College of Charleston is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Charleston, South Carolina. It enrolls 10,558 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes68
Value61
Affordability36
Selectivity72
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 60%, College of Charleston is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
60%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1140 – 1310
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether College of Charleston is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
6.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending College of Charleston isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,960 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,960
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$12,978
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$38,296
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,332
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,091
Books & Supplies
$1,530
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,849
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,849
Total Cost of Attendance
$32,362
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,133
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,406
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,797
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,089
Over $110,000
$24,996
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,500
↓ $2,750
No Pell $14,000
↓ $9,250
Dependent students $16,750
↓ $6,500
Independent students $21,721
↓ $1,529
Female students $17,500
↓ $5,750
Male students $17,009
↓ $6,241
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at College of Charleston graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered College of Charleston earn a median of $56,416 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,416
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$53,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$47,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,300, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 78% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
College of Charleston is home to 10,558 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
10,558
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 78.9%8,334
Hispanic 7.7%814
Black 5.3%563
Other 4.0%422
Asian 1.9%202
International 1.0%103
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at College of Charleston. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityCharleston, South Carolina
Housing
Partly residential3,749 beds available
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
College of Charleston offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
73 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of Charleston is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,653
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$129M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$90,583
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
524 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
154
29%
$109,708
Associate Professors
181
35%
$90,512
Assistant Professors
117
22%
$78,669
Instructors
72
14%
$69,219
Pros & Cons of College of Charleston
A quick at-a-glance summary of how College of Charleston tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about College of Charleston
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about College of Charleston.
Is College of Charleston hard to get into?
Admissions at College of Charleston are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 60%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at College of Charleston?
College of Charleston has an acceptance rate of 60%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for College of Charleston?
The middle 50% of admitted students at College of Charleston scored between 1140 and 1310 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for College of Charleston?
The middle 50% of admitted students at College of Charleston scored between 25 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does College of Charleston cost?
The average net price after aid at College of Charleston is $18,960 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is College of Charleston worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,416 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,960 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is College of Charleston known for?
College of Charleston is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do College of Charleston graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering College of Charleston are $56,416, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is College of Charleston accredited?
Yes. College of Charleston is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend College of Charleston?
College of Charleston enrolls 10,558 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at College of Charleston?
College of Charleston graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is College of Charleston a public or private college?
College of Charleston is a Public institution.
Where is College of Charleston located?
College of Charleston is located in Charleston, South Carolina.
What programs does College of Charleston offer?
College of Charleston offers 73 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Communication & Media.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at College of Charleston?
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of Charleston is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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