Charleston Southern University (CSU)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Charleston, SC that costs an average of $20,661 a year after financial aid, admits 96% of applicants and graduates 50% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$20,661
Acceptance rate
96%
Graduation rate
50%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$52,265
Private nonprofitMidsize city2,893 undergraduates
Cost of CSU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $45,797 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $34,080 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $12,250 |
| Books and supplies | $0 |
| Average net price after aid | $20,661 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $17,825 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $19,966 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $18,299 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $21,634 |
| $110,001+ | $23,963 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with CSU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 96% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,059 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 480–600 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 450–560 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 18–24 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 50% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 63% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $45,634 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $52,265 |
| Rank in South Carolina (earnings) | 12th of 35 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $22,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $256 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 41% |
| Students with federal loans | 50% |
Majors and programs at CSU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (57)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 149 | $73,809 | $27,000 |
| Computer Science | 18 | $70,777 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 82 | $58,871 | $21,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 18 | $51,026 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 44 | $45,948 | $20,500 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 18 | $45,296 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 41 | $44,285 | $23,848 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 27 | $42,942 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 50 | $41,737 | $23,200 |
| Biology | 67 | $37,417 | $24,250 |
| Psychology | 78 | $37,260 | $23,375 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 34 | $35,274 | $22,872 |
| Air Transportation | 13 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 4 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 9 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | 1 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 2 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 6 | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 4 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 12 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 17 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 21 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| History | 7 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 1 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 15 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 11 | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | — | — | — |
| Marketing | 28 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 4 | — | — |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| Military Systems and Maintenance Technology | — | — | — |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | 2 | — | — |
| Music | 6 | — | — |
| Natural Sciences | — | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | 2 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 1 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 11 | — | — |
| Public Health | 40 | — | $24,500 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 11 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Religious Music and Worship | 2 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 8 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 38 | — | — |
| Sociology | 6 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 57 | — | $27,000 |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 12 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (20)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 82 | $102,152 | $117,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 157 | $72,816 | $39,559 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 17 | $60,320 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 23 | $40,502 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Biology | 11 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 10 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 24 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 23 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 1 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 14 | — | — |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | 2 | — | — |
| Homeland Security | — | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 15 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 65 | $83,562 | $50,803 |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | — | — | — |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in South Carolina
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson University | Anderson | $24,068 | 55% | $51,191 |
| Furman University | Greenville | $31,764 | 43% | $70,201 |
| Bob Jones University | Greenville | $14,632 | — | $49,158 |
| North Greenville University | Tigerville | $22,235 | 67% | $47,090 |
| Wofford College | Spartanburg | $23,144 | 52% | $76,744 |
| Claflin University | Orangeburg | $16,532 | 65% | $44,351 |
| Benedict College | Columbia | $17,734 | 96% | $36,562 |
| Newberry College | Newberry | $22,104 | 90% | $51,404 |
About CSU
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Charleston, SC |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 2,893 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 12 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | charlestonsouthern.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is CSU's acceptance rate?
Charleston Southern University admits 96% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,059 on the SAT.
How much does CSU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $45,797 a year (tuition and fees: $34,080). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $20,661 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $17,825.
How much do CSU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $52,265 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 12th of 35 similar colleges in South Carolina. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($73,809 a year after graduation).
What is CSU's graduation rate?
50% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 63% of first-year students return for a second year.