Nursing education programs in South Carolina generated some of the highest National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rates in the nation for 2024, leading to a sixth-place showing for registered nursing and seventh for practical nursing while far exceeding the national average scores in both categories.
According to data released this month by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, 2,964 registered nurse exams were administered to first-time takers across the state last year, with a pass rate of 94.7 percent. The national pass rate was 91.2 percent. For the practical nursing exam, South Carolina’s 651 exam takers achieved a 97.1 percent pass rate, nine percent above the national pass rate of 88.4 percent.
A passing score on the NCLEX is required for nursing graduates to be licensed to practice in the United States.
“Right now, our state and the entire nation are facing a critical shortage of qualified nurses,” said Dr. Jeff Perez, President and Executive Director of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. “South Carolina’s impressive NCLEX pass rate is a testament to the excellence of our higher education institutions in preparing future nurses, as well as the unwavering commitment of our students to meet the rigorous demands of the profession.”
Sallie Beth Todd, Chair of the South Carolina Board of Nursing, praised the dedication of nurse educators who play a pivotal role in the graduates’ success. “This accomplishment would not have been possible without your unwavering dedication, hard work, passion, and commitment to excellence.”
Emily Farr, Director of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, echoed Todd’s sentiments and said she hopes these graduates will choose careers in the state.
“South Carolina offers job opportunities across a diverse range of healthcare practice settings. I am hopeful this talented group of graduates will choose to remain in our state and contribute to the health and well-being of its citizens,” Farr said.
The following institutions distinguished themselves with a 100 percent pass rate for the RN exam:
- Columbia International University (Baccalaureate degree)
- Francis Marion University (Baccalaureate degree)
- USC Columbia – MEPN (Master’s degree)
- Williamsburg Technical College (Associate degree)
The following institutions also exceeded a 90 percent pass rate on the RN exam:
- Aiken Technical College (Associate degree)
- Anderson University (Baccalaureate degree)
- Bob Jones University (Associate degree)
- Central Carolina Technical College (Associate degree)
- Charleston Southern University (Baccalaureate degree)
- Clemson University (Baccalaureate degree)
- Fortis College (Associate degree)
- Greenville Technical College (Associate degree)
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College (Associate degree)
- Lander University (Baccalaureate degree)
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Northeastern Technical College (Associate degree)
- Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (Associate degree)
- Piedmont Technical College (Associate degree)
- Spartanburg Community College (Associate degree)
- Tri-County Technical College (Associate degree)
- Trident Technical College (Associate degree)
- USC Aiken (Baccalaureate degree)
- USC Beaufort (Baccalaureate degree)
- USC Columbia (Baccalaureate degree)
- USC Upstate (Baccalaureate degree)
- York Technical College (Associate degree)
For the PN exam, the following institutions achieved a 100 percent pass rate:
- Denmark Technical College
- ECPI Technical College (North Charleston)
- Academy for Careers and Technology – Marion County
- Midlands Technical College
- Northeastern Technical College
- Piedmont Technical College
- Technical College of the Lowcountry
- Trident Technical College
- Williamsburg Technical College
It is also noteworthy that all South Carolina institutions preparing students for the PN exam scored pass rates of 90 percent or higher.
The complete breakdown of rates by institution is available at: https://llr.sc.gov/nurse/stats.aspx
The CHE is actively involved in initiatives to address the nursing shortage in South Carolina. Beginning after the 2022 legislative session, the South Carolina General Assembly allocated a total of $10 million to the CHE for a Nursing Initiative to enhance the recruitment and retention of nursing faculty at colleges and universities. This funding continued in 2023 and 2024 and is disbursed in two ways:
- To create more interest in nursing faculty positions and effectively broaden the state’s capacity to instruct more nursing students, half of the funding is disbursed to the state’s public colleges and universities with accredited nursing programs to supplement the salaries of existing full-time faculty and the hourly rates of part time faculty, or the salaries of clinical nursing faculty.
- The second half, $15M to date, has been set aside for tuition reimbursement for students enrolled in graduate-level nurse educator programs, Doctor of Nursing Practice, or Ph.D. programs at public and independent institutions. This measure is intended to attract additional interest in the nursing education profession and is administered through the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation’s SC BOLD (Better Outcomes, Less Debt) Career Pathways Nursing Faculty Loan program.