South Carolina H 4782: Nursing Scholarships and Loans

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4782 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4782

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE 
"GRADUATE NURSING SCHOLARSHIP AND FORGIVABLE LOAN PROGRAM ACT" BY ADDING 
ARTICLE 8 TO CHAPTER 111, TITLE 59 SO AS TO ADDRESS PRIMARY CARE SHORTAGES IN 
UNDERSERVED AREAS BY INCREASING ACCESS TO GRADUATE-LEVEL NURSING EDUCATION 
THROUGH FORGIVABLE LOANS, TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE 
FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
HEALTH.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Whereas, South Carolina 
continues to experience a significant shortage of primary care providers, 
particularly in rural and underserved communities; and

Whereas, Advanced Practice 
Registered Nurses (APRNs) and nurses with graduate-level education play a 
critical and expanding role in serving as primary care providers in communities 
with limited access to physicians; and

Whereas, graduate degrees in 
nursing are required for registered nurses to become APRNs, and such degrees 
are necessary to strengthen the State's primary care workforce; and

Whereas, increased access to 
scholarships, loans, and grants for graduate-level nursing education will 
enhance the ability of South Carolina residents to pursue these advanced 
degrees; and

Whereas, expanding the number 
of APRNs and graduate-prepared nurses will help alleviate provider shortages, 
improve health outcomes, and increase access to essential healthcare services 
in underserved areas across the State; Now, therefore,

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Graduate Nursing Scholarship and 
Forgivable Loans Act."

SECTION 2. Chapter 111, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 8

Graduate Nursing Scholarship and Forgivable 
Loans

 Section 
59-111-810. As used in this article:

 (1) 
"Advanced Practice Registered Nurse" or "APRN" has the same meaning as provided 
in Section 40-33-20(5).

 (2) 
"Department" means the South Carolina Department of Health.

 (3) 
"Graduate nursing program" means an accredited master's or doctoral program in 
nursing or advanced practice nursing approved by the department.

 (4) 
"Designated nursing shortage area" means an area determined by the department 
to have a shortage of nurses or APRNs or nurses with graduate degree 
credentials, or otherwise designated as meeting a critical healthcare need.

 Section 
59-111-820. (A) The department 
shall aid, assist, promote, and administer a fund to be known as the "South 
Carolina Graduate Nursing Scholarship and Forgivable Loan Fund," with such 
funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly.

 (B) 
The department shall receive and consider applications submitted by students 
who:

 (1) 
have been legal residents of South Carolina for at least one year immediately 
preceding their application;

 (2) 
seek to enroll in or continue enrollment in a graduate nursing program; and

 (3) 
have been accepted for enrollment in an accredited graduate nursing program 
within the United States that is approved by the department.

 (C) 
The department shall conduct a full investigation of each applicant's academic 
qualifications, financial need, character, professional goals, and fitness to 
receive an award.

 (D) 
In selecting recipients, the department shall consider the applicant's stated 
intent to practice as an APRN or as a graduate-prepared registered nurse in a 
designated nursing shortage area or in another location or assignment that 
meets a critical state need.

 (E) 
The department may grant scholarships or forgivable loans to qualified 
applicants upon the terms and conditions established under this article.

 Section 
59-111-830. (A) No award may 
exceed ten thousand dollars per academic year for up to four years. Awards may 
be used to defray tuition, fees, books, supplies, living expenses, clinical 
training costs, and other costs related to graduate nursing education.

 (B) 
As a condition of receiving funds, a recipient shall:

 (1) 
apply for and maintain the appropriate nursing or APRN licensure required under 
Title 40 at the earliest practicable time; and

 (2) 
within six months after obtaining such licensure or completing required 
clinical training, engage in the practice of nursing or advanced practice 
nursing in a designated nursing shortage area or other site deemed to meet a 
critical state need.

 (C) 
The department shall annually prepare and publish a list of designated nursing 
shortage areas using current demographic, workforce, and public-health data. 
Every area of the State must be included within at least one service 
designation.

 (D) 
Recipients shall provide one year of full-time ser