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 practical nursing programs are not one-size-fits-all. Some are compact one-year diplomas built for students who want to start earning quickly, while others run in the evenings for working adults or sit in small rural districts where the nearest alternative is a long drive. Program-level earnings figures are not yet published for most of these schools, so the profiles below focus on cost, format, and licensure outcomes.
How we ranked these
- Graduation and completion rates
- NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates
- Accreditation standing
- Retention and student-faculty ratios
- Net price and program cost
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- Independent editorial research
- IPEDS institutional survey data from NCES covering retention rates, student-faculty ratios and net price — nces.ed.gov
- NCLEX first-time pass rates published by the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
Academy for Careers and Technology
The Academy for Careers and Technology houses the Marion County School of Practical Nursing in Mullins, a district-run program that keeps LPN training local in one of the state's more rural corners. Instruction is campus-based, so students get steady face time with instructors and classmates instead of learning alone on a screen. The program holds continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and is preparing for a routine accreditation site visit. Graduates move into patient care roles in hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, and long-term care settings across the Pee Dee.
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
- Holds continuing ACEN accreditation with a site visit scheduled
- Campus-based training in Mullins, South Carolina
- Part of the Marion County School District
- Public comments welcome during the ACEN review process
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College runs one of the larger practical nursing pipelines in the Charleston metro, delivering a three-semester diploma built around classroom work, lab simulation, and supervised clinical shifts. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and is open to applicants who do not hold a high school diploma, which removes one common barrier to entry. Strong students can ladder into the college's Associate Degree Nursing program, so the LPN credential does not have to be the end of the road.
- Three-semester diploma totaling 43 credit hours
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredited
- Classroom, lab, and supervised clinical training
- No high school diploma required to enroll
- 2.0 GPA minimum with an entrance exam or certificate pathway
- Pathway into the Associate Degree Nursing program
- Prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry offers a one-year practical nursing diploma taught full time at its Beaufort and New River campuses, with a single fall start each year. The program is ACEN accredited and has reported a 100 percent NCLEX-PN pass rate for five consecutive years, one of the strongest licensure records in South Carolina. Tuition is low enough that South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance can cover much of the cost for eligible students, and graduates can continue into the college's LPN to ADN pathway without leaving the state system.
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
- One-year, 42-credit diploma with a fall start
- Reported 100 percent NCLEX-PN pass rate for five consecutive years
- Full-time day classes at the Beaufort and New River campuses
- S.C. Lottery Tuition Assistance eligible
- National background check and drug screen required
- LPN to ADN pathway available within the college
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College delivers its practical nursing diploma face to face at the Easley Campus, with day and evening class options that suit working adults across the Upstate. The curriculum covers nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical care, pharmacology, and maternal-child health, paired with hands-on training in real healthcare settings. The program is ACEN accredited, financial aid is available for qualifying students, and admission requirements stay within reach for applicants from the surrounding counties.
- ACEN accredited practical nursing diploma
- Face-to-face instruction at the Easley Campus
- Day and evening class options
- Clinical training in real healthcare settings
- Coursework in medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, and maternal-child health
- Financial aid available for qualifying students
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
York Technical College
York Technical College's practical nursing diploma is based at the Chester Center, with clinical placements spread across York, Chester, and Lancaster counties in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community agencies. Admission is limited and handled on a first-qualified, first-served basis, so applying early matters more here than at many South Carolina programs. The diploma is ACEN accredited and approved by the state board, and applicants can qualify through TEAS or placement test scores.
- ACEN accredited and approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing
- Based at the Chester Center
- Clinical rotations across York, Chester, and Lancaster counties
- TEAS entrance exam or placement test scores accepted
- Limited enrollment with a first-qualified, first-served waitlist
- 2.0 GPA minimum
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Northeastern Technical College
Northeastern Technical College in Cheraw runs a campus-based practical nursing diploma that students complete in two semesters plus a summer term, for 48 semester hours total. Admission is competitive and weighs TEAS scores, prerequisite coursework, and background screening, and applicants who are not accepted must reapply. The college also offers an LPN to ADN transition pathway, so graduates in the northeastern corner of the state have a route to keep advancing without transferring.
- Two semesters plus one summer term, 48 total credit hours
- TEAS entrance exam required
- Competitive admissions with prerequisite coursework
- Criminal background check required, drug testing may apply
- LPN to ADN transition pathway available
- Two-attempt limit for nursing program admission
- Must reapply if not accepted initially
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College trains practical nurses through two delivery models: a traditional track with face-to-face classes and labs, and a FLEX option built for working adults who already hold prior medical coursework. The ACEN-accredited diploma covers vitals, immunizations, wound care, and patient communication, with start dates in both fall and spring. The college reports strong licensure results and job placement close to home in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.
- ACEN accredited diploma in practical nursing
- Traditional and FLEX delivery models
- FLEX option designed for working adults with prior medical coursework
- Fall and spring start dates
- 94 percent licensure pass rate reported
- 100 percent job placement rate reported
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Piedmont Technical College
Piedmont Technical College admits 32 practical nursing students per cohort, with fall entry at the Greenwood campus and spring entry in Laurens. The three-semester diploma covers fundamentals of nursing, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, maternal and infant care, and care of the older adult, and it carries approval from the South Carolina Board of Nursing. Clinical placements follow the campus where you enter, and graduates can continue into the college's LPN to ADN transition program.
- Three-semester, 46-credit diploma
- Fall start in Greenwood, spring start in Laurens
- Cohorts limited to 32 students per entry
- TEAS entrance exam and prerequisite courses required
- 3.0 GPA minimum for admission
- Approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing
- LPN to ADN transition pathway available
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Aiken Technical College
Aiken Technical College awards a diploma in applied science with a practical nursing major, blending nursing theory with supervised clinical practice at partner health care agencies. The full-time program takes about a year and a half, and admission is competitive: applicants are ranked on a point system and only a small group is selected each cycle. The nursing department holds ACEN accreditation and state board approval, and the curriculum prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN.
- Diploma in applied science with a practical nursing major
- About 1.5 years of full-time study
- ACEN accredited and approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing
- $9,200 estimated total in-state tuition before aid
- TEAS exam and prerequisite courses required
- Competitive point-based admission with a small cohort
- Supervised clinical experience at partner health care agencies
- Free online application
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Horry-Georgetown Technical College teaches its PN diploma across the Georgetown and Grand Strand campuses, combining classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical rotations in hospitals, clinics, and extended-care facilities. The 48-credit curriculum includes fundamentals of nursing, medical-surgical nursing, maternal and infant care, pharmacology, and nutrition. Admission is competitive and first-qualified, with limited seats each term, and ACEN-accredited graduates are eligible to test for licensure.
- ACEN accredited Nursing-PN diploma
- 48 total credit hours
- 2.5 GPA minimum with prerequisite courses
- Prepares students for the NCLEX-PN
- TEAS entrance exam required
- Clinical rotations in hospitals, clinics, and extended-care facilities
- Offered at the Georgetown and Grand Strand campuses
- First-qualified admission with limited seats
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — 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.
