College of Charleston

Charleston, SC · Public · Midsize city · Website

Admission rate: 60%; Accessible
Average net price: $18,177; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 65%
Median earnings: $63,018; 10 years after enrolling

College of Charleston is a public college in Charleston, SC with 10,558 undergraduates. It admits 60% of applicants, and admitted students average 1247 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $18,177 per year ($14,245 for families earning under $30,000). 65% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $63,018 ten years after enrolling.

public college

Admissions

Admission rate: 60%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 26,683; Fall 2023
Admitted: 19,212; Fall 2023
Yield: 14%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing590–670

200800

SAT Math550–640

200800

ACT Composite25–30

136

What College of Charleston looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPARequired
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankRequired
Essay or personal statementConsidered
RecommendationsConsidered
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusNot considered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $33,689; sticker price, per year
In-state tuition: $12,978
Out-of-state tuition: $38,844

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$14,245
$30–48k$13,240
$48–75k$14,854
$75–110k$18,141
$110k+$25,459

Get a personal estimate with College of Charleston's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 65%
Freshman retention: 82%
Median earnings: $63,018; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $20,500; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 10,558
Student–faculty ratio: 16:1
Receive Pell grants: 23%

White79%
Hispanic8%
Black5%
Asian2%

College of Charleston FAQ

What is College of Charleston's acceptance rate?+

College of Charleston admits 60% of applicants, which makes it accessible.

What SAT score do you need for College of Charleston?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 590–670 on SAT Reading and Writing and 550–640 on SAT Math; the average total is 1247.

What ACT score do you need for College of Charleston?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 25–30.

Is College of Charleston test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to College of Charleston?+

In Fall 2023, 26,683 students applied to College of Charleston and 19,212 were admitted; 2,637 enrolled.

Does College of Charleston consider legacy status?+

No. College of Charleston reported that legacy status is not considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does College of Charleston require an essay?+

College of Charleston reported that an essay or personal statement is considered for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does College of Charleston cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $33,689 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,177.

What is College of Charleston's graduation rate?+

65% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 217819 · How we use this data