Charleston Southern: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Charleston Southern University · Charleston, South Carolina · Private nonprofit · Open access
Ranked #87 in Regional Universities South; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #253 (tie), Computer Science #502 (tie), Nursing #243 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
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Charleston Southern is a private nonprofit university in Charleston, South Carolina that admits about 96% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $21,666 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Charleston Southern is a private institution located in Charleston, South Carolina. For the most recent reporting cycle, Charleston Southern admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 96%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1059 and an ACT composite around 21. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $21,666 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Charleston Southern?
Charleston Southern has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
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SAT and ACT scores Charleston Southern typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 450–560, with an EBRW midpoint near 560. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–24. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
How much does Charleston Southern actually cost?
Published tuition is $32,520 for in-state students and $32,520 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,200 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $21,666 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 34% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $21,666 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
Most popular majors at Charleston Southern
The most popular undergraduate programs at Charleston Southern, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. Across all programs, Charleston Southern confers roughly 306 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $70,509 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 90 | $70,509 |
| Biology, General | 37 | $45,859 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 37 | $45,090 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 35 | $68,825 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 33 | $39,131 |
| Psychology, General | 30 | $44,410 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 25 | $44,413 |
| Marketing | 19 | n/a |
Is Charleston Southern safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Charleston Southern disclosed 6 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 0 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
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Common questions parents ask about Charleston Southern
What GPA do I need for Charleston Southern?
Charleston Southern has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Charleston Southern typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 450–560, with an EBRW midpoint near 560. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–24.
How much does Charleston Southern actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Charleston Southern after grants and scholarships is $21,666 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $32,520. Budget against the net figure.
Is Charleston Southern realistic for my child?
Charleston Southern admits 96% of applicants, so 450–560 SAT Math is target range and below 450 is a reach. Then check the $21,666 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Charleston Southern?
Charleston Southern accepts about 96% of applicants. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Charleston Southern a public or private school, and where is it located?
Charleston Southern is a private nonprofit institution located in Charleston, South Carolina.
What are the most popular majors at Charleston Southern?
The largest undergraduate majors at Charleston Southern by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. The school awards about 306 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Charleston Southern safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Charleston Southern reported 6 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers