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Charleston, SC · Columbia, SC
| Charleston Southern University | Columbia College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $21,666/yr | $18,408/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $20,145/yr | $17,541/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,471 | $22,750 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $23,024/yr | $17,017/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $20,697/yr | $16,816/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $21,648/yr | $22,928/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $23,226/yr | $20,399/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $281/mo | $241/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,200/yr | $9,390/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,850/yr | $10,504/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $0/yr | $1,000/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,070/yr | $5,444/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $44,558/yr | $35,258/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $32,520/yr | $22,214/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $32,520/yr | $22,214/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 34% | 54% |
| Students taking federal loans | 48% | 65% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 96% | 94% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 930–1160 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1059 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–24 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 16–24 · Math 17–24 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 6,072 | 2,163 |
| Students accepted | 4,620 | 2,072 |
| Students who enrolled | 725 | 204 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 16% | 9.9% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 47% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 33% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Essay | Not considered | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 47% | 37% |
| Freshmen who come back | 63% | 60% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $45,898/yr | $41,338/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $29,949–$65,834 | $26,337–$55,228 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 45% | 53% |
| White students graduating | 58% | 51% |
| Black students graduating | 31% | 30% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 26% | 43% |
| Asian students graduating | 70% | 100% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $40,606/yr | $45,863/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 67% | 64% |
| Graduate on time | 37% | 26% |
| Pell students who graduate | 40% | 30% |
| First-gen students who finish | 40% | 57% |
| Low-income students who finish | 36% | 56% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 46% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $43,795/yr | $40,843/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Education 8% | Homeland Security & Protective Services 16% · Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Education 16% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 20% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 16% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Education — 16% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 13% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degrees | Psychology — 12% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $104,573/yr | Homeland Security — $67,338/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 14% | 8.5% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,893 | 1,343 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 12 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 706 | 334 |
| Average professor pay | $6,523/mo | $5,937/mo |
| Full-time professors | 58% | 34% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $40,996 | $34,742 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Charleston, SC | Columbia, SC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1964 | 1854 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 2.5% | 1% |
| Men | 37% | 21% |
| Women | 63% | 79% |
| White students | 60% | 37% |
| Black students | 18% | 40% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 8.8% | 10% |
| Asian students | 1.3% | 2.4% |
| Two or more races | 4.8% | 0.6% |
| Other / not reported | 4.8% | 8.4% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 31% | 41% |
| Part-time students | 6.3% | 29% |
| Students age 25+ | 12% | 43% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,047/yr | $7,242/yr |
| Endowment | $29.8M | $20.0M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,382 | 618 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $4,180/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $4,370/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Baptist | United Methodist |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | No | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NAIA Division I |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 346 | 269 |
| Athletic scholarships | $6.6M | $661,014 |
| Athletics budget | $15.0M | $6.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $15.0M | $6.4M |
| Recruiting spend | $220,529 | $0 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.