2026 Best Nursing Schools in South Carolina
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in South Carolina? We have ranked 90 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Nursing Degree Search evaluated 78 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in South Carolina
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Trident Technical College to be the best Nursing school in South Carolina. Based in Charleston, SC, Trident Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. The median Nursing program debt is $18,116. See the full Trident Technical College profile
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Clemson University came in at #2 on this year's Nursing ranking in South Carolina. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Read the full report on Clemson University
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Out of the 78 schools in South Carolina in this year's ranking, University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #3 spot. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, SC. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $24,472. See the full University Of South Carolina Columbia profile
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Out of the 78 schools in South Carolina in this year's ranking, Anderson University Sc landed the #4 spot. Based in Anderson, SC, Anderson University Sc is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,970. Graduates carry a median of $28,034 in student loans. Read more about Anderson University Sc
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The strong Nursing programs at University Of South Carolina Upstate earned it the #5 place in South Carolina. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public school based in Spartanburg, SC. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates 43% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,588, with out-of-state students paying around $23,090. Graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. More on University Of South Carolina Upstate
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University Of South Carolina Aiken did well this year, earning the #6 position. University Of South Carolina Aiken is a public school based in Aiken, SC. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,760 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,218. University Of South Carolina Aiken Nursing students take on a median of $27,011 in debt. Get the full University Of South Carolina Aiken report
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Lander University placed #7 among Nursing schools in South Carolina. This public school is set in Greenwood, SC. Lander University posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, with out-of-state students paying around $21,300. Lander University Nursing students take on a median of $26,064 in debt. See the full Lander University profile
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Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This public school is set in Orangeburg, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $5,210, while out-of-state students pay about $8,354. Typical Nursing student debt is $18,583. See the full Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College profile
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Claflin University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Claflin University is a private not-for-profit school based in Orangeburg, SC. About 52% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $17,046. Students borrow a median of $32,111 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Claflin University
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Francis Marion University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Florence, SC. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,170, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $30,577 in student loans. Read more about Francis Marion University
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Bob Jones University landed the #11 spot in South Carolina this year. Located in Greenville, SC, Bob Jones University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,892. The median Nursing program debt is $20,497. More on Bob Jones University
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South University Columbia ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Columbia, SC, South University Columbia is a private for-profit institution. About 21% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,895. Students borrow a median of $48,920 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full South University Columbia report
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Greenville Technical College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Greenville, SC, Greenville Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,495, while out-of-state students pay about $10,775. Greenville Technical College Nursing students take on a median of $16,411 in debt. Get the full Greenville Technical College report
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University Of South Carolina Beaufort did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Bluffton, SC. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,730, compared with $21,776 for out-of-state students. University Of South Carolina Beaufort Nursing students take on a median of $27,971 in debt. More on University Of South Carolina Beaufort
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Florence Darlington Technical College landed the #15 spot in South Carolina this year. Florence Darlington Technical College is a public school based in Florence, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $4,636, while out-of-state students pay about $6,772. Graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. More on Florence Darlington Technical College
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Charleston Southern University did well this year, earning the #16 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charleston, SC. Charleston Southern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,520. Graduates carry a median of $27,569 in student loans. Get the full Charleston Southern University report
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Newberry College placed #17 among Nursing schools in South Carolina. This private not-for-profit school is set in Newberry, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,100. The median Nursing program debt is $27,729. Read more about Newberry College
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Tri County Technical College landed the #18 spot in South Carolina this year. This public school is set in Pendleton, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,448, with out-of-state students paying around $12,007. The median Nursing program debt is $15,787. Read the full report on Tri County Technical College
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Coastal Carolina University placed #19 among Nursing schools in South Carolina. This public school is set in Conway, SC. About 48% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $27,174. See the full Coastal Carolina University profile
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Midlands Technical College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Midlands Technical College is a public school based in West Columbia, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. The median Nursing program debt is $17,611. Read more about Midlands Technical College
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Central Carolina Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Sumter, SC, Central Carolina Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,715, while out-of-state students pay about $9,016. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Central Carolina Technical College
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Spartanburg Community College landed the #22 spot in South Carolina this year. This public school is set in Spartanburg, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Typical Nursing student debt is $10,148. Get the full Spartanburg Community College report
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Aiken Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Graniteville, SC, Aiken Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,174 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,924. Students borrow a median of $17,884 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Aiken Technical College report
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Piedmont Technical College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Greenwood, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $4,775, while out-of-state students pay about $6,923. Piedmont Technical College Nursing students take on a median of $17,652 in debt. More on Piedmont Technical College
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Horry Georgetown Technical College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Conway, SC, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Horry Georgetown Technical College Nursing students take on a median of $19,172 in debt. Get the full Horry Georgetown Technical College report
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Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
York Technical College landed the #26 spot in South Carolina this year. Located in Rock Hill, SC, York Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,036, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Students borrow a median of $10,907 to complete their Nursing program here. More on York Technical College
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Technical College Of The Lowcountry ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Beaufort, SC, Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,916. Technical College Of The Lowcountry Nursing students take on a median of $17,110 in debt. Read the full report on Technical College Of The Lowcountry
Request InformationSouth Carolina State University landed the #28 spot in South Carolina this year. See the full South Carolina State University profile
Request InformationSoutheastern Esthetics Institute landed the #29 spot in South Carolina this year. Read more about Southeastern Esthetics Institute
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Greenville did well this year, earning the #30 position. More on Paul Mitchell The School Greenville
Request InformationSoutheastern Institute Charleston placed #31 among Nursing schools in South Carolina. Read the full report on Southeastern Institute Charleston
Request InformationSpartanburg Methodist College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Spartanburg Methodist College report
Request InformationNorth Greenville University did well this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full North Greenville University report
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Morris College
Morris College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Morris College
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Columbia landed the #35 spot in South Carolina this year. Read more about Paul Mitchell The School Columbia
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Coker College
Coker College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Coker College report
Request InformationKenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Columbia came in at #37 in this year's ranking. See the full Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Columbia profile
Request InformationGalen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach
Request InformationFurman University placed #39 among Nursing schools in South Carolina. Get the full Furman University report
Request InformationTop Of The Line Barber College did well this year, earning the #40 position. More on Top Of The Line Barber College
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Benedict College
Benedict College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Benedict College
Request InformationKenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Florence ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Florence report
Request InformationCharzanne Beauty College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Charzanne Beauty College
Request InformationCollege Of Charleston ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full College Of Charleston report
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Charleston did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Paul Mitchell The School Charleston
Request InformationColumbia College South Carolina placed #46 among Nursing schools in South Carolina. More on Columbia College South Carolina
Request InformationErskine College And Seminary did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Erskine College And Seminary profile
Request InformationKenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill landed the #48 spot in South Carolina this year. Read the full report on Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill
Request InformationPersonal Touch Beauty And Barber College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Personal Touch Beauty And Barber College
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Voorhees College
Voorhees College did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on Voorhees College
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 78 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 90 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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