Overview of College of Charleston
College of Charleston is a public liberal arts college. Founded in 1770 and situated in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston provides a historically rich environment for students. The C of C has a 15-to-1 student/faculty ratio and a mean class size of about 21. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations. Its curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and STEM, but students will also find outstanding pre-professional programs in business and education.
Enrollment
- Total Enrollment: 10,783 (9,880 undergraduates)
- Gender Breakdown: 36 percent male/64 percent female
- 92 percent full-time
Cost of Attendance Information
- Tuition and Fees: $12,978 (in-state); $33,308 (out-of-state)
- Books: $1,236
- Room and Board: $12,123
- Other Expenses: $3,923
- Total Cost: $30,260 (in-state); $50,590 (out-of-state)
Financial Aid Information
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 82 percent
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 73 percent
- Loans: 48 percent
- Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $9,584
- Loans: $6,763
Academic Programs Offered
- Most Popular Majors: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Visual and Performing Arts; Social Sciences; and Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Retention and Graduation
- First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 79 percent
- Transfer-Out Rate: 22 percent
- 4-Year Graduation Rate: 62 percent
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 71 percent
NCAA Athletic Programs
- Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Sailing
- Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Equestrian, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Sailing, Beach Volleyball
- The College of Charleston Cougars plays in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association.
Overview of College of Charleston Admissions
The College of Charleston accepts over three-quarters of applicants and has a somewhat selective admissions process. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants must complete an online application, and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.
Admissions Data
Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, College of Charleston had an acceptance rate of 79%. for every 100 students who submitted applications, 79 students gained admission, making C of C’s admissions process somewhat competitive.
SAT Requirements and Scores
College of Charleston requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 54% of admitted students provided SAT scores.
This admissions data tells us that C of C’s admitted students scored in the top 35% on the SAT. For the reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to the College of Charleston scored between 550 and 640, while 25% scored below 550, and 25% scored over 640. In the math section, 50% of students who gained admission scored 520 and 610, while 25% scored below 520, and 25% scored over 610. Applicants with a cumulative SAT score of 1250 or higher will have competitive chances at the College of Charleston.
ACT Requirements and Scores
College of Charleston requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 47% of admitted students provided ACT scores.
This admissions data tells us that the College of Charleston’s admitted students scored in the top 37% on the ACT. The median 50% of students admitted to C of C received a cumulative ACT score between 22 and 28, while 25% scored over 28, and 25% scored below 22.
GPA
In 2019, the median 50% of the College of Charleston’s class had high school GPAs between 3.4 and 4.35. 25% had a GPA of over 4.35, and 25% had a GPA below 3.4. Successful applicants have A and B grades primarily.
Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission
If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for College of Charleston, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If the College of Charleston is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.
Texas State University, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Georgia State University, Florida Agricultural, and Mechanical University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Texas at El Paso, California State University Northridge
Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission
If you’re a competitive candidate for the College of Charleston, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.
Pace University, University of North Texas, San Jose State University, California State University Long Beach, Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Washington State University
Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge
These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than College of Charleston. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.
University of Cincinnati, Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy, Hofstra University, Auburn University, Temple University, Seton Hall University
Applying to College of Charleston
Application Deadline: February 15
Undergraduate Admissions Website: http://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/freshmen/
Undergraduate Application Link(s): http://cofc.edu/apply/
Graduate Admissions Website: https://gradschool.cofc.edu/admission-information/
Graduate Application Link(s):
https://ucsc.force.com/portal/TX_SiteLogin?startURL=%2Fportal%2FTargetX_Base__Portal
