Nursing Schools in South Carolina (2026)
49 accredited nursing programs found
South Carolina has 49 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with 31 public and 18 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $15,219, with public schools averaging $8,189 and private schools averaging $26,545. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $5,639 to $23,096. The cheapest tracked program is Tri-County Technical College at $4,448 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is the University of South Carolina-Columbia at approximately 28,113.
Across South Carolina programs the average graduation rate is 43.2 percent — among the lower state averages in this directory — and the average retention rate is 66.7 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $40,304 and median federal debt at graduation averages $19,796 — among the higher in this group. The state's healthcare employer base is anchored by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Prisma Health, and Roper St. Francis, supplying the practicing-nurse market that newly licensed graduates enter.
Registered Nurse Market in South Carolina
BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses
Registered Nurse Salary in South Carolina
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Matches the South Carolina average of $15,219.
Matches the South Carolina average of 43.2%.
Matches the South Carolina median of $40,304.
Tuition Overview
| Avg Public Tuition | $8,189 |
| Lowest Tuition | $4,448 |
| Highest Tuition | $58,312 |
| Avg Private Tuition | $26,545 |
Student Outcomes
| Avg Graduation Rate | 43.2% |
| Avg Earnings After Grad | $43,313 |
| Avg Student Debt | $19,796 |
| Total Enrollment | 182,803 |
All Nursing Schools in South Carolina
| Institution | City | Type | Tuition (In-State) | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia | Public | $12,688 | 28,113 |
| Clemson University | Clemson | Public | $15,554 | 22,778 |
| Trident Technical College | Charleston | Public | $4,564 | 11,091 |
| College of Charleston | Charleston | Public | $12,978 | 10,366 |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway | Public | $11,640 | 9,909 |
| Greenville Technical College | Greenville | Public | $5,639 | 8,171 |
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | Public | $4,788 | 7,731 |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | Conway | Public | $4,468 | 5,962 |
| Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | Public | $5,046 | 5,063 |
| Tri-County Technical College | Pendleton | Public | $4,448 | 4,960 |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | Spartanburg | Public | $11,583 | 4,008 |
| Piedmont Technical College | Greenwood | Public | $4,775 | 3,988 |
| York Technical College | Rock Hill | Public | $5,512 | 3,813 |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill | Public | $15,956 | 3,424 |
| Lander University | Greenwood | Public | $11,700 | 3,384 |
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private | $33,580 | 3,080 |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | Public | $4,636 | 2,890 |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken | Public | $10,760 | 2,805 |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg | Public | $11,060 | 2,757 |
| Charleston Southern University | Charleston | Private | $31,030 | 2,716 |
| Francis Marion University | Florence | Public | $11,160 | 2,640 |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | Charleston | Public | $12,570 | 2,624 |
| Central Carolina Technical College | Sumter | Public | $5,715 | 2,388 |
| Furman University | Greenville | Private | $58,312 | 2,322 |
| Bob Jones University | Greenville | Private | $23,400 | 2,209 |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | Bluffton | Public | $10,730 | 1,958 |
| Aiken Technical College | Graniteville | Public | $5,044 | 1,911 |
| Claflin University | Orangeburg | Private | $17,046 | 1,727 |
| North Greenville University | Tigerville | Private | $24,650 | 1,719 |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | Beaufort | Public | $5,500 | 1,697 |
| Benedict College | Columbia | Private | $18,000 | 1,573 |
| Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College | Orangeburg | Public | $4,970 | 1,564 |
| Limestone University | Gaffney | Private | $27,500 | 1,528 |
| Newberry College | Newberry | Private | $30,050 | 1,462 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private | $21,450 | 1,245 |
| Northeastern Technical College | Cheraw | Public | $5,664 | 849 |
| Converse University | Spartanburg | Private | $23,096 | 845 |
| Erskine College | Due West | Private | $36,710 | 821 |
| Southern Wesleyan University | Central | Private | $27,870 | 771 |
| Columbia International University | Columbia | Private | $27,900 | 690 |
| University of South Carolina-Lancaster | Lancaster | Public | $7,558 | 649 |
| Denmark Technical College | Denmark | Public | $6,301 | 539 |
| Voorhees University | Denmark | Private | $12,630 | 460 |
| Morris College | Sumter | Private | $16,224 | 421 |
| Williamsburg Technical College | Kingstree | Public | $4,488 | 376 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston | Public | N/A | 281 |
| Southeastern College-Columbia | Columbia | For-Profit | $24,184 | 248 |
| Southeastern College-Charleston | North Charleston | For-Profit | $24,184 | 232 |
| Academy for Careers and Technology | Mullins | Public | N/A | 45 |
Nursing Schools by City in South Carolina
Nursing Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in South Carolina?
What is the average nursing school tuition in South Carolina?
What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in South Carolina?
What is the average retention rate in South Carolina?
What do graduates from nursing schools in South Carolina earn?
What is the average student debt at nursing schools in South Carolina?
How much do registered nurses earn in South Carolina?
What is the RN job outlook for South Carolina?
South Carolina Nursing Market Context
BLS data for South Carolina shows an RN median annual wage of $71,400 and a mean of $73,860. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $52,460 to $98,050. Statewide RN employment is approximately 42,770 and the projected growth rate is 7 percent — above the national 6 percent figure.
Median program debt of $19,796 against a $71,400 RN median wage produces one of the tightest payback ratios in the Southeast, particularly for graduates of higher-cost private programs. The 7 percent projected growth rate translates to a meaningful hiring tailwind, particularly in the Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville-Spartanburg markets where most of the state's healthcare employment is concentrated. The 90th-percentile figure of $98,050 reflects what experienced and certified South Carolina RNs can reach. Lower cost of living offsets a portion of the modest wage figure for graduates intending to remain in-state.