RN Programs in South Carolina
Ranked RN and BSN Programs in South Carolina
After evaluating 1,209 ADN, 794 BSN, 2,022 campus and 383 online RN programs, we ranked RN programs against criteria nurses found to be most valuable. We spent $27,700 on this unique list that has helped tens-of-thousands of nurses apply to the right program for their career goals. Find NCLEX passing scores, tuition rates, nursing program accreditation, institution accreditation and more. Explore our RN-ADN and RN-BSN rankings for South Carolina in the listings below.An associate’s degree in nursing or diploma will provide you with the educational requirements need for a nursing license and a rewarding career in healthcare. When ready, obtaining a Bachelor’s of Science in nursing degree will set you apart from your colleagues and open up more job opportunities. Baccalaureate prepared nurses will find that they have more career mobility and more access to specialty areas of certification and licensure. South Carolina is in the midst of a shortage of nurse educators. Nurses who have obtained a BSN degree will be qualified to teach entry-level nursing courses as well as clinical rotations at select colleges and teaching hospitals.
Ranked Schools : 13
Evaluated Schools : 15
BSN Programs in South Carolina
South Carolina has 29 accredited BSN programs that offer RN to BSN on campus, online and full 4 year programs in nursing where you can graduate with a BSN in nursing. A BSN degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. Program admission is competitive. A student entering nursing school will have to complete 28-34 prerequisite credit hour courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA, HESI Admission Assessment Exam A2 with a score of 75-80%, a personal essay, and references. A Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening are also required. Upon graduation you will be required to register online for initial licensure. This will require a $90.00 application fee and a $200.00 exam fee. Elective courses can include a 4-hour credit course in biology or chemistry and non-science courses like public speaking, computer technology or any course that is 101 or higher.
RANKED 1
BSN
Overall Score: 100.00%
Anderson University
Anderson University is located in Anderson, Texas. Anderson University is a Christian university. They offer a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program and an RN to BSN program. The RN to BSN program is offered online and can be completed at the student’s pace. The students with at least 59 college credits, or a previous bachelor’s degree, are eligible for the ABSN degree.
- Campus: Anderson, SC
- Net Price: $18,205.00
- Enrollment: 2,652
- Loan Default Rate: 9.60%
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Net Price Change: 17.32%
- Graduation Rate: 41.40%
- Median Borrowing: $20,500.00
- Median Payment: $214.04
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
RANKED 2
BSN
Overall Score: 94.16%
The Medical University of South Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina is located in Charleston, South Carolina. MUSC is unique because it offers only the classes needed for the degrees – students must earn their prerequisites elsewhere. They offer an accelerated BSN and an RN to BSN program. The accelerated BSN is available to all students – all students require a minimum of 60 prerequisite credits for entrance.
- Campus: Charleston, SC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
RANKED 3
BSN
Overall Score: 93.89%
Lander University
Lander University is located in Greenwood, South Carolina. The William Preston Turner School of Nursing offers a pre-licensure BSN program, an online RN to BSN program and an MSN for Clinical Nurse Leader program.
- Campus: Greenwood, SC
- Net Price: $13,847.00
- Enrollment: 2,792
- Transfer Out Rate: 31.60%
- Loan Default Rate: 10.00%
- Institution Accreditation: SACS COC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus, Online
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 16.19%
- Graduation Rate: 51.50%
- Median Borrowing: $16,500.00
- Median Payment: $172.28
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
RANKED 4
BSN
Overall Score: 93.36%
Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University is located in Charleston, South Carolina. The College of Nursing offers a BSN program and an online MSN program (Nurse Educator emphasis or Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Administration emphasis).
- Campus: Charleston, SC
- Net Price: $17,058.00
- Enrollment: 2,912
- Loan Default Rate: 8.80%
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus, Online
- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Net Price Change: 11.04%
- Graduation Rate: 36.10%
- Median Borrowing: $18,250.00
- Median Payment: $190.55
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN
RANKED 5
BSN
Overall Score: 92.55%
University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina is located in Columbia, South Carolina. USC has been rated #1 in the nation by US News and World Report for their online education Master’s programs. They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program, in addition to a wide variety of post-graduate options.
- Campus: Columbia, SC
- Net Price: $17,220.00
- Enrollment: 24,180
- Transfer Out Rate: 9.20%
- Loan Default Rate: 4.70%
- Institution Accreditation: SACS COC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 11.19%
- Graduation Rate: 72.70%
- Median Borrowing: $20,966.00
- Median Payment: $218.91
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
RANKED 6
BSN
Overall Score: 91.96%
Clemson University
Clemson University is located in Clemson, South Carolina. Clemson’s School of Nursing is among only 35 nursing programs nationwide to be recognized since 2004 as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. They offer a BSN program, an accelerated BSN, which is a 16-month curriculum for second-degree learners, and an online RN to BSN program.
- Campus: Clemson, SC
- Net Price: $16,817.00
- Enrollment: 16,931
- Transfer Out Rate: 14.70%
- Loan Default Rate: 4.00%
- Institution Accreditation: SACS COC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 0.72%
- Graduation Rate: 82.50%
- Median Borrowing: $22,357.00
- Median Payment: $233.43
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 7
BSN
Overall Score: 91.44%
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is located in Greenville, South Carolina. BJU is a Christian college and they offer a biblical approach to nursing education. Their education is largely focused on clinicals – they have a 3-year Clinical Program. Students also have the opportunity to serve on mission trips, such as in Peru or Africa. They offer a BSN program.
- Campus: Greenville, SC
- Net Price: $16,448.00
- Enrollment: 2,913
- Transfer Out Rate: 9.30%
- Loan Default Rate: 0.90%
- Institution Accreditation: TRACS
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Private For-Profit
- Net Price Change: -5.44%
- Graduation Rate: 61.40%
- Median Borrowing: $14,000.00
- Median Payment: $146.18
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) :
RANKED 8
BSN
Overall Score: 90.44%
Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University is located in Florence, South Carolina. They offer a traditional BSN program. They also offer several RN to BSN options – they offer an online program, a hybrid program a their Mount Pleasant campus, and also an RN to BSN Veterans program. The veterans program is for honorably or generally discharged veterans to complete their nursing education; not only does this program give credit for nursing experience, but also military experience.
- Campus: Florence, SC
- Net Price: $12,451.00
- Enrollment: 3,714
- Transfer Out Rate: 36.20%
- Loan Default Rate: 11.00%
- Institution Accreditation: SACS COC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus, Online
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: -23.46%
- Graduation Rate: 40.60%
- Median Borrowing: $20,000.00
- Median Payment: $208.82
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN
RANKED 9
BSN
Overall Score: 89.20%
South University-Columbia
- Campus: Columbia, SC
- Net Price: $24,087.00
- Enrollment: 1,167
- Loan Default Rate: 23.10%
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Private For-Profit
- Net Price Change: -7.22%
- Graduation Rate: 7.40%
- Median Borrowing: $9,500.00
- Median Payment: $99.19
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) :
RANKED 10
BSN
Overall Score: 86.91%
University of South Carolina-Aiken
- Campus: Aiken, SC
- Net Price: $11,300.00
- Enrollment: 3,175
- Transfer Out Rate: 34.60%
- Loan Default Rate: 8.20%
- Institution Accreditation: SACS COC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus, Online
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 14.57%
- Graduation Rate: 42.10%
- Median Borrowing: $15,043.00
- Median Payment: $157.07
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 11
BSN
Overall Score: 86.07%
University of South Carolina-Beaufort
- Campus: Bluffton, SC
- Net Price: $13,321.00
- Enrollment: 1,724
- Transfer Out Rate: 32.60%
- Loan Default Rate: 8.30%
- Institution Accreditation: SACS COC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 6.63%
- Graduation Rate: 26.90%
- Median Borrowing: $13,750.00
- Median Payment: $143.57
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
RANKED 12
BSN
Overall Score: 83.54%
University of South Carolina-Upstate
- Campus: Spartanburg, SC
- Net Price: $13,412.00
- Enrollment: 5,308
- Transfer Out Rate: 35.80%
- Loan Default Rate: 8.90%
- Institution Accreditation: SACS COC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus, Online
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 13.85%
- Graduation Rate: 40.50%
- Median Borrowing: $17,118.00
- Median Payment: $178.73
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 13
BSN
Overall Score: 73.98%
Newberry College
- Campus: Newberry, SC
- Net Price: $19,091.00
- Enrollment: 1,039
- Loan Default Rate: 15.00%
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Net Price Change: 12.62%
- Graduation Rate: 44.60%
- Median Borrowing: $24,060.00
- Median Payment: $251.21
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
RANKED N/A
BSN
Overall Score: N/A
Coastal Carolina University
- Campus: Conway, SC
- Net Price: $14,358.00
- Enrollment: 8,867
- Transfer Out Rate: 17.30%
- Loan Default Rate: 10.60%
- Institution Accreditation: SACS COC
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 12.33%
- Graduation Rate: 45.80%
- Median Borrowing: $18,585.00
- Median Payment: $194.05
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : ACEN
RANKED N/A
BSN
Overall Score: N/A
South Carolina State University
- Campus: Orangeburg, SC
- Net Price: $17,344.00
- Enrollment: 2,937
- Transfer Out Rate: 22.10%
- Loan Default Rate: 22.60%
- Institution Accreditation:
- Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Offered as: Campus
- Type: Public
- Net Price Change: 7.57%
- Graduation Rate: 35.70%
- Median Borrowing: $25,940.00
- Median Payment: $270.84
- Award Levels: Bachelor
- Program Accreditation(s) : CCNE
Data sources: IPEDS, National Center of Educational Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (ERIC), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 2,401 Nursing Schools, 50 State Boards of Nursing, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
See our methodology for ranking ADN and BSN programs.
Find RN Programs in South Carolina | BSN Programs in South Carolina | RN Programs in the United States | LPN to RN Program Guide: LPN to RN Guide | LPN to BSN Program Guide: LPN to BSN Program Guide | RN to BSN Program Guide RN to BSN Program Guide | RN Jobs RN Jobs
South Carolina RN Licensing Requirements
RN Licensure by Exams
The candidate will need to apply to the South Carolina board and register with Pearson VUE, the company that administers the NCLEX exam. The candidate may apply prior to graduation and must include a passport photo with the application. There is a $90 fee that the candidate will be responsible in order to apply by examination. There is also a $200 fee to take the NCLEX exam. Candidates may be issued a temporary permit while waiting for their NCLEX results. If the candidate does not pass on the first attempt, there will be a 45-day waiting before he/she can test again. The exam can be attempted for up to a year and will require remediation after that point. There is a $65 fee that is owed to the board for re-examination.
RN Licensure by Endorsement
Nurses who have obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states will be able to obtain licensure in South Carolina by endorsement. South Carolina accepts both the NCLEX and the SBTPE. There are two cases in which an out of state nurse may be granted a temporary permit. One is when the initial screening proves that the candidate is eligible for licensure. In this scenario the permit is good for up to 60 days. The second scenario will grant the nurse a 90-day permit. In order to obtain a permit in this case, the nurse must complete a refresher course. The endorsement application itself costs $100 and there is an additional $10 fee for the temporary license.
RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
Nurses who completed a nursing program in a foreign country must demonstrate English proficiency. Their credentials must also be evaluated through a professional service.
Helpful Nursing Resources
South Carolina RN Job Outlook
60% of the registered nurses in the state of South Carolina work in hospitals and the demand for new registered nurses is growing every day. It has been reported that 36% of the registered nurses in South Carolina have pursued higher education outside of associates. The RN to BSN programs in South Carolina are designed with the intention of increasing the number of Bachelor’s prepared nurses state-wide. Some opportunities that will be available to a baccalaureate-prepared nurse include (but are not limited to):
- Wound, ostomy, and continence
- Psychiatrists
- Nurse educators
- Critical care
- Health policies
Nursing Jobs
South Carolina Registered Nursing Salaries
The Charleston metropolitan area has the highest employment rate of registered nurses along with the highest hourly mean wage and annual median wage.
Area name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual median wage |
---|---|---|---|
Anderson, SC | 1,710 | $26.88 | $56,000 |
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC | 9,440 | $31.98 | $64,180 |
Columbia, SC | 8,140 | $27.11 | $55,970 |
Florence, SC | 3,000 | $29.07 | $62,710 |
Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC | 5,160 | $28.63 | $58,020 |
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | 1,660 | $27.47 | $55,760 |
Spartanburg, SC | 2,690 | $26.78 | $53,430 |
Sumter, SC | Estimate not released | $26.56 | $54,570 |
Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 2,390 | $30.33 | $60,240 |
Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 2,070 | $27.56 | $55,310 |
Pee Dee South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 720 | $27.09 | $55,590 |
Lower Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 1,150 | $21.87 | $40,380 |
Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data