Citadel Military College of South Carolina (The Citadel)
Public four-year university in Charleston, SC that costs an average of $22,019 a year after financial aid, admits 23% of applicants and graduates 79% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$22,019
Acceptance rate
23%
Graduation rate
79%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$82,609
PublicMidsize city2,705 undergraduates
Cost of The Citadel
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $34,464 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $12,570 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $40,061 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $10,229 |
| Books and supplies | $9,300 |
| Average net price after aid | $22,019 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $17,669 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $14,356 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $19,783 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $23,356 |
| $110,001+ | $25,076 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with The Citadel's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 23% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,208 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 540–640 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 545–645 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 22–27 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 79% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 86% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $64,571 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $82,609 |
| Rank in South Carolina (earnings) | 2nd of 35 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $18,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $210 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 25% |
| Students with federal loans | 42% |
Majors and programs at The Citadel
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (27)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 39 | $76,369 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 40 | $72,528 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 28 | $67,921 | — |
| Civil Engineering | 74 | $65,435 | $15,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 132 | $62,296 | $21,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 36 | $60,711 | $12,000 |
| Business/Commerce | 211 | $56,077 | $20,122 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 97 | $48,099 | $21,000 |
| History | 31 | $46,853 | — |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 182 | $45,974 | $18,500 |
| Biology | 41 | $45,772 | $14,888 |
| Political Science and Government | 73 | $45,219 | $19,860 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 74 | $43,881 | $18,200 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 28 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 54 | — | $20,000 |
| Chemistry | 6 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 10 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 25 | — | — |
| Construction Engineering | 29 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 6 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 11 | — | — |
| Marketing | 20 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 5 | — | — |
| Physics | 10 | — | — |
| Psychology | 37 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 13 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 11 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (21)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce | 221 | $85,683 | $26,746 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 72 | $63,817 | $30,193 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 39 | $49,298 | $42,267 |
| Psychology | 61 | $45,926 | $50,838 |
| Biology | 9 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 27 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 16 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 12 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 10 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 55 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 5 | — | — |
| History | 18 | — | — |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 55 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 12 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 6 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 7 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 25 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 13 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 34 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (14)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 35 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 23 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 14 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 55 | — | — |
| History | 3 | — | — |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 15 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 6 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 8 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 16 | — | — |
Similar colleges in South Carolina
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Marion University | Florence | $10,890 | 86% | $47,527 |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg | $18,030 | 83% | $41,531 |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken | $14,565 | 79% | $51,703 |
| Lander University | Greenwood | $16,659 | 81% | $45,360 |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill | $16,375 | 79% | $49,727 |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | Bluffton | $20,646 | 73% | $51,424 |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | Spartanburg | $15,680 | 67% | $53,988 |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway | $15,287 | 75% | $54,702 |
About The Citadel
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Charleston, SC |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 2,705 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 11 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | citadel.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is The Citadel's acceptance rate?
Citadel Military College of South Carolina admits 23% of applicants, making it selective. Admitted students average 1,208 on the SAT.
How much does The Citadel cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $34,464 a year (tuition and fees: $12,570 in-state, $40,061 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $22,019 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $17,669.
How much do The Citadel graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $82,609 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 2nd of 35 similar colleges in South Carolina. The best-paid bachelor's program is electrical, electronics, and communications engineering ($76,369 a year after graduation).
What is The Citadel's graduation rate?
79% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 86% of first-year students return for a second year.