Citadel Military College of South Carolina — College Profile

About

Located in historic Charleston, South Carolina, The Citadel is a renowned Senior Military College recognized for its disciplined leadership development and standout programs in engineering, business administration, and intelligence and homeland security. The undergraduate experience is anchored by the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, immersing students in a structured, military-style environment governed by a strict Honor Code, daily formations, and rigorous physical training. Cadets are bonded by storied traditions—most notably earning the prestigious Citadel Ring—and graduate with exceptional resilience and access to an intensely loyal alumni network across both civilian and military careers.

Wikipedia:The Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a public senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Established in 1842, it is the third oldest of the six senior military colleges in the United States. The Citadel was initially established as two schools to educate young men from around the state, while simultaneously protecting the South Carolina State Arsenals in both Columbia and Charleston.

Location

Charleston, SC, 29409 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

JAX · Jacksonville

189 mi away

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Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$12,570$38,508

Housing & food (on campus)$9,705$9,705

Books & supplies$9,741$9,741

Cost of attendance$33,880$67,332

Average net price$20,723Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$38,508

In-state: $12,570

Housing & food (on campus)$9,705

Books & supplies$9,741

Cost of attendance$67,332

In-state: $33,880

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $20,723

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.citadel.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state

Tuition$41,657

Books & supplies$9,300

Personal expenses$2,320

Transportation$3,094

Total published by the school$67,332

Source: www.citadel.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$15,430

$30–48k

$16,456

$48–75k

$18,140

$75–110k

$20,620

$110k+

$24,047

Your family's actual price → Citadel Military College of South Carolina net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$9,317

Share of first-years who get one35%

Source: Citadel Military College of South Carolina's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

74%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

68%

Back for yr 2

86%

Transferred

18%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

73% graduated · 18% transferred · 9% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$60,168

10 yrs after entry$72,085

Debt

Median at graduation$21,096

Monthly payment$224

Middle 50% owe$8.1k–$26k

90th percentile$29,100

Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (larger programs): 54% graduate within 6 yrs, $55,177 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

23%

Test policy

Test optional

Checked Sep 2026

SAT average

1208

R 540–640 · M 545–645

SAT middle 50%: 1085–1285

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Citadel Military College of South Carolina asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 86%Women 14%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

11 : 1

Pell grant

20%

First-gen

19%

Family income

$70,469

Independent

17%

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

73%

Hispanic

10%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's
Football
Men's
Golf
Women's
Rifle
Women's · Co-ed
Soccer
Women's
Tennis
Men's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$60,168

After 10 yrs

$72,085

Business/Commerce, General129

Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations103

Mechanical Engineering69

Criminal Justice and Corrections52

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness44

Civil Engineering38

Political Science and Government34

Business Administration, Management and Operations28

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering22

Finance and Financial Management Services22

Psychology, General21

Computer and Information Sciences, General20

Construction Engineering19

History19

Biology, General17

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing16

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$420M

Full-time faculty

70%

Faculty salary

$10,071/mo

Teaching spend

$10,016

per student

Federal loans

36%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (larger programs)

Research activity

Research college or university

$5M research spending

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions