RN Programs in South Carolina

South Carolina RN Program Guide

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.

In our South Carolina RN program guide, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key South Carolina RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.

The State of South Carolina offers 31 RN programs in 21 different cities. Public institutions offer 25 of the RN programs in the state while there are 3 private, for-profit and 3 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.

In the State of South Carolina, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.

Nurses who graduate from an RN program are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.

Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to South Carolina RN Programs.

ADN Programs in South Carolina

There is no shortage in nursing schools in South Carolina that offer RN programs. They all follow a similar curriculum, which is designed to provide nurses with new perspective that build on knowledge gained while working in the field and attending nursing school. A common program will typically include:

• Philosophies of Health ad Wellness
• Disruptions in Health
• Pediatrics in the community
• Promotion of Health
• Nursing Leadership
• Professional Role Transition

Programs are generally completed in less than two years of full-time study. Part-time schedules are also available to meet the needs of working nurses.

NCLEX Passing Rates for South Carolina  ADN Programs

York Technical College has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in South Carolina of 97.08%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $6,622.00 a year.

• ADN Programs Offered in South Carolina: 15
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 89.57%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 74.10% to 97.08%

How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in South Carolina?

We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in South Carolina so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.

When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

The lowest cost ADN program in South Carolina is offered by Technical College of the Lowcountry at about $4,798.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 89.59%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by  Fortis College-Columbia and it will cost about $15,003.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 74.10%.

• Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inSouth Carolina: $7,552.47
• Net-Price Range for South Carolina ADN Programs: $4,798.00 to $15,003.00

Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for South Carolina Schools: $6,982.21
• Student borrowing range for ADN programs in South Carolina: $3,500.00 to $10,128.00

ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 14
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 1
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 0

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.

NCLEX Passing Rates for South Carolina BSN Programs

Lander University wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in South Carolina with a score of 94.69%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $13,847.00 a year.

• BSN Programs Offered in South Carolina: 13
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 88.96%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 74.54% to 94.69%

How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in South Carolina?

We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in South Carolina to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.

The lowest cost BSN degree program in South Carolina is offered by University of South Carolina-Aiken and will cost you about $11,300.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 86.68%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by South University-Columbia and will cost you about $24,087.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 83.30%.

• Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in South Carolina: $16,104.75
• Net-Price Range for South Carolina BSN Programs: $11,300.00 to $24,087.00

Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for South Carolina Schools: $17,670.33
• Student borrowing range for BSN programs in South Carolina: $9,500.00 to $24,060.00

BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 8
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 2
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 3

MSN Programs in South Carolina

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.

Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in South Carolina offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

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.

RN Salaries in South Carolina

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

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.

Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data

Best RN Programs in South Carolina