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Charleston, SC · Columbia, SC
| College of Charleston | University of South Carolina-Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $18,960/yr | $22,811/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,133/yr | $12,634/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,250 | $21,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,406/yr | $14,953/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $16,797/yr | $19,859/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,089/yr | $24,478/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $24,996/yr | $28,125/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $246/mo | $228/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,332/yr | $13,534/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,091/yr | $13,594/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,530/yr | $1,438/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,849/yr | $4,530/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $32,362/yr | $31,638/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $12,978/yr | $12,688/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $38,296/yr | $35,972/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 19% | 19% |
| Students taking federal loans | 38% | 41% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 60% | 60% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1140–1310 | 1180–1360 |
| SAT average | 1247 | 1297 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 25–30 | 26–32 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 24–31 · Math 21–27 | English 25–34 · Math 24–30 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 26,683 | 46,682 |
| Students accepted | 19,212 | 28,706 |
| Students who enrolled | 2,637 | 7,319 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 14% | 26% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 21% | 32% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 11% | 17% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Class rank | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| 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) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 66% | 79% |
| Freshmen who come back | 82% | 92% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $56,416/yr | $62,177/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $35,817–$81,379 | $41,018–$93,729 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 63% | 76% |
| White students graduating | 67% | 80% |
| Black students graduating | 57% | 72% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 68% | 74% |
| Asian students graduating | 76% | 86% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $43,821/yr | $50,621/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 71% | 78% |
| Graduate on time | 57% | 70% |
| Pell students who graduate | 61% | 69% |
| First-gen students who finish | 56% | 67% |
| Low-income students who finish | 54% | 65% |
| Students who transfer out | 25% | 15% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,232/yr | $57,722/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 28% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% · Communication & Journalism 9% | Business, Management & Marketing 26% · Health Professions 12% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 28% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 26% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees | Health Professions — 12% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 9% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 9% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees | Psychology — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Accounting and Related Services — $70,310/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $118,109/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 19% | 23% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 10,558 | 29,820 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 19 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,046 | 8,345 |
| Average professor pay | $10,384/mo | $12,414/mo |
| Full-time professors | 65% | 75% |
| 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 | $58,643 | $74,190 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Charleston, SC | Columbia, SC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1770 | 1801 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1% | 1.2% |
| Men | 32% | 41% |
| Women | 68% | 59% |
| White students | 79% | 72% |
| Black students | 5.3% | 9.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 7.7% | 6.8% |
| Asian students | 1.9% | 4.3% |
| Two or more races | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Other / not reported | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 20% | 20% |
| Part-time students | 4.4% | 2.7% |
| Students age 25+ | 5.7% | 2.8% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $10,229/yr | $14,139/yr |
| Endowment | $147.5M | $776.5M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,749 | 9,956 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $9,032/yr | $7,750/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,000/yr | $4,808/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | No data reported |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force |
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | Yes | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | No |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I without football | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 19 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 399 | 571 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.9M | $13.8M |
| Athletics budget | $25.5M | $203.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $25.5M | $204.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $295,142 | $3.4M |
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, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.