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College of Charleston

Public

Charleston, SC

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College of Charleston is a public large school in Charleston, SC, enrolling about 10,558 undergraduates. Admissions are not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants here -- roughly 60% of applicants get in. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services graduates, especially in Computer and Information Sciences, General, report the strongest earnings here: a median of $98,059/year. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate60%
SAT range1140–1310
ACT range25–30
Undergrads10,558
Yield (admits who enroll)13%
Next deadlineNov 2, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$32,362
4-year grad rate65%
Median earnings, 10yr out$56,416

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

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How College of Charleston weighs your application

From College of Charleston's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, 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 residenceImportant
State residencyImportant
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans38%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out60%

"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
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$58,317/yr
Biology, General$55,342/yr
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$42,466/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Accounting and Related Services$85,826/yr
Finance and Financial Management Services$84,187/yr
International Business$76,727/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$71,360/yr
Marketing$68,348/yr
Hospitality Administration/Management$64,154/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies$58,371/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer and Information Sciences, General$98,059/yr
Information Science/Studies$93,285/yr
Computer Software and Media Applications$52,596/yr
Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$46,036/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$51,705/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$56,122/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Public Health$55,660/yr
History
History$47,424/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$54,942/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
International/Globalization Studies$60,468/yr
Historic Preservation and Conservation$57,635/yr
Physical Sciences
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$63,993/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$47,926/yr
Social Sciences
Political Science and Government$58,955/yr
Anthropology$53,567/yr
Sociology$48,709/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$52,674/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$44,991/yr
Fine and Studio Arts$38,378/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 capacity3,097
Typical room charge$7,986
Typical board charge$5,000

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 rankRequired
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 College of Charleston look for in applicants?

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

What is College of Charleston's acceptance rate?

College of Charleston in Charleston, SC admits approximately 60% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for College of Charleston?

Admitted students at College of Charleston typically score between 1140–1310 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for College of Charleston?

Admitted students at College of Charleston typically score between 25–30 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does College of Charleston cost?

College of Charleston's total cost of attendance is reported at $32,362 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for College of Charleston?

College of Charleston's earliest deadline is Nov 2, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does College of Charleston require students to live on campus?

No -- College of Charleston doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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