Best colleges for nursing in South Carolina
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in nursing, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for nursing in South Carolina20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in South Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in nursing, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Clemson University
Clemson, SC · PublicHonor Roll#1 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 2
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC · PublicHonor Roll#2 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 3
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · PublicTop 12% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 4
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 5
Anderson University
Anderson, SC · Private nonprofit#9 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 6
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC · Public#14 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 7
Southern Wesleyan University
Central, SC · Private nonprofit#15 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
- 8
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC · Private nonprofit#16 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 9
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC · Public#17 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 10
Lander University
Greenwood, SC · Public#19 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 11
University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, SC · PublicTop 20% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 12
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofit#21 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 13
Francis Marion University
Florence, SC · PublicTop 19% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 14
Newberry College
Newberry, SC · Private nonprofit#25 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 15
Columbia International University
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit#26 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 16
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Bluffton, SC · Public#27 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 17
Coker University
Hartsville, SC · Private nonprofit#29 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 18
Columbia College
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit#30 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 19
South University-Columbia
Columbia, SC · Private for-profit#32 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 20
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC · Public#35 in South Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University | $22,253 | $21,500 | $71,513 | 87% |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | $20,723 | $21,096 | $72,085 | 75% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | $22,811 | $21,500 | $62,177 | 79% |
| Bob Jones University | $16,641 | $16,585 | $44,354 | 65% |
| Anderson University | $23,544 | $26,700 | $42,101 | 66% |
| Coastal Carolina University | $13,966 | $23,750 | $47,258 | 48% |
| Southern Wesleyan University | $15,464 | $26,000 | $47,756 | 52% |
| Claflin University | $17,800 | $29,000 | $40,304 | 52% |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | $13,557 | $22,310 | $48,587 | 43% |
| Lander University | $15,363 | $25,000 | $42,396 | 50% |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | $11,641 | $24,275 | $45,603 | 40% |
| Charleston Southern University | $21,666 | $26,471 | $45,898 | 47% |
| Francis Marion University | $11,386 | $27,000 | $43,888 | 43% |
| Newberry College | $21,656 | $26,805 | $48,040 | 45% |
| Columbia International University | $26,036 | $20,000 | $38,951 | 47% |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | $14,656 | $24,000 | $48,088 | 34% |
| Coker University | $20,286 | $26,000 | $40,117 | 40% |
| Columbia College | $18,408 | $22,750 | $41,338 | 37% |
| South University-Columbia | $27,693 | $26,123 | $34,421 | 23% |
| South Carolina State University | $18,097 | $31,000 | $38,262 | 37% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 16
- Arizona 10
- Arkansas 14
- California 53
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 17
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 35
- Georgia 37
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 33
- Indiana 30
- Iowa 19
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 20
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 9
- Maryland 12
- Massachusetts 24
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 25
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 36
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 10
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 9
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 7
- New York 58
- North Carolina 33
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 64
- Oklahoma 17
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 68
- Puerto Rico 33
- Rhode Island 5
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 31
- Texas 52
- Utah 14
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 24