Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern's nursing graduates earn roughly $66,000 annually—about $8,000 below the South Carolina median for nursing programs and nearly $9,000 under the national average. More concerning, that salary barely budges over the first four years post-graduation, suggesting limited career advancement or specialty opportunities compared to programs at schools like Coastal Carolina ($84,021) or even Lander University ($78,485). While Charleston Southern sits at the 40th percentile among South Carolina nursing programs, that still means 60% of comparable programs in the state deliver better outcomes.

The $31,000 debt load is manageable on its own—slightly above state and national averages but yielding a reasonable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio. The real concern is the opportunity cost. With 21 nursing programs across South Carolina, many deliver significantly stronger earning potential for similar or lower debt. For a family weighing this option, the question becomes whether Charleston Southern's particular campus environment or location advantages justify accepting $10,000-15,000 less in annual earning power compared to top performers in the state.

If your student is committed to this specific school for non-financial reasons, the debt level won't be crushing. But purely as a financial investment, South Carolina offers substantially stronger nursing programs that would deliver better returns for roughly the same upfront cost.