South Carolina has one in-state Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, offered by the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. The university offers separate Primary Care and Acute Care tracks, giving students access to both pediatric certification pathways without leaving the state.
Students can enter from a BSN through either a 60-credit MSN or a 76-credit DNP that awards both the MSN and DNP. South Carolina does not offer an RN-to-MSN bridge, an MSN-to-DNP pathway, or a Post-Master’s Certificate for pediatric nurse practitioners.
The program is delivered in a Mostly Online format with required on-campus intensives. Estimated tuition ranges from about $54K to $90K depending on residency and degree, with completion taking six to eight semesters full time or nine to eleven semesters part time.
Because MUSC is the state’s only option, the decision is less about choosing between schools and more about whether its structure fits your goals. South Carolina residents benefit from substantially lower tuition, while nurses seeking a Post-Master’s Certificate, an RN-to-MSN bridge, an MSN-to-DNP pathway, additional start dates, or a fully online program should also compare national options.
South Carolina PNP Programs at a Glance
- Number of schools: 1
- Primary Care available: Yes
- Acute Care available: Yes
- MSN available: Yes
- DNP available: Yes
- Post-Master’s Certificate available: No in-state option
- Delivery format: Mostly Online
- Lowest published tuition: Approximately $54K (MSN, in-state)
- Accreditation: CCNE
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Medical University of South Carolina Charleston | Primary Care + Acute Care | Mostly Online | Required on-campus intensives | $835 | MSN, DNP | Either pediatric population at one school |
Choosing a PNP Program in South Carolina
Who the Program Fits Best
Medical University of South Carolina fits South Carolina residents entering from a BSN who want a single school that supports both pediatric populations at two degree levels. In-state per-credit pricing is the clearest financial advantage, and the MSN and DNP share the same clinical spine — all three Advanced Care Management courses and the 7-credit Role Practicum — so the degree decision is about credential and trajectory rather than clinical depth. Nurses with at least one year of PICU or comparable high-acuity pediatric experience within the past five years are the strongest fit for the acute care track.
The Acute Care Advantage Is Placement, Not Curriculum
The acute care track launched for Fall 2026 as the first ACPNP program in South Carolina, built around a clinical partnership with MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. PICU and pediatric emergency placements are the binding constraint in acute care training nationally, and a named tertiary partner removes the most common failure point. The trade-off is track record: a new track has no graduate outcomes and no certification pass-rate history yet.
When to Compare National Online Programs
Four situations point applicants outside South Carolina. Nurses holding an ADN or an existing MSN have no in-state pathway, since MUSC admits only from a BSN. Applicants who cannot travel to Charleston should weigh programs without campus intensives, particularly because MUSC does not publish how many visits either pediatric track requires. Applicants needing more frequent start dates may find in-state application cycles restrictive. And out-of-state applicants at the DNP level, approaching $90K in tuition and fees, are competing against private-university pricing.
South Carolina BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
One in-state school offers a BSN-to-MSN PNP pathway, and it is available in both pediatric populations. The 60-credit plan carries 25 clinical credits across four precepted courses and finishes with a two-course capstone.
Applicants wanting a wider set of BSN-to-MSN options should also review the national BSN-to-MSN PNP program guide.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Primary Care | $54K in-state | 6 semesters full-time; 9 part-time | Not clearly stated (25 clinical credits) |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Acute Care | $54K in-state | 6 semesters full-time; 9 part-time | Not clearly stated (25 clinical credits) |
- Only acute care option: the MSN – AC track is the state’s only master’s-level acute care pediatric preparation.
- Campus requirement: MUSC describes required on-campus learning intensives for the acute care track specifically, and does not publish a visit count
South Carolina BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
The same school offers the only in-state BSN-to-DNP PNP pathway, again in both populations. The 76-credit plan awards the MSN and DNP together, so no second application is required, and adds 10 residency credits of project and systems work on top of the master’s clinical sequence.
Readers weighing additional doctoral options should also review the national BSN-to-DNP PNP program guide.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Primary Care | $69K in-state | 8 semesters (fall start); 10 (spring start); 11 part-time | Not clearly stated (35 clinical credits) |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Acute Care | $69K in-state | 8 semesters (fall start); 10 (spring start); 11 part-time | Not clearly stated (35 clinical credits) |
- Shortest completion: a fall start finishes the same 76 credits in eight semesters instead of ten.
- Experience gate: the acute care track requires one year of PICU or comparable high-acuity pediatric experience gained within the past five years.
- Doctoral credits are not extra pediatric clinical time: the 10-credit residency is practice improvement work, not additional direct patient care.
National Online PNP Programs
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $915 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Rasmussen University delivers MSN-NP and Post-Graduate Certificate options in Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) practice through an online competency-based format accessible to South Carolina healthcare providers. The curriculum blends self-paced coursework in pediatric health promotion and complex care with four local community-based practicums and a single on-campus weekend residency. Spanning 21 to 27 months with total estimated tuition and fees of $29,087 to $51,130, these CCNE-accredited programs allow South Carolina nurses to advance their clinical credentials without weekly deadline constraints.
Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / BSN to MSN
Walden University offers online DNP, MSN, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks in Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) practice for registered nurses residing in South Carolina. Delivered in a flexible quarter-credit format, the program features virtual skills labs, case-based reviews, and Practicum Pledge® assistance to support South Carolina students with local clinical site matching. With estimated tuition ranging from ~$35,690 for the certificate to ~$76,415 for the DNP, South Carolina RNs can gain specialized clinical preparation in child growth, acute and chronic disease management, and primary health promotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in South Carolina?
One. The Medical University of South Carolina is the only in-state school with Pediatric Nurse Practitioner tracks, though it offers four of them across two populations and two degree levels.
Does South Carolina offer an Acute Care PNP program?
Yes. MUSC’s acute care track opened for Fall 2026 as the first ACPNP program in the state, available at both the MSN and DNP level, with clinical rotations anchored to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.
Are any South Carolina PNP programs fully online?
No. MUSC delivers coursework online but requires on-campus intensives, which classifies it as Mostly Online. Applicants who need a fully online format should compare national programs.
Which South Carolina program has the lowest estimated tuition?
The MSN pathway at MUSC, estimated near $54K in state, is the least expensive route. The DNP runs about $69K in state. Both figures include the $70 per-credit online program fee but exclude per-semester fees.
Which schools offer a DNP?
MUSC is the only in-state option. Its BSN-entry DNP awards both the MSN and the DNP in one 76-credit plan, so no separate post-master’s application is needed.
Are campus visits required?
Yes, but the number is not published. MUSC describes required on-campus learning intensives, specifically noting them for the acute care track. Travel and lodging to Charleston should be treated as an unbudgeted cost until admissions confirms the count.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
Clinical hours must be completed at approved sites with an approved preceptor, and the College of Nursing begins the placement process at orientation.
Are certificate or RN-to-MSN pathways available in South Carolina?
No. MUSC admits pediatric NP students from a BSN only, so nurses holding an ADN, a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, or an existing MSN will need to look at national online programs for an RN-to-MSN, MSN-to-DNP, or Post-Master’s Certificate route.