2027 Best Registered Nursing Schools in South Carolina
Registered Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their registered nursing programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for registered nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Registered Nursing in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall registered nursing education in South Carolina.
Top Schools in Registered Nursing
Leading the list is Clemson University, our #1 school for registered nursing. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 244 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Clemson University earn around $85,508 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
See the full registered nursing program report for Clemson University
A rank of #2 makes University Of South Carolina Columbia one of the top schools for registered nursing. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 300 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $103,138 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of South Carolina Columbia
Medical University Of South Carolina is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #3. Medical University Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Charleston. There were roughly 150 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Medical University Of South Carolina in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $96,902 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,043.
See the full registered nursing program report for Medical University Of South Carolina
University Of South Carolina Upstate is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #4. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. About 43% of students finish within six years. University Of South Carolina Upstate awarded about 233 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of South Carolina Upstate earn around $75,849 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,250.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of South Carolina Upstate
Spartanburg Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Spartanburg. There were roughly 58 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Spartanburg Community College in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $70,419 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,894 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Spartanburg Community College
Lander University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 78 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lander University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Lander University earn around $78,485 in the first couple years of their career. Lander University graduates carry a median of $25,665 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Lander University
York Technical College landed the #7 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 47 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at York Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $68,550 in their early career. York Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for York Technical College
Columbia International University landed the #8 spot for registered nursing this year. Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia International University awarded about 12 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered 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.
See the full registered nursing program report for Columbia International University
Greenville Technical College came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Greenville. There were roughly 96 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Greenville Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Greenville Technical College generally make around $72,879. Typical student debt for the program is $25,796.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Greenville Technical College
Anderson University Sc ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Anderson University Sc awarded about 77 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $90,934 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Anderson University Sc
Claflin University came in at #11 for registered nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Orangeburg. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 45 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Claflin University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Claflin University earn around $76,590 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,819.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Claflin University
Tri County Technical College came in at #12 for registered nursing this year. Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. Tri County Technical College awarded about 95 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Tri County Technical College earn a median of $73,667 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Tri County Technical College
Trident Technical College placed #13 among the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Charleston. About 222 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Trident Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Trident Technical College earn around $67,607 in the first couple years of their career. Trident Technical College graduates carry a median of $30,938 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for Trident Technical College
Central Carolina Technical College earned the #14 position for registered nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Sumter. Central Carolina Technical College awarded about 140 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Central Carolina Technical College earn a median of $68,914 early in their careers. Central Carolina Technical College graduates carry a median of $20,838 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Central Carolina Technical College
Midlands Technical College landed the #15 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 109 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Midlands Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $70,571 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,649.
See the full registered nursing program report for Midlands Technical College
University Of South Carolina Aiken came in at #16 for registered nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Aiken. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates 40% of students within six years. About 131 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Aiken in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Aiken generally make around $72,714. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of South Carolina Aiken
Newberry College earned the #17 position for registered nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Newberry. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Newberry College awarded about 30 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Newberry College earn around $72,756 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Newberry College
Coker College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Coker College awarded about 58 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $36,113 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,362 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Coker College
Northeastern Technical College came in at #19 for registered nursing this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Cheraw. About 27 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Northeastern Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered 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.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Northeastern Technical College
Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach earned the #20 position for registered nursing this year. Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Myrtle Beach. There were roughly 205 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $68,114 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $34,859.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach
Aiken Technical College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Graniteville, Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public university. About 64 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Aiken Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $72,146 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,200.
See the full registered nursing program report for Aiken Technical College
Horry Georgetown Technical College placed #22 among the best registered nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Conway. Horry Georgetown Technical College awarded about 135 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $66,034 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $32,170 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Horry Georgetown Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College came in at #23 for registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Orangeburg, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 117 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College generally make around $72,237. Typical student debt for the program is $19,900.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Charleston Southern University earned the #24 position for registered nursing this year. Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 77 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Charleston Southern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered 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 registered nursing program at Charleston Southern University
Francis Marion University placed #25 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 54 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Francis Marion University in the most recent data year. Registered 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.
See the full registered nursing program report for Francis Marion University
Rest of the Top 33 Registered Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s registered nursing ranking:
More Registered Nursing Rankings
View All Registered 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.