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Coastal Carolina University
Most applicants get into Coastal Carolina University — 75.3% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Coastal Carolina University sits in Conway proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Information Science/Studies, where graduates median $77,999 four years out. Faculty pay averages $109,236 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 10,377 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 77.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1050 and 1210 — near the SC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Coastal Carolina University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Coastal Carolina University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1050–1210 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Coastal Carolina University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 530 | 570 | 610 |
| SAT Math | 520 | 550 | 600 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 23 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Coastal Carolina University received 18,223 applications and admitted 14,613 (80.2%), with 2,775 enrolling.
How Coastal Carolina University compares
| Coastal Carolina University | South Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 75.3% | 72.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,640 | $17,440 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $47,258 | $44,354 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Coastal Carolina University student earns $47,258 — 7% above the South Carolina median of $44,354 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Coastal Carolina University prices by residency: $11,640 in-state versus $29,628 out-of-state — a $17,988 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Coastal Carolina University enrolls 10,377 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Coastal Carolina University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
48.5% graduate within six years. Roughly 52% don't — ask a Coastal Carolina University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Coastal Carolina University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | $77,999 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $70,181 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $63,247 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,239 |
| Marketing | $62,373 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $61,910 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $59,946 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $59,575 |
| Applied Mathematics | $59,208 |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $56,863 |
| Political Science and Government | $53,948 |
| Biology, General | $51,247 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,010 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $50,864 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $50,228 |
| History | $49,222 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $49,005 |
| Public Health | $48,238 |
| Sociology | $47,056 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $46,896 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,581 |
| Psychology, General | $45,469 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $45,323 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $40,150 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $38,460 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $37,707 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $36,007 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $33,962 |
Median earnings for these 28 Coastal Carolina University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $47,258 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 17 additional Coastal Carolina University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Coastal Carolina University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1050–1210 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 75.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Coastal Carolina University's acceptance rate?
80.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 14,613 admitted from 18,223 applicants.
How much does Coastal Carolina University cost?
In-state tuition is $11,640; out-of-state students pay $29,628. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Coastal Carolina University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $47,258 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Carolina
- South Carolina State University — 82.6% admitted
- University of South Carolina-Union — 62.2% admitted
- University of South Carolina-Upstate — 67.3% admitted
- University of South Carolina-Sumter — 74.1% 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.