Best colleges for Registered Nursing in South Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lander University, Claflin University and University of South Carolina-Upstate are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in South Carolina by graduate earnings. Lander University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,485, College Scorecard. University of South Carolina-Columbia, Medical University of South Carolina and Clemson University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in South Carolina: 472, 324 and 268 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 South Carolina colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 3,676 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lander University Greenwood Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,485 | 84 | 50% | — | $25,665 |
| 2 | Claflin University Orangeburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,590 | 61 | 52% | $23,698 | $23,819 |
| 3 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,849 | 235 | 43% | — | $26,250 |
| 4 | Clemson University Clemson Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,206 | 268 | 87% | — | $23,000 |
| 5 | Anderson University Anderson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,882 | 130 | 66% | $24,812 | $27,000 |
| 6 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,872 | 472 | 79% | — | $24,250 |
| 7 | Bob Jones University Greenville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,493 | 28 | 65% | $18,053 | $26,972 |
| 8 | Newberry College Newberry Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,756 | 30 | 45% | $20,306 | $27,000 |
| 9 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,714 | 131 | 40% | — | $28,500 |
| 10 | Francis Marion University Florence Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,110 | 79 | 43% | — | $29,250 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tri-County Technical College Pendleton Public · Associate degree | $73,667 | 95 | 42% | — | $21,250 |
| 2 | Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg Public · Associate degree | $72,237 | 117 | 32% | — | $19,900 |
| 3 | Aiken Technical College Graniteville Public · Associate degree | $72,146 | 64 | 34% | — | $22,200 |
| 4 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood Public · Associate degree | $69,883 | 80 | 33% | — | $27,250 |
| 5 | Fortis College - Columbia Columbia Private for-profit · Associate degree | $69,200 | 30 | 43% | $30,428 | $42,650 |
| 6 | Central Carolina Technical College Sumter Public · Associate degree | $68,914 | 140 | 34% | — | $20,838 |
| 7 | York Technical College Rock Hill Public · Associate degree | $68,550 | 47 | 30% | — | $12,500 |
| 8 | Trident Technical College Charleston Public · Associate degree | $67,607 | 222 | 30% | — | $30,938 |
| 9 | Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway Public · Associate degree | $66,034 | 135 | 38% | — | $32,170 |
| 10 | Greenville Technical College Greenville Public · Associate degree | $72,879 | 96 | 21% | — | $25,796 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in South Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public | 472 | $73,872 |
| 2 | Medical University of South Carolina Charleston Public | 324 | $68,199 |
| 3 | Clemson University Clemson Public | 268 | $74,206 |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public | 235 | $75,849 |
| 5 | Galen Health Institutes-Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach Private for-profit | 205 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public | 131 | $72,714 |
| 7 | Anderson University Anderson Private not-for-profit | 130 | $73,882 |
| 8 | Lander University Greenwood Public | 84 | $78,485 |
| 9 | Charleston Southern University Charleston Private not-for-profit | 81 | $66,310 |
| 10 | Francis Marion University Florence Public | 79 | $70,110 |
ShowHide the other 27 South Carolina colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in South Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in South Carolina.
Which South Carolina colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
University of South Carolina-Columbia (472 graduates a year), Medical University of South Carolina (324 graduates a year) and Clemson University (268 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 South Carolina colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in South Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Lander University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in South Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,485, College Scorecard. Claflin University and University of South Carolina-Upstate follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Carolina-Columbia is the largest, with 472 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in South Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lander University tops the list at $78,485. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in South Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in South Carolina is $87,670 (median $82,360), across about 49,750 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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