College of Charleston: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

College of Charleston is a public institution located in Charleston, South Carolina with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, College of Charleston admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 60%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1220 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,960 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for College of Charleston?

68% of enrolled students at College of Charleston had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 4, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does College of Charleston weight in admissions?

College of Charleston reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores College of Charleston typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 550–640, with an EBRW midpoint near 610. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–30. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

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.

How much does College of Charleston actually cost?

Published tuition is $12,978 for in-state students and $38,296 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,332 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $18,960 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for College of Charleston

Will my child graduate from College of Charleston?

These predict outcomes at College of Charleston better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at College of Charleston

The most popular undergraduate programs at College of Charleston, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General. Across all programs, College of Charleston confers roughly 1,072 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $62,689 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is College of Charleston safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), College of Charleston disclosed 32 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 18 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at College of Charleston?

About 32% of undergraduates at College of Charleston live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 22% of men join a fraternity and 30% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in South Carolina parents ask about

• Furman University
  43% acceptance
• Wofford College
  52% acceptance
• Clemson University
  38% acceptance
• University of South Carolina-Columbia
  60% acceptance
• Winthrop University
  79% acceptance
• Coastal Carolina University
  75% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• Milwaukee School of Engineering
  59% acceptance · Wisconsin
• Drury University
  58% acceptance · Missouri

Common questions parents ask about College of Charleston