South Carolina NP Programs at a Glance
| State practice authority | Restricted Practice – NPs practice under physician supervision agreement |
| South Carolina Board of Nursing | South Carolina Board of Nursing |
| South Carolina median NP wage | ~$110,000 (Payscale/BLS, 2024). See South Carolina state OES tables for current detail. |
| National median NP wage | $129,210/year (BLS, May 2024) |
| Projected NP job growth | 46% (2023–2033) nationally – one of the fastest-growing professions |
| Primary accreditors | CCNE · ACEN |
| Common NP specialty tracks | FNP, AGNP (Primary/Acute), PMHNP, PNP, WHNP, NNP |
| Typical program length | 2–3 years (MSN-NP) or 3–4 years (BSN-to-DNP), full-time post-BSN |
Our Editorial Process
This guide is written by a credentialed nurse and reviewed against source-of-truth references at least annually. Program accreditation is verified against the CCNE program directory and ACEN directory. South Carolina licensure information is verified against the South Carolina Board of Nursing. Salary and growth figures come directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics South Carolina data. Read our full editorial standards.
2026 Updates for South Carolina NP Programs
- South Carolina practice authority. South Carolina is a Restricted Practice authority state. NPs must practice under a physician supervision or delegation agreement throughout their career. Bills expanding NP scope have advanced periodically but have not yet shifted South Carolina to full or reduced practice authority.
- BLS data refresh (May 2024 OES). National median NP wage is now $129,210; South Carolina-specific data is published in the South Carolina state OES tables.
- Projected NP job growth. 46% projected employment growth from 2023 to 2033 nationally – one of the fastest-growing occupations the BLS tracks.
- AACN 2025 Position Statement. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reaffirmed the DNP as the preferred terminal degree for advanced practice. BSN-to-DNP and post-master’s DNP pathways continue to be the dominant educational routes for new NPs in South Carolina.
- Telehealth permanence. Federal and state telehealth flexibilities introduced during 2020 have largely been made permanent, expanding remote NP roles across primary care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management.
- PMHNP demand surge. Mental health workforce shortages are particularly acute nationwide; PMHNP-specific job postings have outpaced general NP postings consistently. See our PMHNP career guide.
Some projections predict that the United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians by 2030; 3,230 of these are predicted to be in the state of South Carolina. Currently, 41 counties in the state are designated as health professional shortage areas, meaning there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) can help step in to fill these gaps. In South Carolina, NPs have restricted practice, which means that they must work under the supervision of a physician. But these collaborative relationships still allow them a lot of autonomy in how they can help their patients.
If you’re interested in becoming an NP, here are some of the programs available in the Palmetto State. There are multiple options available, including doctorate programs.
Program Overview:
Anderson University was founded in 1848 as one of the country’s first institutions of higher learning for women. Today, the College of Health Professions offers a number of programs, including two NP options. Students in these programs can gain hands-on experience in the school’s Center for Medical Simulations to prepare for clinical experiences and their future careers. This simulated hospital uses interactive, cutting-edge technology to simulate various conditions in different types of patients.
Students wishing to pursue advanced degrees at Anderson University have two options, an MSN track and a DNP track. Both hybrid programs allow students to complete most classes remotely while only coming to campus a few times throughout the program. Master’s students attend in-person learning for two or three days a semester to interact with classmates and faculty and learn and practice hands-on skills. This program is 47 credits with 600 clinical hours and can be completed in four semesters.
Students in the DNP program are required to come to campus two to three days a semester at the beginning of the program but this may decrease after the first four semesters. This program is 73 credits with 600 clinical hours and is completed in nine semesters.
Program Overview:
Founded in 1889, Clemson University is located in Upstate South Carolina, about halfway between Atlanta, GA, and Charlotte, NC. The School of Nursing in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences offers multiple NP programs, including both master’s and doctorate-level degrees. Students here have access to the school’s Clinical Learning and Research Center, which includes the Clinical Learning Laboratory and Simulation Center.
Clemson offers five NP tracks, two MSN programs (FNP and AGNP) and three DNP programs (FNP, AGNP, PNP). All programs are hybrid, with online courses, on-campus requirements, and in-person clinical experiences. Master’s programs are offered through Clemson’s satellite campus in Greenville, on the campus of Prisma Health. DNP tracks are full-time, 74 credit programs with 1,000 clinical hours.
Program Overview:
Francis Marion University was founded in 1970 and is located in Florence in the northeast part of the state, about 80 miles east of Columbia. The school’s Department of Nursing boasts a 100% pass rate and employment rate for recent graduates of its DNP programs.
If you’re interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner, Francis Marion allows you to pursue a doctorate whether you currently hold a BSN or an MSN. The BSN to DNP program has 70 credit hours and 1,080 clinical hours and has online and in-person classes. Hybrid courses require students to be on campus no more than two days a semester. Note that students in this program do not have the option to opt-out and take the FNP certification exam after completing master’s level courses.
The MSN to DNP option is 30 credit hours and a minimum of 360 clinical hours with all classes being online. The program is designed to be completed in one calendar year, but students can work with their faculty advisor to develop a part-time plan of study if necessary.
Program Overview:
The College of Nursing as the Medical University of South Carolina is the country’s second-oldest nursing school. It was founded in 1882, offering a diploma program that was later phased out when it established a bachelor’s program in 1966, expanding to master’s level education options in 1979.
MUSC offers multiple options for nurses who already hold a BSN and wish to become FNPs, AGNPs, or PNPs, more than any other school in the state. MUSC offers MSN and DNP programs in each specialty (FNP, AGNP, and PNP). BSN to MSN tracks are 60 credits and can be completed in two or three years; they offer completely online programs with in-person clinical hours.
DNP programs are also online with in-person clinical. These 76-credit programs can be completed in three or four years or eight to 11 semesters.
Program Overview:
USC was founded in 1801, survived the Civil War, and flourished. In 190, it achieved university status and continued to advance and grow. Today, the College of Nursing offers innovative learning opportunities for students with the opening of the University of South Carolina and Lexington Medical Center’s satellite clinical education building, where future nurses and NPs get hands-on training using cutting-edge technology, including an immersive simulation center, collaboration spaces, and private study spaces. The school’s AGNP program boasts a 100% certification exam pass rate.
USC offers two NP programs for nurses wishing to pursue careers as either FNPs or AGNPs. Both programs are flexible, with online coursework, on-campus immersions, and in-person clinicals. The FNP program consists of 47 credits, 672 clinical hours, and on-campus immersions in the fourth, fifth, and seventh semesters. The AGNP program has 46 credits, 672 clinical hours, and on-campus immersions in the fourth and seventh semesters.
Educational Routes to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in South Carolina
Five distinct routes appear across the NP schools listed on this page. Each suits a different starting credential and timeline. All five satisfy the South Carolina Board of Nursing APRN-certification requirements when paired with national NP certification.
1. MSN-NP (Most Common Route)
The traditional Master of Science in Nursing with an NP specialty track. Designed for working RNs who already hold a BSN. Typical length: 2 to 3 years full-time or 3 to 4 years part-time, with 500 to 750 clinical hours. South Carolina MSN-NP options span all 5 on-page schools. MUSC and University of South Carolina anchor research-focused tracks; Clemson, Anderson, and Francis Marion run hybrid MSN-FNP coursework.
2. RN-to-MSN Bridge (No BSN Required)
For ADN-prepared RNs who want to skip a separate BSN program. The bridge adds 12 to 18 months of BSN-level coursework before the master’s component begins. In South Carolina, Anderson University and Francis Marion University both offer RN-MSN bridges into NP tracks. The University of South Carolina-Columbia runs a separate RN-to-BSN-to-MSN ladder. Total time-to-degree typically lands at 3 to 4 years. See the broader top RN-to-NP programs ranking.
3. BSN-to-DNP (Doctoral-Entry NP)
Aligned with the AACN’s 2025 DNP position statement. Combines NP-specialty training with terminal-degree coursework over 3 to 4 years and roughly 1,000 clinical hours. 6 South Carolina schools offer a DNP program — see the full South Carolina DNP programs guide for state-specific detail, or online BSN-to-DNP programs for ranked national options.
4. Post-Master’s Certificate (Existing MSN Holders)
For nurses who already hold a master’s-level NP credential and want to add a second specialty — an FNP adding AGNP, an FNP adding PMHNP, etc. Typical length: 12 to 24 months and ~500 clinical hours. South Carolina post-master’s certificate options include Medical University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina, and Clemson. The NP Certifications hub covers the certificate landscape in depth.
5. Accelerated & Direct-Entry (Non-Nursing Bachelor’s)
For career changers with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The student earns an accelerated BSN first (12 to 16 months), then enters an NP master’s or DNP track. South Carolina’s flagship direct-entry options include MUSC’s Accelerated BSN-to-MSN pathway and the University of South Carolina’s Master’s of Science in Nursing entry track. Total time-to-NP-licensure: typically 4 to 5 years from start of accelerated BSN.
Fast & Affordable South Carolina NP Programs (Editorial Picks)
These editorial picks balance time-to-degree, total program cost, and accreditation. All programs listed are CCNE or ACEN accredited and confirmed to currently enroll South Carolina residents.
Fastest South Carolina NP Programs
- Anderson University — MSN-FNP: Hybrid Upstate delivery; 5-semester accelerated full-time option.
- Francis Marion University — MSN-FNP: Florence-based hybrid with year-round cohorts; 24-month track.
- Clemson University — MSN-NP: Compressed full-time option with strong Upstate clinical-site network.
- Medical University of South Carolina — Post-Master’s NP Certificate: 12 to 18 months for current MSN holders adding a South Carolina specialty.
Most Affordable South Carolina NP Programs (In-State Tuition)
- University of South Carolina-Columbia — MSN-NP: Public flagship tuition with strong Midlands clinical network.
- Clemson University — MSN-NP: Public Upstate tuition with one of the lowest published per-credit rates in the state.
- Francis Marion University — MSN-FNP: Public Pee Dee tuition; small cohorts and competitive per-credit rates.
- Medical University of South Carolina — DNP: Public Charleston-based medical university; SC-resident rate is competitive with other public programs.
South Carolina Schools Offering Popular NP Specialties
The matrix below maps South Carolina NP-track schools to the two most-published specialty paths in the state — FNP and DNP entry. Most South Carolina schools lead with FNP at the master’s level; 6 schools offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice option. Each H3 links to the relevant child page.
Family NP (FNP)
The most common specialty in South Carolina. All 5 schools listed on this page offer an FNP track in some format — MSN, BSN-to-DNP, or post-master’s certificate.
- Anderson University
- Clemson University
- Francis Marion University
- Medical University of South Carolina
- University of South Carolina-Columbia
BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s DNP Programs in South Carolina
Aligned with the AACN 2025 DNP position statement. The 6 South Carolina schools below offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. See the dedicated South Carolina DNP programs guide for admissions detail.
- Clemson University
- Anderson University
- University of South Carolina
- Coker University
- Francis Marion University
- Medical University of South Carolina
Nurse Practitioner Programs in South Carolina by City & Region
South Carolina’s 5 featured NP schools cluster across four regions: the Charleston coastal area, the Columbia/Midlands area, the Upstate (Greenville/Anderson/Clemson), and the Pee Dee (Florence area). Coker University in Hartsville offers an additional DNP option.
Charleston Coastal
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston
Columbia / Midlands
- University of South Carolina-Columbia — Columbia
Upstate / Greenville-Anderson-Clemson
- Clemson University — Clemson
- Anderson University — Anderson
Pee Dee
- Francis Marion University — Florence
- Coker University — Hartsville (DNP only)
