College of Charleston: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Charleston, South Carolina · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Action
- 32,326
- Applicants
- 23,597
- Admitted73%
- 2,313
- Enrolled
- 10%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective73% admittedRanked #8 (tie) in Regional Universities South; Business Programs #176 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #123 (tie), Computer Science #257 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by College of Charleston (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is College of Charleston a reach, target or safety for your student?
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College of Charleston is a public university in Charleston, South Carolina that admits about 73% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $18,960 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 65% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
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 73%. 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?
62% of enrolled students at College of Charleston had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.96, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does College of Charleston weight in admissions?
College of Charleston reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
3- Class rank
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Considered
11- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
2- Interview
- Religious affiliation/commitment
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.
| 25th percentile | 1160 |
| 50th percentile | 1220 |
| 75th percentile | 1300 |
| % submitting SAT | 19% |
| 25th percentile | 23 |
| 50th percentile | 27 |
| 75th percentile | 29 |
| % submitting ACT | 9% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for first-year applicants; highest scores used if submitted.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on College of Charleston's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
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 | 15% |
| Top 25% of class | 43% |
| Top 50% of class | 78% |
| % submitting class rank | 53.3% |
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, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $12,518 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $39,344 |
| Room and board | $16,102 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $18,960 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 51% |
| Average need-based grant | $15,405 |
| Average merit award, no financial need1,074 first-year students received one | $6,448 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 54% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $37,023 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for College of Charleston
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | mber for early action, and mid-March for regular decision/ea |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| ED acceptance rate | 72% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
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
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 177 | $62,689 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 171 | $56,868 |
| Psychology, General | 168 | $48,502 |
| Biology, General | 162 | $60,971 |
| Public Health | 120 | $54,405 |
| Political Science and Government | 107 | $55,509 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 88 | $44,809 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 79 | $54,011 |
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 33% of undergraduates at College of Charleston live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 16% of men join a fraternity and 27% 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
Next steps for College of Charleston
Common questions parents ask about College of Charleston
What GPA do I need for College of Charleston?
62% of enrolled students at College of Charleston had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.96, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does College of Charleston typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 550–640, with an EBRW midpoint near 610. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–30.
How much does College of Charleston actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at College of Charleston after grants and scholarships is $18,960 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $12,978 and $38,296 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is College of Charleston realistic for my child?
College of Charleston admits 73% of applicants, so 550–640 SAT Math is target range and below 550 is a reach. Then check the $18,960 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at College of Charleston?
College of Charleston accepts about 73% of applicants out of roughly 32,326 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is College of Charleston test-optional?
Yes. College of Charleston is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, 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 College of Charleston?
About 65% of students at College of Charleston graduate within six years, and 56% finish in four years. 82% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at College of Charleston?
College of Charleston's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 72%, compared with its overall rate of 73%. The ED rate is not materially higher here, so weigh the binding commitment carefully.
What does College of Charleston look for in applicants?
College of Charleston 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 College of Charleston a public or private school, and where is it located?
College of Charleston is a public institution located in Charleston, South Carolina.
What are the most popular majors at College of Charleston?
The largest undergraduate majors at College of Charleston by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General. The school awards about 1,072 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is College of Charleston safe? What is its campus crime rate?
College of Charleston reported 32 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at College of Charleston?
At College of Charleston, 33% of undergraduates live on campus, 16% of men are in fraternities, 27% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by College of Charleston, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers