Coastal Carolina University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Conway, South Carolina · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
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Coastal Carolina University is a public university in Conway, South Carolina that admits about 75% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $13,966 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Marketing, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 48% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Coastal Carolina University is a public institution located in Conway, South Carolina. For the most recent reporting cycle, Coastal Carolina University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 75%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1140 and an ACT composite around 23. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,966 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Coastal Carolina University?
54% of enrolled students at Coastal Carolina University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.8, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does Coastal Carolina University weight in admissions?
Coastal Carolina University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Class rank
SAT and ACT scores Coastal Carolina University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 520–600, with an EBRW midpoint near 560. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–26. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1070 |
| 50th percentile | 1140 |
| 75th percentile | 1210 |
| % submitting SAT | 23% |
| 25th percentile | 21 |
| 50th percentile | 23 |
| 75th percentile | 26 |
| % submitting ACT | 8% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 13% |
| Top 25% of class | 38% |
| Top 50% of class | 78% |
| % submitting class rank | 65% |
How much does Coastal Carolina University actually cost?
Published tuition is $11,640 for in-state students and $29,628 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,146 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $13,966 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 26% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $11,460 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $29,448 |
| Room and board | $13,100 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $13,966 |
| Application fee | $45 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Coastal Carolina University
| Regular deadline | 2/1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | October 15 |
| ED acceptance rate | 77% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 15 |
Will my child graduate from Coastal Carolina University?
These predict outcomes at Coastal Carolina University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Coastal Carolina University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Coastal Carolina University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Marketing. Across all programs, Coastal Carolina University confers roughly 1,107 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness program report a median income of about $46,652 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 198 | $46,652 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 191 | $59,876 |
| Marketing | 154 | $63,667 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 134 | $49,719 |
| Psychology, General | 127 | $45,124 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 117 | $41,398 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 95 | $43,180 |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 91 | $49,288 |
Is Coastal Carolina University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Coastal Carolina University disclosed 13 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 3 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in South Carolina parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Coastal Carolina University
Common questions parents ask about Coastal Carolina University
What GPA do I need for Coastal Carolina University?
54% of enrolled students at Coastal Carolina University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.8, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Coastal Carolina University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 520–600, with an EBRW midpoint near 560. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–26.
How much does Coastal Carolina University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Coastal Carolina University after grants and scholarships is $13,966 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $11,640 and $29,628 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Coastal Carolina University realistic for my child?
Coastal Carolina University admits 75% of applicants, so 520–600 SAT Math is target range and below 520 is a reach. Then check the $13,966 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Coastal Carolina University?
Coastal Carolina University accepts about 75% of applicants out of roughly 21,028 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Coastal Carolina University test-optional?
Yes. Coastal Carolina University is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Coastal Carolina University?
About 48% of students at Coastal Carolina University graduate within six years. 77% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Coastal Carolina University?
Coastal Carolina University's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 77%, compared with its overall rate of 75%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Coastal Carolina University look for in applicants?
Coastal Carolina University rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Coastal Carolina University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Coastal Carolina University is a public institution located in Conway, South Carolina.
What are the most popular majors at Coastal Carolina University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Coastal Carolina University by annual graduates are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Marketing. The school awards about 1,107 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Coastal Carolina University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Coastal Carolina University reported 13 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Coastal Carolina University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers