The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the College of Charleston have announced a new joint Bachelor of Science in nursing degree, a strategic collaboration aimed at expanding the state’s healthcare workforce.
The four-year program, which received final approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education on Nov. 5, 2026, is set to welcome its inaugural class in the fall of 2027.
State employment projections show rising demand for healthcare professionals, making nursing one of the fastest-growing fields in the region. By integrating the undergraduate academic foundation of the College of Charleston with the clinical resources of the MUSC College of Nursing, the institutions intend to streamline the path for students entering the medical field.
“The collaboration would give students access to clinical opportunities and experiences unavailable elsewhere in South Carolina,” said Suzanne Austin, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs of the College of Charleston. “It combines the College of Charleston’s more than 250 years of undergraduate education with MUSC’s nationally recognized nursing program to help provide the state with more highly skilled nurses to meet growing demand for healthcare.”
Under the structure of the new degree, students will maintain enrollment at the College of Charleston for the duration of their four-year studies. The curriculum requires students to complete foundational coursework at the College before moving into upper-division nursing training. This advanced phase will feature simulation and clinical rotations supported by MUSC faculty and resources across both campuses.
Institutional Collaboration to Address Workforce Demand
The program follows a series of formal approvals from the governing bodies of both institutions. The College of Charleston Board of Trustees authorized the joint degree last spring, followed by an official sign-off from the MUSC Board of Trustees in August. Officials describe the initiative as a mission-driven approach to addressing long-term healthcare needs across South Carolina.
“The College of Charleston and MUSC share a deep commitment to educating the next generation and serving the people of South Carolina,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost of MUSC.
“This degree program brings the strengths of both institutions together to create an exceptional opportunity for students and prepares them for a profession that will touch people throughout the state. This is about students, patients, families and communities who will one day benefit from their knowledge, skill and compassion.”
The Medical University of South Carolina, which serves as the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, currently educates nearly 3,800 students annually across six colleges. Its clinical arm, MUSC Health, was named the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report for the 12th consecutive year in 2026.
The College of Charleston, founded in 1770, provides undergraduate education to nearly 12,000 students. The college will use its urban campus as a learning environment to combine traditional arts and sciences education with specialized health sciences training.
Program Implementation and Future Enrollment
While the academic framework is now set, specific details regarding enrollment capacity, application requirements, and tuition costs are still being finalized. The institutions have directed prospective students to the official nursing program portal for updates as the implementation process moves forward.
University officials have said that while the degree provides the necessary educational foundation, final licensure and employment prospects will remain subject to standard regulatory requirements and the hiring decisions of individual healthcare employers. As the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education continues to oversee the implementation, further information on the application timeline is expected to be released as the program approaches its fall 2027 start date.
For those interested in the operational scope of the partner institutions, the Medical University of South Carolina maintains a total enterprise annual operating budget of $10.1 billion, supporting a network of over 38,080 members including world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members. As the program enters its next development phase, the focus remains on finalizing the transition of students between the two campus environments.
