Best Online Healthcare Programs in Aiken, SC (2026)
Aiken, South Carolina has a population of about 32,334. The city’s median household income is $69,837 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 45.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Aiken, with tuition ranging from $11,060 to $29,957 per year for indexed programs. In the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Medical and Health Services Manager at a median $119,100 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Healthcare Schools to Aiken
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 35 schools in our directory that offer healthcare programs near Aiken. Distances are calculated from Aiken city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken Technical College | Graniteville, SC | 6.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Augusta University | Augusta, GA | 15.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Helms College | Augusta, GA | 19.1 mi | $17,924 - $26,400 | – |
| Augusta Technical College | Augusta, GA | 20.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Miller-Motte College-Augusta | Augusta, GA | 20.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Augusta School of Massage | Evans, GA | 23.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia, SC | 45.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fortis College-Columbia | Columbia, SC | 50.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, SC | 50.7 mi | $11,060 - $29,957 | – |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia, SC | 51.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Carolina schools on the South Carolina healthcare page.
Healthcare Wages Near Aiken
Aiken is part of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area (BLS area code 12260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to South Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $119,100 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $129,597 |
| Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar | $39,500 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $42,982 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $48,190 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $52,437 |
| Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant | $36,610 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $39,837 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $64,390 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $70,065 |
| Epidemiologist | $80,730 | SC statewide | $87,845 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Aiken at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,334 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $69,837 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 45.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 91.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Healthcare-related employment in Aiken County | 7,128 workers, 530 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Aiken-Area Cities With Healthcare Programs
- North Augusta, SC – 13.1 mi away (22,932 pop)
- Augusta, GA – 22.9 mi away (389,215 pop)
- Lexington, SC – 43.0 mi away (20,988 pop)
- Orangeburg, SC – 49.6 mi away (31,666 pop)
- Greenwood, SC – 52.0 mi away (42,279 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited healthcare schools are near Aiken, SC?
Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Aiken. The closest is Aiken Technical College in Graniteville, SC (6.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of South Carolina-Columbia (51.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Aiken?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Aiken are: Medical and Health Services Manager ($119,100), Epidemiologist ($80,730), Healthcare Social Worker ($64,390). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with South Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in North Augusta instead of Aiken?
North Augusta, SC is 13.1 miles from Aiken and has its own set of local healthcare programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Aiken an affordable place to study healthcare?
Aiken’s median household income of $69,837 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Aiken while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Carolina public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
- Online Healthcare Programs in South Carolina
- Main Healthcare Degree Guide
- Healthcare Programs by State
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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