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College of Charleston

College of Charleston is a public campus in Charleston proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

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

$13,017

family income
under $30k

$13,418

$30–48k

$18,049

$48–75k

$23,178

$75–110k

$24,730

over $110k

Average net price

$18,9602023–24Skip 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 College of Charleston rose from $14,746 (2008) to $18,960 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$14,746
2009	$13,536
2010	$15,231
2011	$15,063
2012	$15,915
2013	$16,838
2014	$17,826
2015	$17,894
2016	$19,311
2017	$18,783
2018	$19,000
2019	$19,654
2020	$18,394
2021	$18,690
2022	$19,518
2023	$18,960

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$32,3622024–25Skip 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 College of Charleston rose from $20,837 (2009) to $32,362 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$20,837
2010	$22,115
2011	$23,932
2012	$23,798
2013	$25,086
2014	$26,228
2015	$26,820
2016	$27,495
2017	$28,426
2018	$28,911
2019	$29,576
2020	$29,545
2021	$30,219
2022	$30,468
2023	$30,731
2024	$32,362

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

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

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,630	$7,910
2001	$3,780	$8,540
2002	$4,858	$10,974
2003	$5,770	$13,032
2004	$6,202	$14,140
2005	$6,668	$15,342
2006	$7,234	$16,800
2007	$7,778	$18,732
2008	$8,400	$20,418
2013	$10,626	$27,090
2014	$10,981	$27,971
2015	$11,322	$28,866
2016	$11,805	$29,963
2017	$12,422	$30,810
2018	$12,838	$32,020
2019	$12,939	$33,269
2020	$12,978	$33,308
2021	$12,978	$34,438
2022	$12,978	$35,798
2023	$12,978	$36,858

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

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

College of Charleston reports tuition of $12,978 for in-state students and $38,296 for out-of-state students. Check College of Charleston’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 10,558 undergrads, College of Charleston is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

65.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at College of Charleston 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

65.8%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 College of Charleston rose from 53.9% (entered 1991) to 65.8% (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
1991 cohort	53.9%
1992 cohort	51.8%
1993 cohort	51.8%
1994 cohort	52.8%
1995 cohort	56.6%
1996 cohort	53.9%
1997 cohort	55.5%
1998 cohort	57.4%
1999 cohort	57.5%
2000 cohort	60.6%
2001 cohort	59.5%
2002 cohort	63.9%
2003 cohort	64%
2004 cohort	66.1%
2005 cohort	63.3%
2006 cohort	68.8%
2007 cohort	64.5%
2008 cohort	66.5%
2009 cohort	68%
2010 cohort	69.2%
2011 cohort	69.2%
2012 cohort	71.4%
2013 cohort	65.6%
2014 cohort	65.7%
2015 cohort	67%
2016 cohort	64.7%
2017 cohort	65%
2018 cohort	65.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

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 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$14,665	$5,688
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$14,750	$4,594
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$14,500	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$14,314	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$13,063	$7,550
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$13,500	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,625	$4,432
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,027	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,250	$4,822
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,125	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$13,500	$4,179
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$14,094	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$15,255	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$16,776	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$19,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$20,750	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$21,500	$5,770
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$22,250	$6,000
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$21,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$21,500	$7,778
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$21,608	$8,735
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$22,000	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$23,000	$8,152
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$23,250	$8,750

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

$43,821

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$50,232

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$56,416

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

College of Charleston admitted 19,016 of 31,680 applicants in Fall 2024. The 60% rate describes that application pool.

60%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $12,978 in-state tuition · 2023–24 10,558 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1140–13101600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, College of Charleston received 31,680 applications and admitted 19,016 (60%), with 2,265 enrolling.

College of Charleston reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For College of Charleston’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 590–670 and Math was 550–640 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1140–1310 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	590	630	670
SAT Math	550	590	640
ACT Composite	25	27	30

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).

Acceptance rate

60%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	65.5%
Fall 2002	59.6%
Fall 2003	59.6%
Fall 2004	60%
Fall 2005	64.9%
Fall 2006	66.2%
Fall 2007	61.5%
Fall 2008	64.6%
Fall 2009	64.2%
Fall 2010	69.5%
Fall 2011	70%
Fall 2012	73.5%
Fall 2013	70.3%
Fall 2014	78%
Fall 2015	77.1%
Fall 2016	84.1%
Fall 2017	80.5%
Fall 2018	79.3%
Fall 2019	78.3%
Fall 2020	74.3%
Fall 2021	76.1%
Fall 2022	75.7%
Fall 2023	72%
Fall 2024	60%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1140–1310Fall 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	1080	1230
Fall 2002	1080	1260
Fall 2003	1100	1270
Fall 2004	1120	1280
Fall 2005	1120	1270
Fall 2006	1140	1290
Fall 2007	1130	1300
Fall 2008	1090	1280
Fall 2009	1140	1300
Fall 2010	1120	1290
Fall 2011	1120	1280
Fall 2012	1080	1280
Fall 2013	1070	1260
Fall 2014	1030	1230
Fall 2015	1030	1210
Fall 2016	1000	1190
Fall 2017	1070	1230
Fall 2018	1070	1250
Fall 2019	1080	1260
Fall 2020	1070	1240
Fall 2021	1090	1280
Fall 2022	1130	1300
Fall 2023	1130	1300
Fall 2024	1140	1310

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

25–30Fall 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	21	25
Fall 2003	22	26
Fall 2004	22	25
Fall 2005	21	25
Fall 2006	22	25
Fall 2007	23	26
Fall 2008	21	26
Fall 2009	23	26
Fall 2010	23	27
Fall 2011	22	26
Fall 2012	22	26
Fall 2013	23	28
Fall 2014	23	27
Fall 2015	23	28
Fall 2016	22	27
Fall 2017	22	27
Fall 2018	22	28
Fall 2019	22	28
Fall 2020	21	28
Fall 2021	23	29
Fall 2022	24	30
Fall 2023	24	29
Fall 2024	25	30

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

10,558Fall 2024Skip to data table

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

Undergraduate enrollment at College of Charleston rose from 9,587 (Fall 2002) to 10,558 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	9,587
Fall 2003	9,427
Fall 2004	9,479
Fall 2005	9,501
Fall 2006	9,423
Fall 2007	9,499
Fall 2008	9,415
Fall 2009	9,736
Fall 2010	9,771
Fall 2011	10,132
Fall 2012	10,206
Fall 2013	10,150
Fall 2014	10,069
Fall 2015	10,033
Fall 2016	10,033
Fall 2017	9,599
Fall 2018	9,622
Fall 2019	9,287
Fall 2020	9,100
Fall 2021	9,770
Fall 2022	9,667
Fall 2023	10,366
Fall 2024	10,558

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

82%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 College of Charleston has held near 82% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	83%
Fall 2003 cohort	82%
Fall 2004 cohort	82%
Fall 2005 cohort	80%
Fall 2006 cohort	82%
Fall 2007 cohort	79%
Fall 2008 cohort	82%
Fall 2009 cohort	81%
Fall 2010 cohort	83%
Fall 2011 cohort	81%
Fall 2012 cohort	83%
Fall 2013 cohort	79%
Fall 2014 cohort	79%
Fall 2015 cohort	79%
Fall 2016 cohort	78%
Fall 2017 cohort	79%
Fall 2018 cohort	81%
Fall 2019 cohort	80%
Fall 2020 cohort	83%
Fall 2021 cohort	80%
Fall 2022 cohort	82%
Fall 2023 cohort	82%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about College of Charleston

18.8% of College of Charleston's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes College of Charleston as a primarily residential campus of 10,558 undergraduates — and 82% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

College of Charleston's SAT section-percentile sums are 1140–1310 — their midpoint is above the SC four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on College of Charleston'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 College of Charleston 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

College of Charleston60%

South Carolina median72.5%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

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

College of Charleston$12,978

South Carolina median$17,440

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

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

College of Charleston's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

College of Charleston$56,416

South Carolina median$44,354

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

College of Charleston, South Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	College of Charleston	South Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	60%	72.5%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$12,978	$17,440	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$56,416	$44,354	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

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

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

View 29 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	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

These 29 fields listed for College of Charleston measure earnings after completion. The $56,416 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 27 additional College of Charleston fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does College of Charleston report?

College of Charleston's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1140–1310 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is College of Charleston's acceptance rate?

60% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 19,016 admitted from 31,680 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 earnings data does College of Charleston report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $56,416. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in South Carolina

Claflin University — 64.9% admitted
Converse University — 67.7% admitted
Erskine College — 62.7% admitted
Lander University — 81.3% 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.