2027 Best Nursing Schools in South Carolina
Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best nursing schools.
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
No school ranked higher than Clemson University this year for nursing. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 268 nursing degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $85,508. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Clemson University
A rank of #2 makes University Of South Carolina Columbia one of the top schools for nursing. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 472 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. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for University Of South Carolina Columbia
Medical University Of South Carolina is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Charleston. There were roughly 324 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Medical University Of South Carolina in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Medical University Of South Carolina earn a median of $96,902 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,043 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Medical University Of South Carolina
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at University Of South Carolina Upstate, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Carolina Upstate awarded about 235 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of South Carolina Upstate earn a median of $75,849 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for University Of South Carolina Upstate
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Spartanburg Community College, which ranked #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Spartanburg Community College awarded about 58 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $70,419 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,894 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Spartanburg Community College
Lander University came in at #6 for nursing this year. Located in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public university. Lander University graduates 50% of students within six years. Lander University awarded about 84 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lander University generally make around $78,485. Lander University graduates carry a median of $25,665 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Lander University
York Technical College landed the #7 spot for nursing this year. York Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. York Technical College awarded about 47 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from York Technical College generally make around $68,550. York Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for York Technical College
Columbia International University placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Columbia International University awarded about 12 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Columbia International University earn a median of $32,296 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Columbia International University
Greenville Technical College placed #9 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public institution. About 96 nursing degrees were awarded at Greenville Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,879 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,796.
Get the full nursing details for Greenville Technical College
Anderson University Sc landed the #10 spot for nursing this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Anderson. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 130 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. Anderson University Sc graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Anderson University Sc
Claflin University earned the #11 position for nursing this year. Set in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Claflin University graduates 52% of students within six years. Claflin University awarded about 61 nursing degrees in the most recent data 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.
Read more about the nursing program at Claflin University
Tri County Technical College landed the #12 spot for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Tri County Technical College awarded about 95 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Tri County Technical College earn around $73,667 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Tri County Technical College
Trident Technical College came in at #13 for nursing this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. About 222 nursing degrees were awarded at Trident Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Trident Technical College earn around $67,607 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,938 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Trident Technical College
Central Carolina Technical College earned the #14 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public university. About 140 nursing degrees were awarded at Central Carolina Technical College in the most recent 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.
Get the full nursing details for Central Carolina Technical College
Midlands Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 109 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Midlands Technical College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $70,571 early in their careers. Midlands Technical College graduates carry a median of $24,649 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Midlands Technical College
University Of South Carolina Aiken earned the #16 position for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a moderately-sized public university. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates 40% of students within six years. University Of South Carolina Aiken awarded about 131 nursing degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for University Of South Carolina Aiken
Newberry College came in at #17 for nursing this year. Located in the town of Newberry, Newberry College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 30 nursing degrees were awarded at Newberry College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Newberry College earn around $72,756 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the nursing program at Newberry College
Coker College landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Set in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Coker College graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 64 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Coker College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Coker College earn around $36,113 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,362 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Coker College
Northeastern Technical College landed the #19 spot for nursing this year. Northeastern Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Cheraw. There were roughly 27 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Northeastern Technical College earn around $68,001 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,933 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Northeastern Technical College
Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach placed #20 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Myrtle Beach, Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach is a small private for-profit institution. Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach awarded about 205 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach generally make around $68,114. Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach graduates carry a median of $34,859 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach
Aiken Technical College came in at #21 for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Graniteville, Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Aiken Technical College awarded about 64 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,146 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,200 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Aiken Technical College
Horry Georgetown Technical College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public university. About 135 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. Horry Georgetown Technical College graduates carry a median of $32,170 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Horry Georgetown Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Orangeburg. There were roughly 117 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. Typical student debt for the program is $19,900.
See the full nursing program report for Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Charleston Southern University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 81 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Charleston Southern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Charleston Southern University generally make around $66,310. Charleston Southern University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Charleston Southern University
Francis Marion University earned the #25 position for nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 nursing degrees were awarded at Francis Marion University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Francis Marion University earn a median of $70,110 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Francis Marion University
Rest of the Top 33 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), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 33 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.
