Colleges › South Carolina › Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern University is a private campus in Charleston proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. The school reports a Baptist affiliation in its federal filings.

Compare this school Find colleges

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$19,840

family income
under $30k

$19,236

$30–48k

$22,405

$48–75k

$23,957

$75–110k

$23,804

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$21,6662023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Charleston Southern University fell from $25,576 (2008) to $21,666 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$25,576
2009	$17,031
2010	$15,719
2011	$18,369
2012	$17,197
2013	$18,234
2014	$17,241
2015	$16,267
2016	$17,297
2017	$17,561
2018	$17,804
2019	$17,671
2020	$17,368
2021	$17,591
2022	$21,955
2023	$21,666

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$44,5582024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Charleston Southern University rose from $32,234 (2009) to $44,558 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$32,234
2010	$29,843
2011	$31,050
2012	$32,036
2013	$33,245
2014	$34,528
2015	$35,220
2016	$36,060
2017	$36,794
2018	$37,287
2019	$38,741
2020	$40,177
2021	$40,591
2022	$42,810
2023	$43,989
2024	$44,558

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$11,346
2001	$12,568
2002	$13,482
2003	$14,426
2004	$15,292
2005	$15,980
2006	$16,780
2007	$17,795
2008	$18,708
2013	$22,090
2014	$22,840
2015	$23,440
2016	$24,140
2017	$24,840
2018	$25,540
2019	$26,000
2020	$28,100
2021	$28,930
2022	$29,990
2023	$31,030

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Charleston Southern University reports published tuition of $32,520 in this record. Charleston Southern University's $32,520 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Charleston Southern University reports 2,893 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

47.2% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Charleston Southern University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

47.2%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Charleston Southern University rose from 36.7% (entered 1995) to 47.2% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1995 cohort	36.7%
1996 cohort	30.4%
1997 cohort	34.6%
1998 cohort	33.1%
1999 cohort	34.7%
2000 cohort	35.3%
2001 cohort	39.3%
2002 cohort	43.9%
2003 cohort	33.9%
2004 cohort	34.1%
2005 cohort	38.4%
2006 cohort	37.8%
2007 cohort	36.1%
2008 cohort	34.1%
2009 cohort	39.1%
2010 cohort	36.1%
2011 cohort	34.8%
2012 cohort	42%
2013 cohort	41.5%
2014 cohort	44.3%
2015 cohort	49.3%
2016 cohort	43.7%
2017 cohort	48.6%
2018 cohort	47.2%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1995–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$15,719	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$16,697	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$16,589	$5,050
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$16,875	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$17,125	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,125	$5,369
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$18,616	$5,937
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$19,304	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$22,000	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$25,000	$6,750
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$26,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$26,935	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$27,000	$9,309
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$27,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$27,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$27,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$27,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$27,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$27,000	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$26,471	$8,526

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$40,606

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$43,795

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$45,898

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Charleston Southern University admitted 4,495 of 4,660 applicants in Fall 2024. The 96.5% rate describes that application pool.

96.5%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $31,030 tuition · 2023–24 2,893 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 930–11601600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Charleston Southern University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Charleston Southern University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 480–600 and Math was 450–560 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 930–1160 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	480	530	600
SAT Math	450	510	560
ACT Composite	18	21	24

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Charleston Southern University received 4,660 applications and admitted 4,495 (96.5%), with 795 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

96.5%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	77.3%
Fall 2002	77.5%
Fall 2003	79.9%
Fall 2004	71%
Fall 2005	70.9%
Fall 2006	69.3%
Fall 2007	67.1%
Fall 2008	61.6%
Fall 2009	63.6%
Fall 2010	58.5%
Fall 2011	64.6%
Fall 2012	82.2%
Fall 2013	68.9%
Fall 2014	58.7%
Fall 2015	60.2%
Fall 2016	60.6%
Fall 2017	56.3%
Fall 2018	52%
Fall 2019	49.6%
Fall 2020	53.8%
Fall 2021	57.2%
Fall 2022	86.8%
Fall 2023	76.1%
Fall 2024	96.5%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

930–1160Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	880	1100
Fall 2002	870	1090
Fall 2003	860	1080
Fall 2004	870	1080
Fall 2005	870	1080
Fall 2006	850	1070
Fall 2007	860	1080
Fall 2008	890	1150
Fall 2009	1000	1170
Fall 2010	860	1080
Fall 2011	880	1098
Fall 2012	860	1100
Fall 2013	870	1080
Fall 2014	890	1080
Fall 2015	910	1110
Fall 2016	910	1110
Fall 2017	1010	1090
Fall 2018	1020	1200
Fall 2019	1020	1200
Fall 2020	990	1170
Fall 2021	990	1200
Fall 2022	940	1170
Fall 2023	950	1160
Fall 2024	930	1160

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

18–24Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	17	21
Fall 2002	17	22
Fall 2003	17	21
Fall 2004	17	22
Fall 2005	18	22
Fall 2006	16	21
Fall 2007	18	22
Fall 2008	18	22
Fall 2009	21	27
Fall 2010	18	23
Fall 2011	19	24
Fall 2012	18	24
Fall 2013	18	23
Fall 2014	19	24
Fall 2015	20	25
Fall 2016	20	24
Fall 2017	20	22
Fall 2018	20	26
Fall 2019	20	31
Fall 2020	19	24
Fall 2021	18	23
Fall 2022	18	23
Fall 2023	17	24
Fall 2024	18	24

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

2,893Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Charleston Southern University rose from 2,343 (Fall 2002) to 2,893 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	2,343
Fall 2003	2,355
Fall 2004	2,393
Fall 2005	2,576
Fall 2006	2,654
Fall 2007	2,828
Fall 2008	2,761
Fall 2009	2,771
Fall 2010	2,753
Fall 2011	2,895
Fall 2012	2,763
Fall 2013	2,904
Fall 2014	2,949
Fall 2015	3,112
Fall 2016	3,190
Fall 2017	3,034
Fall 2018	2,933
Fall 2019	2,757
Fall 2020	2,698
Fall 2021	2,714
Fall 2022	2,771
Fall 2023	2,716
Fall 2024	2,893

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

63%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Charleston Southern University has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023 — up to 70% at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 63%.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	70%
Fall 2003 cohort	54%
Fall 2004 cohort	60%
Fall 2005 cohort	62%
Fall 2006 cohort	62%
Fall 2007 cohort	60%
Fall 2008 cohort	60%
Fall 2009 cohort	64%
Fall 2010 cohort	63%
Fall 2011 cohort	56%
Fall 2012 cohort	65%
Fall 2013 cohort	64%
Fall 2014 cohort	65%
Fall 2015 cohort	70%
Fall 2016 cohort	66%
Fall 2017 cohort	67%
Fall 2018 cohort	65%
Fall 2019 cohort	70%
Fall 2020 cohort	68%
Fall 2021 cohort	70%
Fall 2022 cohort	62%
Fall 2023 cohort	63%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Charleston Southern University

Faculty pay at Charleston Southern University averages $78,276 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Charleston Southern University as a primarily residential campus of 2,893 undergraduates — and 63.1% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Charleston Southern University's SAT section-percentile sums are 930–1160 — their midpoint is below the SC four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Charleston Southern University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Charleston Southern University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Charleston Southern University96.5%

South Carolina median72.5%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Charleston Southern University$32,520

South Carolina median$17,440

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Charleston Southern University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Charleston Southern University$45,898

South Carolina median$44,354

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Charleston Southern University, South Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	Charleston Southern University	South Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	96.5%	72.5%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$32,520	$17,440	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$45,898	$44,354	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Charleston Southern University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Charleston Southern University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 16 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$97,290
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$75,175
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$69,117
Accounting and Related Services	$58,600
Human Resources Management and Services	$57,482
Health and Medical Administrative Services	$57,253
Marketing	$57,179
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$53,162
Communication and Media Studies	$50,824
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$48,154
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$47,715
Biology, General	$46,399
Social Sciences, General	$44,416
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$43,743
Psychology, General	$41,934
Design and Applied Arts	$41,925

These 16 fields listed for Charleston Southern University measure earnings after completion. The $45,898 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 41 additional Charleston Southern University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Charleston Southern University report?

Charleston Southern University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 930–1160 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Charleston Southern University's acceptance rate?

96.5% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 4,495 admitted from 4,660 applicants.

How much does Charleston Southern University cost?

At Charleston Southern University, tuition is $32,520. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Charleston Southern University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $45,898. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in South Carolina

Benedict College — 95.7% admitted
Southern Wesleyan University — 99.5% admitted
Coker University — 94% admitted
Columbia International University — 94.5% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.