Top Nursing Schools in South Carolina
This page lists 38 schools in South Carolina that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 15 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 17 associate degree (ADN), 19 bachelor's (BSN), 7 master's and 4 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 27 public, 8 private nonprofit and 3 private for-profit. 28 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Columbia (5), Charleston (4), Conway (2) and Florence (2).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (38)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lander University | Greenwood, SC | Public | BSN | CCNE |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-PMHNP, PhD, PhD-CRNA | CCNE |
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia, SC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Newberry College | Newberry, SC | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Northeastern Technical College | Cheraw, SC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College | Orangeburg, SC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Piedmont Technical College | Greenwood, SC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| South University-Columbia | Columbia, SC | Private for-profit | BSN | — |
| Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg, SC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | Beaufort, SC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Tri-County Technical College | Pendleton, SC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Trident Technical College | Charleston, SC | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken, SC | Public | BSN | CCNE |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | Bluffton, SC | Public | BSN | CCNE |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia, SC | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-CRNA, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-Leadership, DNP-PMHNP, PhD, PhD-CRNA | CCNE |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | Spartanburg, SC | Public | BSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-Leadership | CCNE |
| Williamsburg Technical College | Kingstree, SC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| York Technical College | Rock Hill, SC | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
Before you apply in South Carolina
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of South Carolina. See online coursework and clinical requirements.