5 Best BSN-to-DNP Programs in South Carolina – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
In states facing severe primary healthcare provider shortages like South Carolina, DNP-educated nurses are highly valued. Graduates of BSN-to-DNP programs in South Carolina have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to implement evidence-based solutions, whether they are advanced practice nurses or executive nurse leaders. Nurses with DNP degrees earn $125,970 annually on average, and demand for their services will soar by 61 percent within a decade. Earning a DNP degree can help you actualize your full potential as a nursing professional. Sound like a career move you’d like to make? Everything you need to know about the 5 best BSN-to-DNP programs in South Carolina is in the guide below.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BSN-TO-DNP PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 5 Best BSN-to-DNP programs in South Carolina (Online & Campus) for 2025.
1. Anderson University - Anderson
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Though the two tracks are taught via distance learning for the most part, you will be required to attend a two- to three-day residency at the university's campus as often as once a semester. Core DNP classes like "Scientific Underpinnings for Nursing Practice," "Clinical Scholarship for Evidence-based Practice," and "Improving Health Outcomes" will impart the foundational knowledge and skills you need to develop and disseminate a three-part DNP project. As a full-time student, you'll be able to complete both the FNP or PMHNP tracks in nine semesters (36 months). New cohorts join the program in the fall semester.
Admission Requirements: All applicants to this BSN-to-DNP program in South Carolina must have an RN license in South Carolina and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or higher. You'll need to submit a personal statement and two letters of recommendation with your application.
Why Choose This Program
• If you're looking for nursing education from a Christian perspective, you can't beat Anderson University. While the university accepts non-Christians into its nursing programs, Christian precepts are strongly reflected in its educational programs. All BSN-to-DNP students, for example, must take a course entitled "Faith and Learning Worldview."• Anderson University offers local and international missionary opportunities. Past missions have included locations like Honduras, Uganda, Greece, Australia, Japan & Korea, Rwanda, Botswana, and South Africa.
2. University of South Carolina - Columbia
Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Executive Healthcare Leadership, Nursing Education, and Nurse-Midwifery
If you enroll in one of USC's BSN-to-DNP tracks full-time, you'll graduate within nine semesters (36 months); part-time students graduate in 12 semesters (48 months). New students begin the program in the summer semester. What you learn in core DNP courses such as "Clinical Application of Population Analysis," "Evidence and Nursing Practice," and "Application of Statistics for Evidenced Based Nursing Practice" will provide the foundation for a scholarly DNP project that aims to improve patient outcomes.
While the University of South Carolina's BSN-to-DNP program is primarily an online pathway, you will have to make periodic visits to the university's campus in Columbia for activities like orientation, skills assessments, and DNP project presentation. You'll be able to complete required practicums in your own state.
Admission Requirements: This clinical nursing doctorate program is only open to BSN-educated students who have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in their undergraduate studies. You must have a valid RN license in the state where you'll be completing clinical rotations. All applicants must have 2,400 hours of professional RN experience within the past 24 months.
All applicants to the AGACNP track must be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and preference is given to AGACNP applicants who have critical care experience. If you're applying to the Nurse Midwife track, you must have Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification and experience working in labor and delivery. If you're applying to the Executive Healthcare Leadership track, your resume must document 2,400 hours of nursing leadership experience.
Why Choose This Program
• USC's FNP and AGACNP grads have a first-time pass rate of 97 to 100 percent on their nurse practitioner certification examinations.• University of South Carolina students who graduate with a BSN-to-DNP/Executive Healthcare Leadership major qualify to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)'s Nurse Executive-Board Certified (NE-BC) credential and the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONL)'s Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) credential.
3. Medical University of South Carolina - Charleston
Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MUSC admits full-time and part-time students in the fall semester and full-time students in the spring semester. Full-time students can complete MUSC's BSN-to-DNP curriculum in eight semesters (32 months), while part-time students can complete it in 11 semesters (44 months).
To prepare for your DNP project, you'll take foundational DNP courses like "Frameworks for Leadership," "Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics," and "Evidence-Based Practice, Quality & Safety." While this program is primarily taught online, students must make several visits to the university's campus in Charleston—for orientation, for clinical skills and simulation training, and for DNP poster presentations.
Admission Requirements: All applications must be submitted through NursingCAS. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher. All applicants must have an unencumbered RN license in the state where they'll be completing clinical rotations. Medical University of South Carolina cannot accept applicants from Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oregon, or Washington State.
Why Choose This Program
• Medical University of South Carolina's BSN-to-DNP program awards students a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in addition to a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.• Interested in teaching nursing in your focus area? You can add an education certificate to your MUSC nurse practitioner degree by taking an additional four classes (12 credits).
4. Clemson University - Clemson
Specialties Offered: Family NP (Primary Care), Adult/Gerontology NP (Primary Care), Pediatric NP (Primary Care), and Health Systems Leadership
You'll complete your practicums at healthcare facilities throughout South Carolina. Clemson University's clinical partners include Prisma Health-Upstate, AnMed, St. Francis, and Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Clemson University's BSN-to-DNP program accepts new students in the summer semester and can be completed in nine semesters (36 months) if you attend full-time.
Admission Requirements: All applicants must hold a valid South Carolina RN licensure. This program is open only to students who have a bachelor's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and have a grade point average of 3.25 or higher. You'll need to submit a personal statement, a resume or CV, and three professional references with your application.
Why Choose This Program
• The National League for Nursing has recognized Clemson University's School of Nursing as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.• Clemson University's nursing graduates have a nearly 100 percent job placement rate within three months of graduation.
5. Francis Marion University - Florence
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Students enrolled full-time in this BSN-to-DNP program in South Carolina will be able to graduate in nine semesters (36 months). Francis Marion University also offers a part-time enrollment option, for which you'll customize a study plan with the help of your academic advisor. Coursework begins in the fall semester.
Both tracks include core DNP courses like "Doctoral Research and Epidemiological Evidence-based Practice," "Scholarly Writing and Grant Development," and "Doctoral Knowledge Development" that will impart the knowledge base and research skills you'll need to tackle your two-semester DNP capstone. Though most of the curriculum is delivered online, you may have to visit FMU's campus in Florence as often as twice a semester for clinical skills workshops and other immersive experiences.
Admission Requirements: Applicants must have a BSN and a current RN license in South Carolina. You must submit three recommendation letters, a resume or a CV, and a personal statement focusing on your DNP project interests with your application.
Why Choose This Program
• 100 percent of Francis Marion University's Family Nurse Practitioner graduates pass their national NP certification exams the first time they take them.• FMU recently received a $2.2 million grant from the federal government’s Health Resources and Services Administration, which it intends to use to provide tuition support for current and future students in its Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs over the next four years.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits BSN-to-DNP Programs In South Carolina?
| S.No. | Accrediting Agency |
| 1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
| 2 | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) |
2. How Many Schools Offer Accredited BSN-to-DNP Programs In South Carolina?
| 5 |
3. What Is The Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In South Carolina?
| Hourly | $60.56 |
| Weekly | $2,423 |
| Monthly | $10,500 |
| Annual | $125,970 |
4. On Average, How Much Do Entry-Level BSN-to-DNP Graduates Make In South Carolina?
| Hourly | $44.56 |
| Weekly | $1,782 |
| Monthly | $7,720 |
| Annual | $92,680 |
5. On Average, How Much Do Experienced BSN-to-DNP Graduates Make In South Carolina?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $50.41 | $2,017 | $8,740 | $104,860 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $59.51 | $2,380 | $10,320 | $123,780 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $66.27 | $2,651 | $11,490 | $137,850 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $79.20 | $3,168 | $13,730 | $164,730 |
6. What Is The Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In South Carolina By Metro?
| Metro | Hourly | Monthly | Weekly | Annual |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $64.05 | $11,100 | $2,562 | $133,220 |
| Columbia | $58.57 | $10,150 | $2,343 | $121,820 |
| Florence | $63.38 | $10,990 | $2,535 | $131,820 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin | $59.04 | $10,230 | $2,362 | $122,810 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort | $55.56 | $9,630 | $2,222 | $115,560 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $58.66 | $10,170 | $2,346 | $122,010 |
| Spartanburg | $61.44 | $10,650 | $2,458 | $127,790 |
| Sumter | $59.26 | $10,270 | $2,370 | $123,260 |
7. Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In South Carolina VS. Average Salaries Of Other Closely Related Occupations In South Carolina
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Dentist | $182,970 | -$57,000 | -31.15% |
| Podiatrist | $159,340 | -$33,370 | -20.94% |
| Pharmacist | $134,960 | -$8,990 | -6.66% |
| Veterinarian | $127,400 | -$1,430 | -1.12% |
| Nurse With BSN-to-DNP | $125,970 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Optometrist | $114,430 | +$11,540 | +10.08% |
| Physician Assistant | $114,310 | +$11,660 | +10.20% |
| Radiation Therapist | $94,940 | +$31,030 | +32.68% |
| Physical Therapist | $94,280 | +$31,690 | +33.61% |
| Occupational Therapist | $88,520 | +$37,450 | +42.31% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $85,670 | +$40,300 | +47.04% |
| Audiologist | $82,610 | +$43,360 | +52.49% |
| Dental Hygienist | $76,950 | +$49,020 | +63.70% |
| Chiropractor | $72,810 | +$53,160 | +73.01% |
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Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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