US CollegesGetting in
College of Charleston admits 60% of those who apply, which makes it moderately selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1247 out of 1600 (midpoints: 610 in reading and writing, 575 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 26 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from South Carolina | $12,978 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $38,844 |
| Room and meals on campus | $15,653 |
| Books and supplies | $1,560 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $33,689 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $18,177 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is about the same as the median net price of colleges in South Carolina on this site ($18,564). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $14,245 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $13,240 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,854 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $18,141 |
| Above $110,000 | $25,459 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | SC median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 82% | 68% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 65% | 44% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $63,018 | $46,266 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $20,500 | $21,937 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in South Carolina and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
23% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 39% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 68% women and 32% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 3 of the 46 colleges in South Carolina on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,692.
Other colleges in South Carolina of a similar size
- Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, public
- University of South Carolina-UpstateSpartanburg, public
- Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, public
- Lander UniversityGreenwood, public
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, private nonprofit
- University of South Carolina AikenAiken, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of College of Charleston?
College of Charleston admits 60% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at College of Charleston?
Published tuition and fees are $12,978 a year for students from South Carolina and $38,844 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of College of Charleston?
65% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.