Thirteen of South Carolina's technical colleges enrolled practical nursing cohorts capped at 24 to 40 students each in 2026, a bottleneck that has left waitlists common at programs in Columbia, Greenville, and Sumter even as hospitals and long-term care facilities keep hiring. Tuition at these public programs runs a fraction of what private diploma schools charge, but seat scarcity means timing an application matters as much as picking a school.
That scarcity is why NCLEX-PN pass rates anchor the rankings here, with programmatic accreditation and completion rates settling any close calls between schools.
For most applicants, the real decision comes down to balancing a program's cost against how quickly it moves you toward a paycheck, since both factors shape return on investment more than reputation alone.
South Carolina's Top LPN Programs by NCLEX-PN Performance
South Carolina's strongest practical nursing programs tend to share a few things: hands-on clinical time built into the curriculum, small cohorts with close faculty attention, and licensure outcomes that hold steady year after year. The 13 programs below reach from the Lowcountry to the Upstate, so where you live and how you plan to study can matter as much as the school's reputation.
How we ranked these
- Graduation and completion rates
- Student retention rates
- NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates
- Accreditation standing and approvals
- Program cost and net price
- IPEDS institutional survey data from NCES covering graduation rates, retention rates and student-faculty ratios — nces.ed.gov
- NCLEX first-time pass rates published by the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- Internal program database
- Independent editorial research
Central Carolina Technical College
Central Carolina Technical College is the practical nursing option for students in Sumter and the surrounding eastern Midlands, with classroom instruction and planned clinical experiences built into a 48-credit diploma. Training takes place at the Health Sciences Center in downtown Sumter, where nursing students share high-fidelity simulation space with the college's other health programs. The program is approved by the SC LLR Board of Nursing and is a candidate for initial ACEN accreditation, so graduates are prepared for NCLEX-PN licensure in South Carolina.
- ACEN candidate status for initial accreditation
- 48 total credit hours
- Approved by the SC LLR Board of Nursing
- Classroom instruction plus planned clinical experiences
- Prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN exam
- Competitive entry process
- Campus-based program at the Sumter Health Sciences Center
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry serves Beaufort and the coastal counties with a one-year practical nursing diploma split between the Beaufort and New River campuses. The 42-credit program runs full time in a day format with a fall start, and admission gives preference to residents of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. The college is ACEN accredited, reports a 100 percent NCLEX-PN pass rate across five consecutive years, and offers an LPN-to-ADN pathway for graduates who want to keep advancing.
- ACEN accredited
- 42 total credit hours completed in one year
- Full-time day classes with a fall start
- Reported 100 percent NCLEX-PN pass rate over five years
- SC Lottery Tuition Assistance eligible
- Campus locations in Beaufort and New River
- LPN to ADN pathway available
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
York Technical College
York Technical College delivers its practical nursing diploma from the Chester Center, with clinical rotations assigned across York, Chester, and Lancaster counties, including rural and community agencies. The program is ACEN accredited and approved by the SC Board of Nursing, and admission runs on a limited-enrollment, first-qualified first-served basis with a TEAS entrance exam. Applicants should plan ahead for the science coursework requirements, since anatomy and physiology grades are held to a higher standard than the general 2.0 GPA minimum.
- ACEN accredited
- Limited enrollment with a first-qualified, first-served waitlist
- TEAS entrance exam required
- 2.0 GPA minimum for admission
- Based at the Chester Center
- Clinical rotations across York, Chester, and Lancaster counties
- B or better in BIO 210, BIO 211, and BIO 225 within two attempts
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College offers its practical nursing diploma face to face at the Easley Campus, with day and evening class options that make it workable for Upstate students juggling jobs. The ACEN-accredited curriculum covers nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, and maternal-child health, with hands-on training in real care settings. Major nursing courses start in both fall and spring, and students finish in two semesters plus a summer term.
- ACEN accredited
- Face-to-face instruction at the Easley Campus
- Day and evening class options
- Major nursing courses start in fall and spring
- Completed in two semesters plus one summer term
- Financial aid available
- Prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN exam
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Northeastern Technical College
Northeastern Technical College trains practical nurses in Cheraw and serves the northeastern corner of the state, with plans to extend the program into Dillon County. The diploma runs two semesters plus a summer term for 48 total credits and blends classroom instruction with clinical training. Admission is competitive and uses a points system that weighs TEAS scores, prerequisite grades, and residency, and the college offers an LPN-to-ADN transition pathway for graduates.
- Entrance exam required (TEAS)
- 48 total credit hours across two semesters and a summer
- Approved by the SC Board of Nursing
- Competitive admissions using a points system
- Classroom instruction combined with clinical training
- LPN to ADN transition pathway available
- Criminal background check required
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College runs two routes into practical nursing: a Traditional track with face-to-face classes and labs, and a FLEX model that pairs online lectures with on-site lab, clinical, and testing days for working adults who already hold prior medical coursework. The ACEN-accredited program starts in both fall and spring, and graduates commonly move into local hospitals, clinics, and long-term care employers in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.
- ACEN accredited
- Traditional and FLEX tracks
- FLEX combines online lectures with on-site labs and clinicals
- Fall and spring start dates
- Prepares graduates for the PN board exam
- Clinical practice in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Piedmont Technical College
Piedmont Technical College is one of the most selective practical nursing options in the state, admitting 32 students per cohort across its Greenwood and Laurens campuses. The three-semester diploma covers fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, and care of the older adult, with clinical placements tied to whichever campus a student enters. Fall cohorts start at the Lex Walters Campus in Greenwood and spring cohorts at Laurens.
- Three-semester, 46-credit program
- Entrance exam required (TEAS)
- 3.0 GPA minimum for admission
- Cohorts limited to 32 students
- Fall start in Greenwood, spring start in Laurens
- Approved by the SC Board of Nursing
- LPN to ADN transition pathway available
Practical Nursing Diploma (D.A.S.) — On-Campus
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Horry-Georgetown Technical College serves the Grand Strand with an ACEN-accredited practical nursing diploma offered across its Conway, Grand Strand, and Georgetown campuses. The curriculum spans fundamentals of nursing, medical-surgical nursing, maternal and child nursing, and pharmacology, with clinical rotations in hospitals, clinics, and extended care settings. Admission is competitive and requires the TEAS along with a minimum 2.5 GPA in prerequisite coursework.
- ACEN accredited
- Entrance exam required (TEAS)
- 48 total credit hours
- 2.5 GPA minimum
- Clinical rotations in hospitals, clinics, and extended care
- Coursework includes medical-surgical nursing and pharmacology
- Advanced placement options for current nursing students
Nursing PN Diploma — On-Campus
Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College is the Columbia-area path into practical nursing, with a three-semester diploma built around skills labs and a simulation lab on the Airport Campus in West Columbia. The ACEN-accredited program starts three times a year and places students in clinical experiences at local health care facilities. Students must hold a 2.0 cumulative GPA and earn a B or higher in each nursing course, and an LPN-to-ADN transition is available for those who want to keep going.
- ACEN accredited
- Three-semester, 44-credit program
- Three start dates per year, fall, spring, and summer
- 2.0 GPA minimum with a B or higher in each nursing course
- State-of-the-art simulation lab
- LPN to ADN transition available
- Background check, drug screen, and CPR certification required
Practical Nursing (LPN) Diploma — On-Campus
Williamsburg Technical College
Williamsburg Technical College in Kingstree trains practical nurses for the rural health care workforce of Williamsburg County and the surrounding Pee Dee region. The 40-week diploma combines classroom theory, lab practice, and clinical rotations in medical-surgical, obstetric, pediatric, geriatric, and community settings. Cohorts are small and the college runs one of the lowest student-to-faculty ratios among South Carolina's technical colleges.
- Entrance exam required (TEAS score of 60 or higher)
- 40-week, 48-credit program
- 2.0 GPA minimum
- Clinicals in medical-surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric settings
- Small cohorts with a low student to faculty ratio
- Criminal background check and CPR certification required
Diploma in Health Science Practical Nursing — On-Campus
Florence-Darlington Technical College
Florence-Darlington Technical College offers a 16-month practical nursing diploma that combines day classes with clinical experiences across the Pee Dee region. The 48-credit curriculum covers medical terminology, fundamentals of nursing, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, and maternal and child nursing, and the program is approved by the SC Board of Nursing. Applicants must complete prerequisite biology coursework, take the TEAS, and attend a Career Talk before admission.
- 16-month, 48-credit program
- Entrance exam required (TEAS)
- 2.0 GPA minimum
- Approved by the SC Board of Nursing
- Fall start with day classes
- Career Talk attendance required before admission
- Prerequisite: BIO 112 or BIO 210 and 211
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College's campus-based practical nursing diploma prepares students for beginning-level staff nurse roles under the direction of a registered nurse or physician. The college says the program is in candidacy for ACEN accreditation, signaling a program still building out its national accreditation record. Graduates can ladder into the college's associate degree nursing and bridge options rather than starting over elsewhere.
- In candidacy for ACEN accreditation
- Campus-based practical nursing diploma
- Prepares graduates for entry-level staff nurse roles
- Work under RN or physician supervision
- Bridge pathways to associate degree nursing
- Prepares graduates for hospitals, clinics, and long-term care
Practical Nursing Diploma — On-Campus
Denmark Technical College
Denmark Technical College is a historically Black college serving rural Bamberg County and the surrounding region with a three-semester practical nursing diploma. The 48-credit curriculum runs fall, spring, and summer and includes fundamentals of nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing I through III, pharmacology, nursing care of the family, and nursing of the older adult. Students complete clinical rotations at partner health care sites and must maintain health compliance, current CPR certification, and malpractice insurance throughout.
- Entrance exam required (TEAS)
- Three-semester, 48-credit diploma
- Fall start
- 2.5 GPA minimum for admission
- Coursework includes Medical Surgical Nursing I, II, and III
- Clinical rotations at partner health care sites
- CPR certification and malpractice insurance required
Diploma in Practical Nursing — On-Campus
Most Affordable LPN Programs in South Carolina
The net prices below reflect institution-wide averages after financial aid, not program-specific tuition quotes. Your actual cost will depend on residency status, credit load, and the aid package you receive. Notably, the majority of students at these schools receive Pell Grants: four of the five colleges have Pell recipient shares above 79%, signaling that most enrollees qualify for substantial need-based federal aid. Out-of-state tuition can run roughly 50% to nearly three times the in-state rate, so confirming your residency status early is worth the effort.
| School | City | Net Price (Avg. After Aid) | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Pell Grant Recipients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | $2,004 | $4,636 | $6,772 | 91% |
| Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | $2,405 | $5,071 | $10,135 | 92% |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | Conway | $4,159 | $4,468 | $8,836 | 79% |
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | $4,647 | $5,100 | $14,700 | 80% |
| Central Carolina Technical College | Sumter | $5,571 | $5,715 | $9,016 | 92% |
Fastest LPN Programs in South Carolina, Are 6-Month Programs Real?
"Are there 6 month LPN programs near me?" It's one of the most common searches we see, and the honest answer for South Carolina is no, not in the way most people picture it. Every accredited practical nursing program in the state runs closer to 12 months, with several stretching to 16 months once prerequisites and clinical rotations are counted, the reality behind our Fastest LPN/LVN Programs of 2026 guide.
What "Accelerated" Actually Means Here
No South Carolina technical college compresses the LPN curriculum itself. Midlands Technical College's practical nursing diploma completes in two semesters, roughly 900 hours and 28 credits of nursing coursework, but it's a full-time day track, not a shortened one. Technical College of the Lowcountry's program finishes in about one year across 42 credit hours with full-time day classes. Central Carolina Technical College's practical nursing program (46 semester hours), Horry-Georgetown Technical College, and Tri-County Technical College all run three semesters, typically fall, spring, and a summer term, which is the closest South Carolina gets to a calendar-year sprint.12 Florence-Darlington Technical College's program spans 16 months across three semesters.3 "Accelerated" in this context means consecutive terms with no long break, not a shorter curriculum.
Evening, Weekend, and Alternative Formats
True evening or weekend classroom tracks are scarce. Greenville Technical College confirms it does not offer an evening program. Spartanburg Community College is the exception, listing Spartanburg Community College's evening-and-weekend format spanning 58 academic weeks across four consecutive terms and 49 credits, worth investigating directly if a nontraditional schedule is essential. Tri-County Technical College also offers a hybrid, self-directed option alongside its standard day track. Regardless of format, expect clinical placements at York Technical College and similar programs to fall on mornings, afternoons, evenings, or weekends, since patient-care hours don't follow a 9-to-5 schedule.4
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rates at South Carolina Nursing Schools
South Carolina's LPN programs posted an exceptional collective first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate of 97.1% in 2024, drawing from 651 exam takers statewide. That result landed nearly nine points above the national average of 88.4%. According to the SC Commission on Higher Education, every practical nursing program in the state achieved at least a 90% pass rate in 2024, with nine programs reaching a perfect 100%. Program-level data for 2023 and 2025 is maintained by the SC Board of Nursing on its statistics page but has not been published in a format available for independent verification at this time; those columns are noted accordingly below.
| School Name | 2023 Pass Rate | 2024 Pass Rate | 2025 Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark Technical College | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| ECPI Technical College | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| Academy for Careers and Technology (Marion County) | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| Midlands Technical College | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| Northeastern Technical College | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| Piedmont Technical College | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| Trident Technical College | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| Williamsburg Technical College | Not yet verified | 100% | Not yet verified |
| Statewide Average (South Carolina) | Not yet verified | 97.1% | Not yet verified |
| National Average (United States) | Not yet verified | 88.4% | Not yet verified |
How We Scored South Carolina LPN Programs
Alphabetical listings and ad-driven placements tell you nothing about program quality. Our ranking methodology prioritizes measurable outcomes that directly affect your licensure success.
Weighting That Reflects What Matters
Approximately 75% of each program's composite score comes from NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates, calculated as a takers-weighted average across the most recent three years of available data. This approach prevents a single strong or weak year from distorting results and gives more statistical weight to programs graduating larger cohorts. The remaining portion of the score incorporates accreditation status and completion or retention rates, which signal whether students finish what they start.
Where the Data Comes From
NCLEX-PN pass rates are sourced from the South Carolina Board of Nursing's annual reports. Completion and retention figures come from IPEDS and College Scorecard, federal databases that standardize institutional reporting. Accreditation status is verified through ACEN records and state approval documentation.
What Appears for Context, Not Ranking
You'll see net price estimates and early-career earnings on individual program cards. These figures help you compare affordability and potential return on investment, but they do not influence a school's position in the ranking. We believe licensure outcomes should drive the list, while cost and salary data inform your personal decision-making alongside it.
From Application to First Shift: How Long It Takes to Become an LPN in South Carolina
The path from prospective student to working LPN is more predictable than many people assume. While individual timelines vary, most candidates in South Carolina can move from initial application to their first clinical shift as a licensed LPN within roughly 14 to 20 months. Students who already hold a CNA credential or have completed college-level anatomy and English courses can often shorten the early phase significantly.
LPN Licensure Steps in South Carolina
What exactly do you need to do after finishing your LPN program to legally practice in South Carolina?
The process involves the SC Board of Nursing, Pearson VUE, and a criminal background check, and each piece has to fall into place before you can start your first shift.
Apply Through the SC Board of Nursing
All initial LPN license applications are submitted online through SC LLR's eServices portal. You will need to upload identity and lawful-presence documents such as a valid driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, or military ID, along with your Social Security card or Resident Alien Registration. Foreign-educated applicants must also provide a copy of the nursing license from their country of original licensure and a TOEFL score from a Board-approved provider.
A criminal history background check is required under Section 40-33-25 of the Nurse Practice Act. Plan for this step to add processing time; you cannot receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) until the Board clears your application and forwards eligibility to Pearson VUE.
Register for the NCLEX-PN
Once the Board confirms your eligibility, you register for the NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE and can start reviewing the NCLEX-PN Practice Test Questions. After registration and payment, Pearson VUE issues your ATT, which allows you to schedule a testing appointment. Most candidates receive their ATT within a few weeks of Board approval, though processing times can vary.
Multi-State Practice Under the eNLC
South Carolina is a member of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary state of residence is South Carolina and you meet compact requirements, a single multi-state license lets you practice in all other eNLC member states without obtaining additional licenses.
Keeping Your License Current
South Carolina renews LPN licenses on a biennial cycle; the current period runs 2024 to 2026. To renew, you must demonstrate continued competency during the preceding two years by completing one of the following:
- 30 contact hours from a Board-recognized continuing education provider
- Maintenance or re-certification through a Board-recognized national certifying body
- Completion of a nursing or related academic program recognized by the Board, such as LPN to RN programs in SC
- An approved alternative competency pathway
You do not need to submit competency documentation with your renewal application, but you should retain records in case of an audit.
What LPNs Earn Across South Carolina
The median hourly wage for South Carolina's roughly 9,080 licensed practical nurses was $24.05 in the most recent statewide labor data, with the average worker earning closer to $24.55 an hour, or about $51,060 a year. Detailed 25th and 75th percentile breakdowns for the state as a whole aren't published, so the real spread between entry-level and veteran LPN pay is wider than a single median suggests.
Metro-by-Metro Differences
Columbia offers the clearest local snapshot: roughly 1,620 LPNs there earned a median hourly wage of $27.72, pushing the mean above $58,000 annually, noticeably higher than the statewide figure. Charleston, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach don't yet have detailed LPN wage figures published at the metro level, so prospective students in those markets should treat statewide numbers as the best available benchmark until more granular data comes out.
How SC Stacks Up Nationally
A separate, more recent estimate puts South Carolina's average LPN pay at $61,820 annually ($29.72 an hour), noticeably higher than the older statewide BLS figures above, a reminder that different wage surveys use different methodologies and shouldn't be blended. Older regional BLS data from 2017 showed the national mean annual wage at $44,840, with every South Carolina metro tracked at the time falling below that mark, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort was lowest at $37,580. That gap has likely narrowed given nursing shortages since, but it's dated context rather than a current comparison.
Program-Level Earnings Data
Most ranked South Carolina LPN programs don't yet have published post-completion earnings figures tied specifically to their practical nursing diploma. Where a school advertises a specific median earnings figure, it typically reflects the statewide LPN average rather than outcomes unique to that program, so treat those claims as regional context, not a promise.
Advancing Your Career: LPN-To-RN Bridge Options in South Carolina
Once you hold an active LPN license, several South Carolina technical colleges offer structured pathways to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing and sit for the NCLEX-RN. Most of these bridge tracks grant advanced placement so you can skip early semesters of the traditional ADN curriculum, though the exact entry point and total timeline vary by institution , factors worth weighing when choosing the right LPN/LVN bridge program.
Schools With Established Bridge Pathways
The following colleges maintain formal LPN-to-ADN options as of 2026:
- Midlands Technical College: The Transition Nursing major requires roughly 50 credit hours. Applicants must hold an active South Carolina or compact PN license and have graduated from an ACEN-accredited practical nursing program. A Direct-Entry option is available to Midlands PN graduates who return within 13 months of their last clinical course.
- Greenville Technical College: Experienced LPNs enter at the third semester of the ADN sequence, potentially completing the bridge in two to three semesters of nursing coursework.
- Aiken Technical College: LPNs complete a transition course plus six nursing courses across three semesters, one of the few programs with a clearly published timeline.
- Spartanburg Community College: Requires the TEAS entrance exam and BIO 210 before bridge admission.
- Central Carolina Technical College: Offers an accelerated LPN-to-ADN option leading to an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing.
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College: An Advanced Placement ADN track open to LPNs and paramedics.
- Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College: A flex-format bridge designed around working nurses' schedules.
- Williamsburg Technical College: A transition program for LPNs with valid, active licenses.
What About Online Bridge Programs?
No fully online LPN-to-RN program currently operates in South Carolina. State licensure requires supervised clinical hours, so every bridge pathway includes in-person lab and clinical components. Some colleges blend online didactic coursework with on-site clinicals, but expect to be on campus regularly.
Choosing a Bridge That Fits
If your LPN program is housed at a college that also runs an ADN bridge, the transition is often smoother because prerequisite coursework transfers internally. If your school does not offer a bridge, confirm with the receiving college that your PN credits will be accepted and check whether they impose a recency requirement on prior coursework , and weigh the LPN to RN Salary Comparison & Job Outlook before committing.
LPN Program Questions Answered
Below are two of the most common questions prospective students ask about entering a practical nursing program in South Carolina. The answers reflect current admission standards, though exact requirements can differ from one school to the next.
Can you complete LPN coursework online in South Carolina?
Not entirely. Some South Carolina programs, such as Fortis College in Columbia, offer hybrid LPN programs with less than half of the coursework delivered online. However, state standards require hands-on clinical hours that must be completed in person at approved healthcare facilities. No state-approved LPN program in South Carolina is 100% online, so expect to spend significant time on campus and at clinical sites.
What prerequisites do South Carolina LPN programs require for admission?
Most programs require a high school diploma or GED, a passing score on the TEAS or HESI entrance exam (typically taken within the prior 12 months), a background check, drug screening, current immunizations, and CPR or BLS certification. Many schools also set a minimum GPA around 2.5 and require prerequisite courses in subjects like anatomy, biology, or algebra. A personal interview and application fee are common as well. Midlands Technical College, for example, requires specific courses including ENG 101, PSY 201, BIO 210, and MAT 102, each completed with at least a C within the past five years.
How long does it take to become an LPN in South Carolina?
Most state-approved LPN programs in South Carolina run between 12 and 16 months of full-time study. After finishing the program, graduates must apply to take the NCLEX-PN licensing exam. Factoring in application processing and exam scheduling, the entire timeline from the first day of class to your first clinical shift as a licensed LPN typically falls in the range of 14 to 20 months.
