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College of Charleston
College of Charleston says yes to 60% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $56,416 median earnings.
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College of Charleston sits in Charleston proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $98,059 four years out. 18.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 10,558 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 82% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1130 and 1300 — above the SC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on College of Charleston's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, College of Charleston received 26,683 applications and admitted 19,212 (72%), with 2,637 enrolling.
You can apply to College of Charleston without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1130 and 1300; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 580 | 620 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 550 | 590 | 640 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 27 | 29 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How College of Charleston compares
| College of Charleston | South Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 60% | 72.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $12,978 | $17,440 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $56,416 | $44,354 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors College of Charleston: $56,416 median at year ten, versus $44,354 across South Carolina institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $12,978 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $38,296. For non-residents, College of Charleston's $38,296 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 10,558 undergrads, College of Charleston is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
65.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 34% don't — ask a College of Charleston tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at College of Charleston
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $98,059 |
| Information Science/Studies | $93,285 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $85,826 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $84,187 |
| International Business | $76,727 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $71,360 |
| Marketing | $68,348 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $64,154 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $63,993 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $60,468 |
| Political Science and Government | $58,955 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $58,371 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $58,317 |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | $57,635 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $56,122 |
| Public Health | $55,660 |
| Biology, General | $55,342 |
| Mathematics | $54,942 |
| Anthropology | $53,567 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $52,674 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $52,596 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $51,705 |
| Sociology | $48,709 |
| Psychology, General | $47,926 |
| History | $47,424 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,036 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $44,991 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $42,466 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,378 |
Median earnings for these 29 College of Charleston programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $56,416 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 27 additional College of Charleston programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for College of Charleston?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1130–1300 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 60% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is College of Charleston's acceptance rate?
72% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 19,212 admitted from 26,683 applicants.
How much does College of Charleston cost?
In-state tuition is $12,978; out-of-state students pay $38,296. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do College of Charleston graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $56,416 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Carolina
- Claflin University — 64.9% admitted
- Converse University — 67.7% admitted
- Erskine College — 62.7% admitted
- Allen University — 72.5% 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.