Research.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured placements, sponsored links, advertising widgets and labeled paid mentions in articles involve schools, brands or advertising networks that compensate us. Some universities also pay us to process their current program data, but no payment influences our ranking methodology, scores or positions, or the other editorially independent information published on this site.

Five 2027 Research.com Rankings Highlight USCB Nursing and Public Health Programs

Audited and Verified:

Imed Bouchrika, PhD

by Imed Bouchrika, PhD

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

The University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) has earned recognition across five 2027 Research.com rankings covering nursing and public health degree programs in South Carolina. The categories span public health program quality, nursing value, affordability in both fields, and public health popularity, creating a broad picture of the university's position in two important areas of healthcare education.

The five recognitions bestowed to USCB are:

  • 2027 Best Public Health Degree Programs Ranking in South Carolina
  • 2027 Most Valuable Nursing Degree Programs Ranking in South Carolina
  • 2027 Most Affordable Nursing Degree Programs Ranking in South Carolina
  • 2027 Most Affordable Public Health Degree Programs Ranking in South Carolina
  • 2027 Most Popular Public Health Degree Programs Ranking in South Carolina
Table of Contents

What the Five Rankings Reveal About USCB

Academic recognition can help students identify programs for further evaluation, while affordability rankings address the financial barriers that often shape enrollment decisions. Popularity offers another perspective on a program's appeal.

USCB also offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate academic programs. Its enrollment of 2,302 students (fall 2027) and student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1 provide context for its educational environment. Another relevant consideration for prospective students weighing their options is the number of USCB students receiving financial aid - 85%.

Best Public Health Degree Programs

USCB's public health offerings include both Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees. Students can study in person at the Bluffton campus or complete the program entirely online.

The university has also received recognition for its online public health bachelor's offerings, having been named among the Best Online Public Health Bachelor's programs in 2024. This earlier distinction complements the broader attention surrounding its public health degrees.

The two degree options serve students with different academic interests. Public health graduates may pursue entry-level public health positions or continue to graduate school and towards a career in clinical professions and fields such as natural and environmental public health sciences. Students should compare the BA and BS curricula to determine which pathway better supports their intended career direction.

Most Valuable Nursing Degree Programs

USCB's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepares students for professional nursing practice through a structured pre-licensure pathway. The curriculum begins with prerequisite coursework before students enter the required nursing courses.

The program's value depends on more than tuition alone. Students should consider the curriculum, clinical training, program requirements, and preparation for professional licensure when evaluating the investment.

Graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become registered nurses. Understanding this requirement helps prospective students evaluate the full pathway from admission through preparation for nursing practice. USCB’s NCLEX pass rate is 95.45% for first-time test takers, higher than the South Carolina and national averages (2025).

Most Affordable Nursing and Public Health Degree Programs

USCB's affordability distinctions cover both nursing and public health, two fields with different academic and professional requirements. Published full-time tuition estimates offer a starting point for comparing the financial commitment.

For students, the practical question is not simply which program has the lowest listed price. It is the total cost of attendance—how tuition, fees, housing, meals, financial aid, and program-specific expenses combine to determine the actual cost of earning a degree.

Most Popular Public Health Degree Programs

The public health popularity category adds student demand to the picture. USCB's BA and BS options, along with its in-person and online study formats, give prospective students multiple ways to approach the field.

However, students should also evaluate the curriculum, available learning formats, academic requirements, and alignment with their career interests.

USCB's Nursing and Public Health Programs

USCB offers distinct degree pathways for students interested in direct patient care and broader community health concerns.

The BSN Pre-Licensure Nursing Pathway

The BSN curriculum map identifies 121 total credits and 760 clinical hours. Students complete three semesters of prerequisites before applying to the pre-licensure nursing program, followed by five semesters of required nursing courses after admission.

Nursing courses and laboratories take place at the Beaufort Memorial Administration Center in Beaufort. This arrangement is important for students planning transportation, work schedules, and other responsibilities around in-person instruction and clinical training.

The program is approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). These credentials are relevant considerations for students evaluating nursing education and preparation for licensure.

Public Health Degrees With Flexible Study Options

USCB's BA and BS in Public Health offer an alternative for students interested in population health, environmental health, and public health services. Students may study in person at Bluffton or follow a fully online path.

An online completion option also provides a route for students with prior college credits. This flexibility may be useful for transfer students or those balancing education with other commitments, although individual students should confirm how their previous coursework applies to degree requirements.

The BA requires 120 credits for graduation, and public health major courses require a grade of C or better. Students considering the BS should examine its stronger natural science emphasis when deciding which curriculum aligns with their plans.

Why Affordability and Educational Value Matter

USCB's published tuition estimates show a substantial difference between in-state and out-of-state costs.

Estimated full-time tuition is $5,172 per semester for in-state students and $10,695 for out-of-state students. Estimated fees are $368 per semester for both groups. When single-room housing and a meal plan are included, the estimated full-time semester totals rise to $11,855 for in-state students and $17,378 for out-of-state students.

These estimates apply to students taking 12–16 credits and exclude books, supplies, and course-specific charges, including nursing fees. Actual expenses may therefore differ.

USCB reports that 85% of its students receive financial aid. Available assistance includes federal and state aid, work-study, institutional and donor scholarships, community scholarships, athletic awards, and military and veteran benefits.

Prospective students should calculate their expected costs after aid rather than rely on tuition alone. A more complete comparison considers the full degree cost, time to completion, required clinical experiences, and the student's academic and professional goals.

USCB's History and Lowcountry Campus Network

USCB combines a long regional history with a three-campus presence serving South Carolina's Lowcountry.

The university's history traces its roots to Beaufort College in 1795. It became a two-year regional campus of the University of South Carolina System in 1959 and attained full four-year comprehensive university status in 2004.

Today, USCB serves approximately 2,244 students across campuses in Bluffton, Beaufort, and Hilton Head Island. Bluffton is the main campus, housing key academic, administrative, library, financial aid, and student service facilities.

This geographic footprint gives students several locations within the Lowcountry to consider when evaluating their educational plans. Nursing students should pay particular attention to the location of required courses and laboratories, while public health students should compare the practical implications of studying on campus with the flexibility of the online option.

The university's regional identity and public university heritage provide context for its role in nursing and public health education. For prospective students, the more immediate question is how its programs, campus locations, and delivery formats fit their individual needs.

What Prospective Students Should Check Before Enrolling

Before choosing USCB, prospective nursing and public health students should review the details that will affect their academic progress and total investment.

  • Admission requirements: Nursing applicants must first gain admission to USCB, complete prerequisite coursework, and apply separately to the pre-licensure nursing program.
  • Accreditation and licensure: Confirm the BSN's CCNE accreditation, South Carolina Board of Nursing approval, and NCLEX requirement.
  • Total cost: Account for tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, nursing-specific charges, and available financial aid.
  • Program format: Compare in-person and online public health options, including whether prior credits qualify for the online completion pathway.
  • Academic requirements: Review credit totals, course grade requirements, curriculum emphasis, and clinical commitments.
  • Career alignment: Consider whether nursing's direct patient-care pathway or public health's broader population-health focus better matches long-term goals.

Five Rankings Provide a Starting Point for Evaluating USCB

USCB's reported recognition across five 2027 Research.com ranking categories brings nursing and public health into focus across quality, value, affordability, and popularity. Its BSN pathway, BA and BS public health options, and online study opportunities give prospective students concrete programs to investigate.

References:

Newsletter & Conference Alerts

Research.com uses the information to contact you about our relevant content.
For more information, check out our privacy policy.

Newsletter confirmation

Thank you for subscribing!

Confirmation email sent. Please click the link in the email to confirm your subscription.