growing state with a rising need for health care. You could choose a large public university, the state’s medical university, or a smaller private college in the Upstate. Here is how they compare.

How we ranked these schools

We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in South Carolina that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.

South Carolina nursing schools ranked (2026)

Rank	College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
1	Clemson University	Clemson	Public	88%	255	$78,462	$15,854
2	University of South Carolina-Columbia	Columbia	Public	79%	260	$79,619	$12,688
3	Anderson University	Anderson	Private nonprofit	72%	78	$78,656	$36,360
4	Bob Jones University	Greenville	Private nonprofit	71%	55	$79,556	$25,150
5	Lander University	Greenwood	Public	50%	110	$77,657	$11,700
6	Charleston Southern University	Charleston	Private nonprofit	50%	69	$73,809	$34,080
7	Claflin University	Orangeburg	Private nonprofit	47%	25	$89,384	$19,075
8	University of South Carolina Aiken	Aiken	Public	44%	114	$76,793	$10,760
9	University of South Carolina-Upstate	Spartanburg	Public	43%	216	$79,549	$11,588
10	Newberry College	Newberry	Private nonprofit	42%	23	$77,094	$32,750
11	University of South Carolina Beaufort	Bluffton	Public	39%	47	$74,461	$10,730
12	Francis Marion University	Florence	Public	38%	53	$72,017	$11,160

Also offering a BSN in South Carolina (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):

College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
Medical University of South Carolina	Charleston	Public	n/a	155	$75,931	n/a
South University-Columbia	Columbia	Private for-profit	6%	46	$79,957	$18,145

Top South Carolina nursing schools reviewed

1. Clemson University

Clemson University is a large public research university in the Upstate whose School of Nursing combines a strong campus experience with clinical training across the region.

• Graduation rate: 88%, number 1 in South Carolina on our list
• Programme size: about 255 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,462 one year after graduating
• Cost: $15,854 in-state tuition ($42,378 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 38%

2. University of South Carolina-Columbia

The University of South Carolina in Columbia is the state’s flagship university, and its College of Nursing is one of the largest BSN producers in South Carolina.

• Graduation rate: 79%, number 2 in South Carolina on our list
• Programme size: about 260 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, the largest BSN programme in South Carolina
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $79,619 one year after graduating
• Cost: $12,688 in-state tuition ($37,376 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 60%

3. Anderson University

Anderson University is a private Christian university in the Upstate with a growing BSN programme.

• Graduation rate: 72%, number 3 in South Carolina on our list
• Programme size: about 78 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,656 one year after graduating
• Cost: $36,360 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 55%

4. Bob Jones University

Bob Jones University in Greenville is a private Christian university offering a BSN.

• Graduation rate: 71%, number 4 in South Carolina on our list
• Programme size: about 55 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $79,556 one year after graduating
• Cost: $25,150 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: open or not reported

5. Lander University

Lander University in Greenwood is a public university with a well-established nursing programme serving the western part of the state.

• Graduation rate: 50%, number 5 in South Carolina on our list
• Programme size: about 110 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $77,657 one year after graduating
• Cost: $11,700 in-state tuition ($21,300 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 81%

Studying nursing in South Carolina: what to know

South Carolina’s population is growing quickly, especially along the coast and in the Upstate, increasing demand for nurses in both hospitals and community settings. The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, an academic health sciences university, also educates nurses, including through accelerated and graduate programmes. Many South Carolina technical colleges offer associate degree nursing, with clear pathways into RN-to-BSN programmes at the state’s universities.

Ways to become a registered nurse in South Carolina

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
• Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.

Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the South Carolina Board of Nursing. South Carolina is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.

Frequently asked questions

How many colleges in South Carolina offer a BSN?

Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 14 colleges in South Carolina produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 1,506 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.

Which South Carolina nursing school has the highest graduation rate?

Clemson University has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 88%.

Which is the largest nursing programme in South Carolina?

University of South Carolina-Columbia produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 260 a year.

How much do new BSN graduates earn in South Carolina?

Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $72,017 to $89,384, with a typical (median) figure of about $78,060. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.

How much does a public nursing degree cost in South Carolina?

In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $10,730 to $15,854 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.

But is a ranking enough to choose a school?

No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:

• NCLEX pass rates: the South Carolina Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
• Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
• Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
• Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
• Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.

Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school

Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), South Carolina Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.