Clemson University School of Nursing: What to Know (2026)
Clemson splits pre-licensure coursework between the main campus Traditional BSN track and a Greenville-based Accelerated BSN cohort, adds an Accelerated Second Degree path for prior bachelor’s graduates, and stacks RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and a Healthcare Genetics & Genomics PhD through CBSHS. This guide anchors programs to the Clemson catalog, tuition to the SC CHE 2025–26 statewide summary, and NCLEX reporting to South Carolina LLR statistics—not third-party aggregators.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Clemson’s catalog routes half of the pre-licensure class to the University Center of Greenville nursing building for the accelerated track while traditional students remain in Clemson—pairing Upstate simulation labs with Greenville’s tertiary hospitals. Graduate MSN courses are also centered in Greenville, letting working nurses stay embedded in the region’s Prisma Health–heavy clinical marketplace while progressing to NP, CNS, educator, or administrator roles.
Overview & Why Students Choose Clemson
The Clemson University School of Nursing sits inside the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, blending a research-university science core with immersive clinical training. Undergraduate students spend their first two years building biology, chemistry, statistics, and general education foundations before entering a track-specific junior year that either keeps them on the main campus or relocates didactic and simulation work to Greenville, depending on the catalog pathway.
At the graduate level, Clemson runs MSN concentrations for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse leaders, and educators—then expands into a CCNE-accredited DNP with both post-baccalaureate NP tracks and an online post-master’s executive option. A PhD in Healthcare Genetics and Genomics adds a research doctorate for nurses interested in precision health science rather than practice-only leadership.
Clemson’s first-time NCLEX-RN percentages are not reproduced here because NurseOnShift could not download the current LLR workbook during drafting. Pull the latest RN or BSN pass-rate tables from the South Carolina Board of Nursing — Statistics & Data portal, locate Clemson University, and compare cohort years side-by-side with Clemson’s own consumer disclosures when available.
Reasons students choose Clemson Nursing
Dual-campus BSN design
The catalog explicitly divides the Traditional Track (main campus) from the Accelerated Track (Greenville Nursing Building), letting students pick the pace and city ecosystem that fits their learning style.
Accelerated Second Degree option
Career-changers with a prior bachelor’s degree can pursue the Accelerated Second Degree Track without repeating an entire four-year general education sequence.
MSN grounded in Greenville
All MS Nursing coursework is delivered from the University Center of Greenville—close to Upstate referral centers and specialized clinics.
FNP, PNP, and systems leadership DNPs
The DNP catalog lists Family, Adult/Gerontology, Pediatric, and Health System Leadership tracks with transparent credit totals for post-baccalaureate and post-master’s entrants.
Simulation-forward curriculum
Catalog language highlights high-fidelity simulation for rare, high-risk scenarios before students transition into inpatient, outpatient, and community rotations.
Nursing Programs Offered
The bullets below map directly to Clemson’s undergraduate and graduate catalog entries (see References). Separate pre-licensure, post-licensure completion, and graduate or doctoral planning—admission rules, exams, and clinical expectations differ sharply across those buckets.
Pre-licensure undergraduate (BSN)
Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Eight-semester track staying on the main campus after sophomore track placement; includes 124 total credits with advanced medical-surgical, pediatrics, OB, community, and leadership practica per the published degree plan.
Accelerated BSN track (3.5 years)
Eight-semester accelerated timeline housed at the Clemson nursing building in Greenville beginning junior year; shares the same junior/senior nursing course sequence but compresses early curricular pacing.
Change-of-major & transfer entries
Clemson documents a First Year Change of Major route into the Accelerated Track, internal upper-class change-of-major processing, and transfer students who complete five semesters of nursing with a fall graduation date.
Accelerated Second Degree BSN (ABSN)
Designed for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s in a non-nursing field; delivers the same CCNE-accredited BSN outcomes as other pre-licensure tracks but follows the Accelerated Second Degree curricular package.
Post-licensure undergraduate
RN to BSN (RN-BS completion)
Catalog references an RNBS Completion Track for licensed RNs who have finished an associate pathway; CHE fee tables list dedicated online per-credit rates for RN/BS courses—confirm the active rate sheet before budgeting.
Graduate nursing
Master of Science in Nursing
Options include child/adolescent or adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist tracks, adult-gerontology or family nurse practitioner tracks, nurse administration, and nursing education. Applicants need 600 hours of qualifying clinical practice within 12 months of admission plus undergraduate statistics and computer coursework.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Post-baccalaureate, hybrid DNP options span Family NP, Adult-Gerontology NP, Pediatric NP—Primary Care, and Health System Leadership (74 credits, ≥9 semesters, 1,000 clinical hours). The post-master’s track is 35 credits delivered online with limited summer immersions.
Research doctorate
PhD in Healthcare Genetics and Genomics
Housed in the School of Nursing for interdisciplinary scientists; emphasizes translational genetics, ethics, and policy. Useful for nurse scholars pursuing faculty or research roles intersecting genomics and clinical practice.
Tracks, credit totals, and delivery modes change when catalogs refresh. Always reconcile this summary with the Clemson catalog and the School of Nursing site before applying.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
South Carolina’s Board of Nursing operates under the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). Program-level NCLEX-RN outcomes—including first-time pass rates for Clemson’s BSN graduates—are posted through the board’s Statistics & Data hub (look for the RN and/or BSN pass-rate spreadsheets or PDFs that correspond to your cohort year).
Because pass-rate files rotate as new testing years close, this page does not quote a static percentage. After you download the relevant LLR document, compare Clemson’s entry to statewide tables in the same file (only when the board publishes an aggregate in that same report).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate | Not stated on this page—look up Clemson University in the latest LLR RN/BSN NCLEX workbook. |
| Source | South Carolina LLR — Nursing statistics · confirm with Clemson’s nursing outcomes or consumer information disclosures. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and exam version. Always confirm the newest figures with South Carolina LLR and Clemson before using them in academic or employer conversations.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Use this list as orientation guidance—not immigration or licensure advice. Clemson’s global admissions standards, clinical clearance policies, and the South Carolina Board of Nursing’s credential review can all change between cycles.
- English-language proficiency: Follow Clemson International Admissions for required TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Submit official transcripts through vendors Clemson lists for your applicant type; graduate nursing may require course equivalency for statistics or health-assessment competencies.
- South Carolina Board of Nursing: Foreign-educated nurses must meet LLR documentation for NCLEX eligibility, including any CGFNS or supplemental coursework mandates.
- Immigration & visa status: Clinical nursing courses may restrict online credit loads for certain visa categories—ask Global Engagement and the School of Nursing before committing to cross-border study plans.
Requirements change frequently. Verify with Clemson Global Engagement, the nursing program office, and LLR.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Clemson’s undergraduate catalog describes selective nursing admission with a stated expectation that first-year applicants apply early in the fall of their senior year of high school and submit SAT and/or ACT results. After matriculation, students compete for progression via GPA, prerequisite letter grades, and progression policies (for example, maintaining a 2.5 nursing GPA and limiting sub-C grades).
Application timeline
| Applicant type | Typical action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First-year Clemson applicant | Apply during senior fall | Catalog emphasizes early application; nursing seats remain competitive after general admission. |
| Upper-division nursing progression | Monitor prerequisite completion | Minimum C grades and ≤ two sub-C attempts in five years for progression to junior clinicals (catalog rules). |
| MSN / DNP / PhD entrants | Follow Graduate School deadlines | MSN requires 600 clinical hours in the prior 12 months; DNP pathways vary between hybrid and post-master’s online formats. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing-specific) | Not publicly disclosed as a single percentage on the pages cited for this guide. |
| Minimum GPA (nursing progression) | 2.5 nursing GPA required to register for each nursing course (undergraduate catalog). |
| TEAS / HESI | Not publicly disclosed on the catalog excerpts reviewed here; confirm whether Clemson or a clinical partner now requires supplemental testing. |
| Standardized tests (first-year) | SAT/ACT referenced for entrance consideration per catalog overview. |
Tip: Download the current Student Resources or handbook PDF (if posted) so you understand background checks, immunizations, and drug screening tied to Upstate clinical contracts.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) publishes a consolidated Tuition & Fee Summary — Fall 2025 (Proviso 117.154). It lists Clemson’s full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees at $15,420 for in-state residents and $41,944 for non-residents for the 2025–26 academic year (30 semester-hour baseline used for state scholarship comparisons).
The same appendix documents Clemson-specific nursing surcharges: among them a $1,000 per-semester Nursing Program Fee, a $200 Nursing Testing Fee per semester, a $84 per-credit Nursing Program Fee (upper-division pattern), and RN/BS online courses at $550 per credit hour in the 2025–26 column—double-check the row that matches your admit cohort.
For graduate nurses, CHE shows Clemson’s Master of Science, Major in Nursing “premier program” academic fee at $9,257 per semester (resident) and $16,372 (non-resident) alongside the general graduate tuition tiers cited elsewhere in the report.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| UG tuition + required fees (full-time) | $15,420 in-state · $41,944 out-of-state (2025–26; CHE summary) |
| Nursing program fees (examples from CHE) | $1,000/sem program fee · $200 nursing testing fee · $84/credit nursing fee · RN/BS $550/credit |
| MSN premier academic fee (CHE) | $9,257 / $16,372 per semester (resident / non-resident) |
| Source | CHE 2025–26 Tuition & Fee Summary (PDF) · Clemson Student Financial Services |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Pre-licensure outcomes should be benchmarked with LLR’s NCLEX tables (see above). MSN and DNP graduates should track certification exam pass metrics published by Clemson or specialty boards rather than NCLEX.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN pass rate | Look up latest cohort in LLR RN/BSN workbooks; not duplicated here. |
| Employment / salary | Not available in the sources cited for this guide; check Clemson career services or workforce surveys. |
Is Clemson the Right Fit for You?
Clemson appeals to students who want a flagship public brand, access to both small-college and urban clinical ecosystems, and clearly articulated graduate pathways into advanced practice.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want a split model that can keep them rooted in Clemson’s main campus or immerse them in Greenville’s Level I trauma referral region.
- Plan to continue into FNP/PNP/AGNP or systems-leadership doctoral work without leaving the Upstate footprint.
- Prefer catalog-transparent progression policies (for example GPA gates spelled out for junior clinical entry).
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need guaranteed placement in a single city for all four years—Greenville track students should budget commute/relocation once assigned.
- Expect the lowest absolute tuition among SC programs; flagship nursing fees stack on top of baseline CHE figures.
- Want fully online pre-licensure clinical training—Clemson’s BSN remains largely face-to-face outside RN/BS completion.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Clemson nursing students draw clinical experiences across the Upstate: Greenville hosts Prisma Health’s flagship Greenville Memorial Hospital trauma and transplant services, Bon Secours St. Francis, and numerous specialty clinics, while Anderson, Oconee, and Spartanburg add community hospitals for Med-Surg and public health rotations. Main-campus students frequently work west toward Greenville or east toward the greater Clemson corridor depending on faculty contracts.
| Facility / system | Details |
|---|---|
| Prisma Health (Greenville) | Largest integrated delivery network in South Carolina; major site for high-acuity experiences referenced in regional nursing workforce discussions. |
| Bon Secours St. Francis | Faith-based system with multiple Upstate campuses often used for adult health and perioperative exposure. |
| AnMed Health (Anderson) | Regional medical center northwest of Clemson proper; potential rotation partner for students commuting from main campus. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Traditional nursing Tigers still enjoy Clemson’s lakeside campus culture—SEC athletics, undergraduate research symposia, and CBSHS interdisciplinary labs—while Greenville-track classmates plug into the University Center of Greenville, newer high-fidelity simulation suites, and a downtown healthcare employment pipeline. Student orgs such as the Student Nurses Association (confirm current chapter status) and service immersion trips can complement rigorous clinical calendars, but expect weekend or evening clinical shifts once junior year begins.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Primary nursing facility
- Greenville, SC (University Center corridor)
- Address
- 605 Grove Road, Clemson University School of Nursing, Greenville, SC 29605, US
- Telephone
- 864-656-7622 (verify extensions via official directory)
- Email / forms
- Use the contact prompts on clemson.edu/cbshs/departments/nursing—Clemson routes undergraduate versus graduate questions to different teams.
- Website
- School of Nursing · clemson.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Read the Nursing, BS catalog page end-to-end, especially track placement, GPA rules, and repeat limits.
- Open the latest LLR NCLEX workbook and bookmark Clemson’s row for the most recent testing year.
- If you are comparing cost, download the CHE tuition PDF and highlight nursing surcharges.
- Prospective ABSN or second-degree applicants should confirm how many prerequisites transfer before budgeting an extra term.
- MSN hopefuls should log 600 qualifying practice hours early—the requirement is enforced at admission.
- Tour both Clemson and Greenville facilities if you are undecided between Traditional and Accelerated tracks.
- Add Clemson Financial Services and LLR newsletters or RSS alerts so you catch mid-year fee or regulation updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find Clemson University’s official NCLEX-RN pass rate?
Use South Carolina LLR’s Nursing Statistics & Data downloads. Those workbooks list program-level outcomes straight from the board—more reliable than third-party ranking sites.
How much is Clemson undergraduate tuition in 2025–26?
The CHE Fall 2025 statewide summary lists Clemson’s full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees at $15,420 for residents and $41,944 for non-residents before nursing-specific surcharges such as the $1,000/semester nursing program fee documented in the same PDF.
Does Clemson offer an Accelerated BSN for career changers?
Yes. The undergraduate catalog describes an Accelerated Second Degree Track for students who already completed a bachelor’s degree elsewhere.
Why do some Clemson nursing students go to Greenville?
Sophomores are assigned to either the Traditional Track (main campus) or the Accelerated Track housed in the Clemson nursing building in Greenville; junior nursing courses then align with that placement.
What graduate nursing programs does Clemson run?
Clemson offers an MS in Nursing (NP, CNS, administration, education), CCNE-accredited DNP tracks, and the PhD in Healthcare Genetics and Genomics.
What GPA do I need to stay in Clemson’s BSN program?
The catalog excerpt used for this guide mandates a minimum 2.5 nursing GPA for registration in each nursing course plus additional progression rules—review the current catalog for repeat and withdrawal language.
Is Clemson nursing CCNE accredited?
Yes—Clemson’s own catalog pages list CCNE addresses for the BSN and DNP. Confirm the exact program list on CCNE’s directory if you need primary-source confirmation.
How much is Clemson’s MSN semester fee?
CHE’s 2025–26 appendix shows Clemson’s Master of Science, Major in Nursing premier academic fee at $9,257 per semester (resident) and $16,372 (non-resident)—layer that atop any general graduate tuition.
References
- Clemson University School of Nursingclemson.edu/cbshs/departments/nursing
- Clemson Catalog — Nursing, BScatalog.clemson.edu (Nursing BS preview)
- Clemson Catalog — Nursing Practice, DNPcatalog.clemson.edu (DNP preview)
- Clemson Nursing — graduate programs hubclemson.edu (degree index; open current MS catalog from there)
- South Carolina Commission on Higher Education — 2025–26 Tuition & Fee Summaryche.sc.gov (PDF)
- Clemson News — tuition freeze / affordability context (June 2025 board action)news.clemson.edu
- South Carolina Board of Nursing — LLR Nursing Statisticsllr.sc.gov/nurse/stats.aspx
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for Clemson catalog alignment, CHE-reported tuition accuracy, references to South Carolina LLR NCLEX reporting, and Upstate clinical context.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with Clemson University and the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
Published: March 31, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy