A commuter in Lexington, West Columbia, Irmo, or Camden faces the same trade-off: a two-year ADN at a technical college costs far less up front, while a four-year BSN at a university carries more debt but is the credential Midlands hospitals increasingly prefer. Drive time, prerequisites, and clinical placements shape the decision as much as tuition does.
Each school below is a Columbia-area pre-licensure program, ranked by first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and labeled as an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a BSN.
A license gets you hired, but Midlands employers often expect nurses to add a bachelor's degree within a few years.
Where Columbia Nurses Work: Prisma Health, Lexington Medical Center and Beyond
Columbia's nursing graduates rarely need to relocate for their first RN job: the Midlands is anchored by large hospital systems that hire year-round and train new graduates on the same units where they will practice.
The Systems That Anchor the Region
Prisma Health is the largest, with a Midlands footprint of 1,352 beds across seven acute-care and specialty hospitals and 33 residency and fellowship programs affiliated with the USC School of Medicine Columbia.824817 Its Columbia campuses include Prisma Health Richland at 5 Medical Park Road and Prisma Health Baptist at 1301 Taylor Street. Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia is the region's other major independent system, while MUSC Health's Columbia facilities and the Dorn VA Medical Center round out the metro's biggest employers of nurses.
What New Graduates Should Know About Hiring
Prisma Health requires RNs hired after January 1, 2019 to hold an ADN or BSN from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the State Board of Nursing.824815 Its postings list the associate degree as the minimum and the BSN as preferred, so an ADN is enough to be hired, though the bachelor's carries weight in competitive specialty units.
Prisma's nurse residency places hires directly into a specific unit rather than rotating them across several.824816 Published 2026 cohorts include December 7 starts in Neuro ICU, Nephrology, and Med/Surg Tele, and applicants must graduate before October 15, 2026 to be eligible for that cycle.824818 Baptist's 2026 listings show a December 7 Med/Surg resident role, though the system program applies only to designated units and availability follows staffing needs.
Clinicals, Commutes, and the Path to Licensure
Area hospitals host clinical placements for nursing students, so the sites a program can secure often become the units where graduates interview. Lexington, Irmo, Camden, Sumter, and Orangeburg all sit within a reasonable drive of Columbia and each adds employer options.
The sequence is fixed: complete an approved ADN or BSN, pass the NCLEX-RN, then apply. A program with established relationships at Richland, Baptist, or Lexington Medical Center gives you a head start on that final step.
Nursing Schools in Columbia, SC Ranked by NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
Order here follows one question above all: how often a school's graduates pass the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt. The seven programs below are the pre-licensure nursing schools that serve Columbia commuters, and each card shows whether you would earn an ADN or a BSN, what the program involves, and how its graduates have fared on the licensing exam. Accreditation and completion figures settle the close calls.
How we ranked these
- Institution-wide graduation and retention rates
- First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates
- ACEN or CCNE accreditation status
- Program length and credit load
- In-state tuition and average net price
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level NCLEX pass rates from the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
University of South Carolina
#1Columbia, SC · ~$23,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.3% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Honors students wanting a research-heavy BSN
South Carolina's flagship university runs its College of Nursing from the Williams-Brice Building on the Columbia campus, giving BSN students a research-intensive setting that most area programs cannot match. Undergraduates complete pre-nursing sciences in English, history, math, and the basic sciences before moving into upper-division clinical hours and simulation lab work. The college holds two National League for Nursing Center of Excellence designations and reports a 98.3% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over the most recent three years. High-achieving applicants can also pursue the Smart Start Nursing Pathway run with the South Carolina Honors College.
- CCNE accredited and approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing
- Pre-nursing coursework in English, history, math, and basic sciences
- Upper division combines clinical hours with a patient simulation lab
- Two National League for Nursing Center of Excellence designations
- $20 million in grant funding over five years
- Research funding ranked No. 28 nationally by the NIH
- College of Nursing housed in the Williams-Brice Building in Columbia
- Smart Start Nursing Pathway with the South Carolina Honors College
Midlands Technical College
#2West Columbia, SC · $5,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 95.3% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Budget-minded students seeking a low-cost ADN
Midlands Technical College in West Columbia is the area's main associate-degree route into nursing, with an ACEN-accredited ADN that also carries full state board approval. The program runs five semesters across 68 credits with three entry points a year, and its total program tuition is a fraction of what a four-year BSN costs. Licensed practical nurses can enter through a dedicated LPN to ADN transition track. Applications for fall entry are accepted January 15 through May 15, with decisions by mid-June.
- ACEN accredited and approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing
- $14,008 total program tuition
- Five semesters, 68 credit hours, roughly 28 months
- Three start dates a year: fall, spring, and summer
- Simulation lab plus clinicals at affiliated healthcare facilities
- LPN to ADN transition option for licensed practical nurses
- 2.0 GPA minimum plus prerequisite courses
- Fall application window runs January 15 to May 15
Fortis College-Columbia
#3Columbia, SC · $20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 90.5% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Working adults balancing job and school
Fortis College sits on Stoneridge Drive in Columbia and offers a hybrid ADN that pairs campus labs with online coursework, which suits students who need room in their week for work. Licensed practical nurses can fast-track through a dedicated LPN to RN entry path, and the program meets licensure by examination requirements in both South Carolina and North Carolina. Graduates who want to keep going can move into RN to BSN or MSN study through a partner institution. Career services and financial aid are available to students who qualify.
- Hybrid format combining on-campus labs with online coursework
- LPN/LVN entry path for licensed practical nurses
- Prepares students for the NCLEX-RN
- Meets RN licensure by exam requirements in South Carolina and North Carolina
- RN to BSN and MSN pathways through Denver College of Nursing
- Career services for graduates and financial aid for those who qualify
- Campus located at 246 Stoneridge Drive in Columbia
South University-Columbia
#4Columbia, SC · $25,000 – $30,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 88.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
South University's Columbia campus runs a two-step BSN: general university admission first, then a competitive professional phase with a TEAS exam and a 3.0 GPA threshold. The professional sequence totals 180 credits across seven quarters, with a dedicated NCLEX-RN review course in the final term. Clinical placements draw on Lexington Medical Center, Prisma Health, MUSC Columbia, and NHC Healthcare Parklane. A separate RN to BSN completion option is available for nurses who already hold a license.
- Two-step admission: general university entry, then the professional phase
- TEAS entrance exam and a 3.0 GPA minimum
- 180 total credit hours; professional phase spans seven quarters
- Prerequisites can be completed in as few as six quarters
- NCLEX-RN review course in the final quarter
- Simulation labs paired with supervised clinical practice
- Clinical partners include Lexington Medical Center and Prisma Health
Columbia International University
#5Columbia, SC · $26,000/yr (est. net price)
Columbia International University teaches nursing through a faith-based lens, tying clinical coursework to community health, vulnerable populations, and leadership. The 129-credit BSN is campus-based and CCNE accredited, and graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Faculty mentoring and ethical decision-making are built into the curriculum rather than treated as add-ons. Students who want to practice abroad can follow an international missions nursing pathway.
- CCNE accredited, 129 total credit hours
- Faith-integrated curriculum built on a biblical worldview
- Coursework in vulnerable populations, leadership, and community health
- International missions nursing pathway
- Campus-based delivery with faculty mentoring
- Eligible for RN licensure after graduation
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
#6Orangeburg, SC · $5,000 – $8,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 82.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is a smaller technical-college option in Orangeburg, about 40 road miles south of downtown Columbia, so it suits readers who can commit to a longer commute. Its ACEN-accredited ADN uses a single fall start, with face-to-face classes up to two days a week and labs or clinicals up to two days a week. Applicants need an existing CNA, EMT, MA, paramedic, or PCT credential, which makes the program a natural fit for working healthcare staff. The college reports annual job placement between 95% and 100% and holds RN to BSN articulation agreements.
- ACEN accredited with a single fall admission
- Five semesters, 68 total credit hours
- Face-to-face classes up to two days weekly plus lab and clinical days
- Requires a CNA, EMT, MA, paramedic, or PCT credential to apply
- Nursing courses require a 79.5% average to continue
- Reports 95% to 100% job placement annually
- RN to BSN articulation agreements available
- Some clinical placements require out-of-town travel
Southeastern College-Columbia
#7Columbia, SC · ~$32,000/yr (est.)
Southeastern College runs an associate nursing program on a Columbia campus that accepts students with no prior healthcare background, making it one of the more open entry points in the metro. The roughly 25-month, 72.5-credit program blends on-campus and hybrid delivery, and current LPNs can enter through transitional enrollment. Core coursework covers fundamentals, pharmacology, maternity, pediatric, and adult health nursing with clinical placements in hospitals, long-term care, and community settings. Clinical sites can sit as far as 100 miles from campus, so students should plan for travel.
- About 25 months and 72.5 total credit hours
- On-campus and hybrid delivery
- No prior healthcare background required to start
- Transitional enrollment for current LPN license holders
- TEAS entrance exam with a 3.0 GPA minimum
- Clinical sites may be up to 100 miles from campus
- Only one core course retake allowed
ADN vs. BSN Programs Near Columbia: Cost, Length, and Fit
Near Columbia, you can reach the NCLEX-RN by two pre-licensure routes: an associate degree in nursing (ADN) at a technical college, or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) at a university. Both qualify you to sit for the licensing exam. They differ in time, cost, how you get in, and where your career can go.
How the Two Routes Compare
- Credential: The ADN route earns an associate degree (Midlands Technical College awards a Registered Nurse Associate in Applied Science).1 The BSN route earns a bachelor's degree.
- Length: An ADN is the shorter path, since it is an associate-level degree. A BSN is generally a four-year bachelor's program, unless you enter through an accelerated option.
- Cost: Technical colleges usually charge less per credit, and Midlands Technical College offers lower rates to in-district residents of Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties. Current tuition and net price for the schools here are in the cost table below.
- Career ceiling: An ADN gets you licensed and working. Hospital leadership roles and graduate study typically call for a BSN or higher, which is why many ADN graduates add an RN-to-BSN later.
How ADN Admission Works Locally
Midlands Technical College uses a competitive application. Prerequisites are ENG 101, PSY 201, BIO 210, and MAT 110 or higher.2 No prerequisite grade can fall below a C, and you cannot earn below a C in the same prerequisite more than once or in more than two prerequisite courses. A 2.0 GPA is the minimum. BIO 210 and the math course must be completed within five years of starting nursing coursework. For 2026, the fall application window ran January 15 to May 15, with decisions by mid-June.3 Spring and summer windows follow different dates, so confirm the cycle you are targeting.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College handles its ADN separately. Its Fall 2026 window opened April 6 and closed May 14, with notification by June 26, and applicants complete a college placement test.4 Central Carolina Technical College lists its nursing program as ADN/ASN, with general admission open to applicants 18 or older or with a high school diploma or GED, plus an official transcript.5 Check its nursing page for current dates.
Online Is Not an Option for Licensure
Both routes require in-person clinical hours at hospitals and care sites. No pre-licensure nursing program in Columbia is fully online, so a search for an online option will not turn up a licensure route. Online study applies mainly after you are licensed, such as in RN-to-BSN programs.
Which Fits You
Choose the ADN if you want the fastest, lowest-cost route to an RN license and plan to finish an RN-to-BSN while you work. Choose the BSN if you are aiming for hospital-system leadership or graduate study.
Lowest-Cost Nursing Schools in Columbia, SC: Tuition and Net Price
The table below orders Columbia-area nursing schools by average net price after aid, drawn from 2024 IPEDS and College Scorecard data, which reflects what a typical student at the whole institution pays after grants and scholarships, not a quote for the nursing program itself. Midlands Technical College, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College and Fortis College-Columbia each report Pell Grant shares near 80 percent or higher, a sign that these campuses routinely package need-based aid and that lower-income students often pay well below the published price. Whatever school you choose, budget beyond tuition for program and lab fees, uniforms and equipment, background checks, NCLEX registration and South Carolina licensure costs.
| School | City | Degree | Annual In-State Tuition and Fees | Average Net Price After Aid (Institution-Wide) | Pell Grant Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia, SC | ADN | $5,100 | $4,647 | 79.8% |
| Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College | Orangeburg, SC | ADN | $5,210 | $6,186 | 91.2% |
| Fortis College-Columbia | Columbia, SC | ADN | $14,777 | $20,404 | 91.1% |
| University of South Carolina | Columbia, SC | BSN | $12,688 | $22,811 | 42.7% |
| Columbia International University | Columbia, SC | BSN | $27,900 | $26,036 | 63.8% |
LPN to RN Bridge Options at Midlands Community Colleges
A working LPN can finish an ADN near Columbia faster by entering a bridge track. At Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCtech), the ADN Flex track for LPNs runs three semesters, about 12 months, because 15 credits are awarded as advanced placement. Midlands Technical College (MTC) also offers a Transition Nursing: LPN to ADN path built on advanced placement.
Entry Requirements
- MTC Transition Nursing: an active, unrestricted SC or compact LPN license, a 2.0 minimum GPA, and the prerequisites ENG 101, PSY 201, BIO 210, and MAT 110 or higher. Prerequisite courses must be no more than five years old.
- OCtech ADN Flex: a current active LPN license, a 3.0 minimum GPA, all general-education courses completed, and a grade of at least 80% in each.
- MTC Direct-Entry LPN to ADN: reserved for recent MTC practical nursing graduates, with starts every semester.
Fortis College Columbia also lists an Associate Degree in Nursing with an LPN/LVN entry path. Ask its admissions office how credit is applied.
Schedules and Commutes
OCtech delivers ADN Flex both online and face-to-face, which helps shift workers. Fewer campus trips help if you commute from Columbia to Orangeburg, though clinical placements still run on set days. Confirm the current cohort schedule (day or evening) with each school before you request shift changes at work.
Plan Around Limited Starts
The timing is tight, so plan ahead.
- MTC Transition Nursing starts only in fall. The 2026 application window ran January 15 through May 15, so expect a similar spring deadline.
- OCtech ADN Flex starts only in spring, so finish prerequisites and confirm your grades well before then.
Missing a window means waiting a full year. Finish prerequisites first, then apply on the earliest date.
LPN to RN Programs Near Columbia
The directory below picks up the LPN to RN bridge discussion above, listing each LPN to ADN program in the Columbia area with its location, credential, and format. Each entry links to the school's own nursing program page so you can check admission requirements and start dates directly with the college.
- LPN to ADN Flex Option
- Transition Nursing
First-Year Earnings for Columbia-Area Nursing Graduates
Bachelor's graduates from Columbia campuses posted the strongest early paychecks, with associate-degree completers close behind.
RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Columbia, SC
If you already hold an RN license, this section is for you. The University of South Carolina runs an online RN to BSN that is asynchronous, and RN to BSN coursework at the schools below is commonly delivered online, which is what most licensed nurses in the Columbia area are looking for. For South Carolina options beyond the bachelor's, the site's RN to BSN, MSN and nurse practitioner program pages map out the full set of advanced pathways.
- RN to BSN
- RN to BSN
- RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Columbia, SC
If you already hold an RN license and are weighing advanced practice, the nurse practitioner program pages on registerednursing.org can help you sort role options before you apply. The Columbia-area options below pair master's-level NP tracks with doctoral pathways, and coursework runs largely online with clinical hours arranged near home.
- Master of Science in Nursing with a Specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN with a Specialization in Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse Educator
- Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse Administrator
- Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Informatics
- Nursing Education
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- MSN in Nursing Informatics
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Family Nursing Practitioner: Nursing Practice, D.N.P.
- Executive Healthcare Leadership (Nursing Practice)
- Nurse Midwifery - DNP
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Expert: Nursing Practice
- Executive Healthcare Leadership: Nursing Practice
- Family Nursing Practitioner: Nursing Practice (Family Nurse Practitioner)
South Carolina RN Licensure at a Glance
How to Become a Nurse in Columbia, SC in Five Steps
Most Columbia-area nurses follow the same basic path from prerequisites to a first RN job. The biggest variable is program length: an ADN typically takes about two years, while a BSN takes about four.
Comprehensive List of Nursing Schools Near Columbia, SC
7 schools within 35 miles, grouped by city. Select a program to see its highlights, and use the Website link for the school's own program page.
Columbia, SC
Columbia International University
Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- CCNE accredited
- 129 total credit hours
- Eligible for RN licensure
- Faith-integrated nursing curriculum
- Campus-based program
- Diverse career opportunities
- Experienced faculty mentors
- Next start: August 24
On-Campus · Website
Fortis College-Columbia
Associate - Associate Degree in Nursing
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Financial aid available
- LPN/LVN entry path available
- Hybrid on-campus and online courses
- Career services for graduates
- RN to BSN pathway through DCN
On-Campus · Website
South University-Columbia
Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 180 total credit hours
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Simulation labs and clinical practice
On-Campus · Website
Southeastern College-Columbia
Associate - Nursing
- ACEN accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 25-Month program
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- On-campus classes available
On-Campus · Website
University of South Carolina
Bachelor's - Nursing, B.S.N.
- CCNE accredited
- Prepares for NCLEX
- Top 1% NCLEX pass rate
- Two NLN Center of Excellence designations
- $20 million in grant funding
- Research funding ranks No. 28 nationally
- State-of-the-art patient simulation lab
On-Campus · Website
Orangeburg, SC
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Associate - Associate Degree in Applied Science Nursing (ADN)
- ACEN accredited
- 5-Semester program
- 68 total credit hours
- 1 start dates per year
- Starts fall
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Fall admission only
- Face-to-face classes up to 2 days weekly
On-Campus · Website
West Columbia, SC
Midlands Technical College
Associate - Registered Nurse (ADN)
- ACEN accredited
- $14,008 total program tuition
- 28-Month program
- Complete in 5 semesters (28 months)
- 68 total credit hours
- 3 start dates per year
- Starts fall/spring/summer
- 96% licensure pass rate
On-Campus · Website
Program data from the schools and the National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS).