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Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University admits nearly everyone — 96.5% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Charleston Southern University is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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Charleston Southern University sits in Charleston proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Baptist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $97,290 four years out. Faculty pay averages $78,276 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 2,893 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 63.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 950 and 1160 — below the SC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Charleston Southern University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 950–1160 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Charleston Southern University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 480 | 540 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 470 | 520 | 560 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 20 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Charleston Southern University received 6,072 applications and admitted 4,620 (76.1%), with 725 enrolling.
How Charleston Southern University compares
| Charleston Southern University | South Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 96.5% | 72.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $32,520 | $17,440 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $45,898 | $44,354 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Charleston Southern University student earns $45,898 — 3% above the South Carolina median of $44,354 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Charleston Southern University lists tuition at $32,520 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Charleston Southern University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $32,520 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Charleston Southern University enrolls 2,893 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Charleston Southern University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
47.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 53% don't — ask a Charleston Southern University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Charleston Southern University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 16 Charleston Southern University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $45,898 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 41 additional Charleston Southern University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Charleston Southern University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 950–1160 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 96.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Charleston Southern University's acceptance rate?
76.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 4,620 admitted from 6,072 applicants.
How much does Charleston Southern University cost?
At Charleston Southern University, published tuition is $32,520 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Charleston Southern University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Charleston Southern University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $45,898 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
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: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.