2026 Best Nursing Schools in South Carolina
Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in South Carolina.
Top Schools in Nursing
University Of South Carolina Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in nursing. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 476 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $103,138 early in their careers. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
A rank of #2 makes Clemson University one of the top schools for nursing. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 269 nursing degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $85,508 in their early career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Clemson University
Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #3. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Myrtle Beach. There were roughly 119 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach in the most recent data year.
Read more about the nursing program at Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Medical University Of South Carolina, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Charleston, Medical University Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public institution. About 323 nursing degrees were awarded at Medical University Of South Carolina in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Medical University Of South Carolina generally make around $96,902. Students borrow a median of $29,043 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Medical University Of South Carolina
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Spartanburg Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Spartanburg Community College awarded about 74 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Spartanburg Community College earn around $70,419 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,894.
Get the full nursing details for Spartanburg Community College
University Of South Carolina Upstate landed the #6 spot for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. University Of South Carolina Upstate awarded about 221 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Upstate generally make around $75,849. Typical student debt for the program is $26,250.
Get the full nursing details for University Of South Carolina Upstate
Lander University came in at #7 for nursing this year. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 110 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lander University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $78,485 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,665.
Get the full nursing details for Lander University
York Technical College placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 66 nursing degrees were awarded at York Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from York Technical College earn around $68,550 in the first couple years of their career. York Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at York Technical College
Greenville Technical College landed the #9 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 135 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Greenville Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Greenville Technical College earn around $72,879 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,796 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Greenville Technical College
Tri County Technical College earned the #10 position for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 103 nursing degrees were awarded at Tri County Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Tri County Technical College generally make around $73,667. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
Read more about the nursing program at Tri County Technical College
Claflin University earned the #11 position for nursing this year. Claflin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orangeburg. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 nursing degrees were awarded at Claflin University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Claflin University earn a median of $76,590 early in their careers. Claflin University graduates carry a median of $23,819 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Claflin University
Anderson University Sc landed the #12 spot for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Anderson. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 124 nursing degrees were awarded at Anderson University Sc in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Anderson University Sc earn around $90,934 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Anderson University Sc
Midlands Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. Midlands Technical College awarded about 106 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Midlands Technical College earn around $70,571 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,649 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Midlands Technical College
Northeastern Technical College earned the #14 position for nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Cheraw, Northeastern Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 47 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Technical College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Northeastern Technical College earn a median of $68,001 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,933.
See the full nursing program report for Northeastern Technical College
University Of South Carolina Aiken landed the #15 spot for nursing this year. University Of South Carolina Aiken is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Aiken. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 114 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Aiken in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of South Carolina Aiken earn around $72,714 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,500.
Get the full nursing details for University Of South Carolina Aiken
Newberry College came in at #16 for nursing this year. Set in the town of Newberry, Newberry College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Newberry College awarded about 23 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Newberry College generally make around $72,756. Newberry College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Newberry College
Central Carolina Technical College landed the #17 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 98 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Central Carolina Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Central Carolina Technical College earn around $68,914 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,838.
Read more about the nursing program at Central Carolina Technical College
Trident Technical College landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. About 162 nursing degrees were awarded at Trident Technical College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $67,607 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,938 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Trident Technical College
Aiken Technical College came in at #19 for nursing this year. Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Graniteville. Aiken Technical College awarded about 57 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Aiken Technical College earn a median of $72,146 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,200.
See the full nursing program report for Aiken Technical College
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #20 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 126 nursing degrees were awarded at Horry Georgetown Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $66,034 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $32,170 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Horry Georgetown Technical College
University Of South Carolina Beaufort placed #21 among the best nursing schools. University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Bluffton. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. About 47 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Beaufort in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Beaufort generally make around $64,671. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of South Carolina Beaufort
Charleston Southern University placed #22 among the best nursing schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Charleston. Charleston Southern University graduates 47% of students within six years. About 69 nursing degrees were awarded at Charleston Southern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $66,310 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Charleston Southern University
Francis Marion University landed the #23 spot for nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Florence. About 43% of students finish within six years. Francis Marion University awarded about 85 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Francis Marion University earn around $70,110 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Francis Marion University
Technical College Of The Lowcountry placed #24 among the best nursing schools. Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Beaufort. Technical College Of The Lowcountry awarded about 43 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Technical College Of The Lowcountry generally make around $66,628. Typical student debt for the program is $24,719.
More information about a degree in nursing from Technical College Of The Lowcountry
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College placed #25 among the best nursing schools. Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orangeburg. There were roughly 97 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College earn around $72,237 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,900 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Rest of the Top 32 Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong nursing education:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 41 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
