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College of Charleston

College of Charleston

Charleston, SC · City · 10,558 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Nov 1 · Early Decision I (binding) · in 30 days
Checked Oct 2026 · charleston.edu
$18,960
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
65%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
52% typical
$56,416
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$51,562 typical
60%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
81% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is a historic public liberal arts university seamlessly integrated into the heart of downtown Charleston, South Carolina, and renowned for its picturesque, live-oak-shaded Cistern Yard. The university offers standout academic programs in marine biology, historic preservation, international business, and hospitality and tourism management, all of which capitalize on the region’s rich cultural heritage and coastal ecology. Campus culture is vibrant and community-focused, providing students with a close-knit collegiate atmosphere just steps away from world-class dining, a thriving arts scene, and nearby Atlantic beaches.

Wikipedia:The College of Charleston is a public university in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785, it is the oldest university in South Carolina, the 13th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, and the country's oldest municipal college.

Location
Charleston, SC, 29424-0001 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
JAX · Jacksonville
189 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$12,978$38,296
Housing & food (on campus)$14,332$14,332
Books & supplies$1,530$1,530
Cost of attendance$32,362$63,856
Average net price$18,960Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$38,296
In-state: $12,978
Housing & food (on campus)$14,332
Books & supplies$1,530
Cost of attendance$63,856
In-state: $32,362
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $18,960
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: charleston.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
College of Charleston’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$39,344
Fees$710
Books & supplies$1,590
Personal expenses$2,365
Transportation$4,520
Total published by the school$63,856
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$12,133
$30–48k
$13,406
$48–75k
$16,797
$75–110k
$20,089
$110k+
$24,996
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
65%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
57%
Back for yr 2
82%
Transferred
25%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
66% graduated · 27% transferred · 7% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$43,821
10 yrs after entry$56,416
Debt
Median at graduation$23,250
Monthly payment$246
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$26k
90th percentile$31,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (medium programs): 52% graduate within 6 yrs, $51,562 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
60%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1247
R 590–670 · M 550–640
ACT midpoint
26
Comp 25–30 · E 24–31 · M 21–27
SAT middle 50%: 1140–1310
40080012001600
Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry
Early Decision I
Nov 1 2026
binding in 30 days
If admitted, you must enroll and withdraw other applications.
Early Decision II
Jan 15 2027
binding in 105 days
A later Early Decision round: if admitted, you must enroll and withdraw other applications.
Checked Oct 2026 · charleston.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

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Essay prompts
How much essays count at College of Charleston: Considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)
Source: College of Charleston's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

If College of Charleston 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 32%Women 68%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
16 : 1
Pell grant
19%
First-gen
20%
Family income
$58,643
Independent
12%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
4%
Race & ethnicity
White
79%
Hispanic
8%
Black
5%
Asian
2%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
1%
Unknown
1%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Beach Volleyball
    Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Equestrian
    Women's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Sailing
    Women's · Co-ed
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field (Indoor)
    Women's
  • Track and Field (Outdoor)
    Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$43,821
After 10 yrs
$56,416
Business Administration, Management and Operations178
Psychology, General161
Communication and Media Studies153
Biology, General133
Public Health129
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods115
Marketing95
Political Science and Government86
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management60
Fine and Studio Arts57
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences56
Finance and Financial Management Services55
History55
Computer and Information Sciences, General50
International/Globalization Studies48
Hospitality Administration/Management47
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$148M
Full-time faculty
65%
Faculty salary
$10,384/mo
Teaching spend
$10,229
per student
Federal loans
38%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (medium programs)
Research activity
Research college or university
$9M research spending
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if College of Charleston is the right fit for you?

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