Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of South Carolina-Columbia

USC's nursing program graduates earn strong salaries initially—$73,872 beats the state median—but something unusual happens afterward. While most nursing careers see steady salary growth, these graduates actually earn $7,600 less four years out. This backwards trajectory is worth understanding before committing. The program ranks 60th percentile among South Carolina nursing schools, which means better than half but notably behind schools like Coastal Carolina ($84,021) and Lander ($78,485). The good news: debt loads are reasonable at $24,250, lower than both state and national averages.

That earnings decline could reflect several factors—perhaps graduates are choosing lower-paying specialties, relocating to lower-cost areas, or shifting to part-time work. But with a robust sample size of 100+ graduates, this pattern isn't a fluke. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 remains manageable even with the income drop, so graduates aren't drowning financially. However, the trajectory raises questions about career progression and opportunities that merit investigation.

For families considering this program: The fundamentals aren't broken—nurses from USC find work and earn decent salaries—but the earnings pattern suggests this may not be the strongest launching pad among South Carolina nursing programs. If your student is set on USC, dig into why salaries dip. If they're flexible on schools, several in-state alternatives deliver better four-year outcomes at similar or lower cost.