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Coastal Carolina University

Public

Conway, SC

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Coastal Carolina University is a public large school in Conway, SC, enrolling about 10,377 undergraduates. It's not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants, admitting about 75% of applicants. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services graduates, especially in Information Science/Studies, report the strongest earnings here: a median of $77,999/year. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.

Admissions

Admit rate75%
SAT range1060–12102025-26 CDS
ACT range22–272025-26 CDS
Undergrads10,377
Yield (admits who enroll)20%
Next deadlineNot reported

Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Coastal Carolina University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 29% submitted SAT scores, 10% submitted ACT scores.

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$26,6922024-25
In-state tuition & fees$11,6402024-25
Out-of-state tuition & fees$29,6282024-25
4-year grad rate50%
Median earnings, 10yr out$47,258

Out-of-state students pay $17,988 more per year in tuition and fees (2.5x the in-state rate).

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.

Paying less as an out-of-state student

Coastal Carolina University takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.

Academic Common Market

Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia can pay in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in their home state offers. You need admission to that major and approval from your home state's coordinator.

Where do you stand against Coastal Carolina University's numbers?

Check your chances here

How Coastal Carolina University weighs your application

From Coastal Carolina University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankImportant
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayConsidered
RecommendationsConsidered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesConsidered
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesConsidered
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Coastal Carolina University actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Coastal Carolina University weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans57%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out52%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$51,247/yr
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$46,896/yr
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$45,323/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Finance and Financial Management Services$70,181/yr
Accounting and Related Services$63,239/yr
Marketing$62,373/yr
Business/Managerial Economics$61,910/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$59,946/yr
Hospitality Administration/Management$50,864/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies$51,010/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Information Science/Studies$77,999/yr
Computer and Information Sciences, General$63,247/yr
Education
Special Education and Teaching$49,005/yr
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$46,581/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$37,707/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Health and Medical Administrative Services$59,575/yr
Public Health$48,238/yr
History
History$49,222/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$38,460/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Applied Mathematics$59,208/yr
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations$56,863/yr
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$50,228/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$45,469/yr
Social Sciences
Political Science and Government$53,948/yr
Sociology$47,056/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Design and Applied Arts$40,150/yr
Fine and Studio Arts$36,007/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$33,962/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity4,731
Typical room charge$5,660
Typical board charge$4,300

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsConsidered, not required

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Coastal Carolina University look for in applicants?

Per Coastal Carolina University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA, rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Coastal Carolina University's acceptance rate?

Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC admits approximately 75% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Coastal Carolina University?

Per Coastal Carolina University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1060–1210 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).

What ACT score do I need for Coastal Carolina University?

Per Coastal Carolina University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 22–27 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).

How much does Coastal Carolina University cost?

Coastal Carolina University's total cost of attendance is reported at $26,692 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Does Coastal Carolina University offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?

Yes -- Coastal Carolina University takes part in the Academic Common Market, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.

What is out-of-state tuition at Coastal Carolina University?

For 2024-25, Coastal Carolina University's published tuition and required fees were $29,628 for out-of-state students and $11,640 for in-state students -- $17,988 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.

Does Coastal Carolina University require students to live on campus?

No -- Coastal Carolina University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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