College of Charleston
Public four-year university in Charleston, SC that costs an average of $18,177 a year after financial aid, admits 60% of applicants and graduates 65% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$18,177
Acceptance rate
60%
Graduation rate
65%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$63,018
PublicMidsize city10,558 undergraduates
Cost of College of Charleston
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $33,689 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $12,978 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $38,844 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $15,653 |
| Books and supplies | $1,560 |
| Average net price after aid | $18,177 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $14,245 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $13,240 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $14,854 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $18,141 |
| $110,001+ | $25,459 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with College of Charleston's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 60% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,247 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 590–670 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 550–640 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 25–30 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 65% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 82% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $48,876 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $63,018 |
| Rank in South Carolina (earnings) | 7th of 35 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $20,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $233 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 23% |
| Students with federal loans | 39% |
Majors and programs at College of Charleston
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (56)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | 90 | $74,524 | $21,896 |
| Information Science/Studies | 39 | $64,909 | $26,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 121 | $61,455 | $19,250 |
| Economics | 37 | $60,428 | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 60 | $59,940 | $22,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 75 | $55,543 | $20,500 |
| International Business | 64 | $53,863 | $20,192 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 405 | $53,792 | $21,125 |
| Mathematics | 22 | $52,768 | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 45 | $52,173 | $26,500 |
| Marketing | 184 | $50,407 | $20,500 |
| Real Estate | 66 | $49,551 | $18,700 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 28 | $46,409 | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 71 | $46,379 | $13,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 31 | $45,870 | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 16 | $44,791 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 54 | $44,675 | $15,875 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 203 | $44,614 | $19,500 |
| Chemistry | 50 | $44,523 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 344 | $42,620 | $20,000 |
| Political Science and Government | 168 | $39,641 | $19,500 |
| English Language and Literature | 94 | $37,530 | $21,500 |
| History | 114 | $37,444 | $21,875 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 51 | $37,437 | $22,625 |
| Public Health | 232 | $37,169 | $19,625 |
| Biology | 301 | $36,558 | $21,500 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 110 | $36,507 | $19,500 |
| Psychology | 350 | $35,567 | $21,500 |
| Sociology | 83 | $34,238 | $22,000 |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 45 | $34,200 | — |
| Anthropology | 42 | $33,530 | $19,250 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 130 | $32,301 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 98 | $31,372 | $22,275 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 77 | $30,271 | $23,500 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 73 | $23,809 | $23,563 |
| Archeology | 31 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 12 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 21 | — | — |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 7 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 24 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Dance | 16 | — | — |
| Data Science | 24 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 24 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 54 | — | $27,000 |
| Music | 29 | — | — |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | — | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 4 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 17 | — | — |
| Physics | 27 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 9 | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 4 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 7 | — | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 15 | — | — |
Certificate programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 8 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 10 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | — | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 6 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (22)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 102 | $77,335 | $23,323 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 28 | $70,624 | — |
| Public Administration | 38 | $61,020 | $41,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 42 | $58,037 | $41,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 67 | $50,828 | $29,802 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | — | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 2 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 11 | — | — |
| Data Science | 9 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 33 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 8 | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 9 | — | — |
| History | 21 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 21 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 11 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 19 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 18 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 22 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | — | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 5 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics | — | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 10 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 7 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 11 | — | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 8 | — | — |
Similar colleges in South Carolina
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway | $15,287 | 75% | $54,702 |
| Clemson University | Clemson | $22,032 | 38% | $79,064 |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | Spartanburg | $15,680 | 67% | $53,988 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia | $22,197 | 60% | $69,024 |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill | $16,375 | 79% | $49,727 |
| Lander University | Greenwood | $16,659 | 81% | $45,360 |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken | $14,565 | 79% | $51,703 |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg | $18,030 | 83% | $41,531 |
About College of Charleston
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Charleston, SC |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 10,558 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 16 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | charleston.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is College of Charleston's acceptance rate?
College of Charleston admits 60% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,247 on the SAT.
How much does College of Charleston cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $33,689 a year (tuition and fees: $12,978 in-state, $38,844 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $18,177 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $14,245.
How much do College of Charleston graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $63,018 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 7th of 35 similar colleges in South Carolina. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer and information sciences ($74,524 a year after graduation).
What is College of Charleston's graduation rate?
65% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 82% of first-year students return for a second year.