Healthcare education in South Carolina

South Carolina has 3 MD schools and 1 DO school. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston is the state’s oldest medical school (founded 1824) and primary academic medical center. The University of South Carolina has two medical school campuses: one in Columbia and one in Greenville (established 2011 in partnership with Prisma Health). The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) has a campus in Spartanburg focused on training physicians for the Southeast.

South Carolina is home to 3 MD schools and 1 DO school.

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Pipeline programs and pre-med resources

MUSC offers several enrichment and pipeline programs for students from underrepresented backgrounds, including summer research programs and health careers exploration activities. The Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC provides cancer research opportunities.

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, established in partnership with Prisma Health (the largest health system in South Carolina), provides a community-based medical education model with early and extensive clinical exposure. The Greenville campus was founded specifically to address the physician shortage in the Upstate region.

VCOM-Carolinas in Spartanburg emphasizes training osteopathic physicians for rural and underserved communities throughout the Carolinas. The school has strong connections with community health centers and rural hospitals across the region.

South Carolina AHEC provides health careers pipeline programs for students at all education levels, including summer camps, shadowing placements, and mentoring programs.

For students in South Carolina, we recommend starting with our level-specific guides: Middle School, High School, or Undergraduate. See also our What Is Pre-Med? and Pre-Med Requirements pages.

Scholarships and loan repayment


South Carolina LIFE Scholarship
Merit-based scholarship for South Carolina residents graduating from SC high schools with qualifying GPA and SAT/ACT scores. Covers up to $5,000 per year at eligible SC institutions. Must be used at four-year institutions within the state.

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
Enhanced merit scholarship for top South Carolina high school graduates. Covers up to $6,700 per year at eligible SC four-year institutions. Higher academic requirements than the LIFE scholarship.

SC Physician Loan Repayment
South Carolina offers loan repayment for physicians practicing in underserved areas. The Rural Physician Program and other state initiatives aim to address physician shortages in rural SC counties. Check current terms through the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and SC AHEC.

For federal programs available in all states, see our Income-Driven Repayment, PSLF Guide, and Military Medical Scholarships pages.

Medical schools in South Carolina

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas (DO, Spartanburg) | Website
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine (MD, Charleston) | Website
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia (MD, Columbia) | Website
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville (MD, Greenville) | Website

For complete data including application systems and school details, see our Medical Schools Database and filter by state.

Help us improve this page

If you know of a South Carolina-specific program, scholarship, or resource that should be listed here, please use the Contact Us form or the “Share Your Thoughts” button. We update state pages regularly based on community input.

Last verified: March 2026