A superior public university with personality to spare.
Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation's top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities, cutting-edge programs and accessible faculty attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world.
Over 10,000 undergraduates and approximately 1,000 graduate students at the College enjoy a small-college feel blended with the advantages and diversity of a mid-sized, urban university. They work with exceptional professors who love to teach, who are focused on student growth and who help them succeed. And the city of Charleston – world-renowned for its history, architecture, culture and coastal environment – serves as a living and learning laboratory for experiences in business, science, technology, teaching, the humanities, languages and the arts.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Director for Admissions, Vis. Serv.
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Experience College Life
TD Arena
Liberty Fresh Food Company and City Bistro
Addlestone Library / Starbucks / Rivers Green
Harbor Walk
The College's Halsey Institute of Art, Natural History Museum, and Emmett Robinson and Sottile Theaters are popular venues for events that serve both the campus and local communities.
SC Aquarium
James Island County Park
Patriot Point Sports Complex/Yorktown
King Street Shopping District
Near this urban campus, there are three beaches (each 25 minutes away) and 62 city parks, music, historic and art venues within a few blocks of the campus, and some of the best restaurants in the country - all serving a population of 664,607.
Campus Tours
9 am - 4 pm
843-953-4977
Dates: Year-round
Times: 9:30, 11:30 & 1:30 on most weekedays; 10:30 on select Sat.
Average Length: 2 hours
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
The middle 50 percent of freshmen accepted:
- scored between 1100 and 1250 (in-state), and 1120 and 1280 (out-of-state) on the SAT.
- scored between 21 and 27 (in-state), and 24 and 29 (out-of-state) on the ACT.
- had consistent academic achievement in the A/B range.
- overall academic preparedness,
- talents and leadership qualifications, and
- extra-curricular activities and other achievements.
You can apply on our website or through the Common App.
Know that we'll consider many elements of your application file during our holistic review in addition to GPA and SAT/ACT scores including your:
Overview
SAT & ACT Test Scores
Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 1
Early Action — December 1
Regular — February 15
Other Admission Factors
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
A College of Charleston education is consistently excellent and constantly evolving. We're proud to offer nearly 140 majors and minors, which empower our talented students to explore every inch of the expanding intellectual universe.
The strength of a College of Charleston education is in its deeply rooted liberal arts and sciences tradition. Our goal is to prepare our students to be ethical, open-minded leaders and multidisciplinary problem solvers.
The College of Charleston is a mid-sized university organized around seven schools:
- School of the Arts
- School of Business
- School of Education, Health, and Human Performance
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs
- School of Professional Studies
- School of Sciences and Mathematics
We also invite you to learn more about our distinctive Honors College, which expands on partnerships between faculty and student by creating a vibrant and diverse living-learning community.
Majors and Degrees Offered
A College of Charleston education is a personalized education. We offer 60+ majors and nearly 80 minors. You'll have the freedom to mix and match your academic interests to create a unique, intellectually stimulating course of study.
We've given you a head start with our 25 interdisciplinary minors such as Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Crime, Law and Society. These programs draw resources from several different schools and departments. We also offer innovative degree programs like data science, the first undergraduate degree program of its kind in the nation.
No matter which major or minor you choose, you'll be taught by exceptional professors whose top priority is your success.
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
African-American/Black Studies.
Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Women's Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Exercise Physiology.
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography.
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BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.
Accounting.
Business Administration and Management, General.
Finance, General.
Hospitality Administration/Management, General.
International Business/Trade/Commerce.
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management.
Marketing/Marketing Management, General.
Project Management.
Real Estate.
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COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Communication, General.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer and Information Sciences, Other.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Computer Software and Media Applications, Other.
Information Science/Studies.
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EDUCATION.
Early Childhood Education and Teaching.
Elementary Education and Teaching.
Foreign Language Teacher Education.
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching.
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching.
Secondary Education and Teaching.
Special Education and Teaching, General.
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
Creative Writing.
English Language and Literature, General.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Athletic Training/Trainer.
Public Health Education and Promotion.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Historic Preservation and Conservation.
International/Global Studies.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Jewish/Judaic Studies.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other.
Chemistry, General.
Chemistry, Other.
Geology/Earth Science, General.
Meteorology.
Physics, General.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology.
Archeology.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology.
Urban Studies/Affairs.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Arts Management.
Dance, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Fine and Studio Arts Management.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Music, General.
Visual and Performing Arts, General.
Students Say
Professors “care how well their students perform and help them find opportunities through networking and general encouragement.” The ideal size of the school creates “a great student to professor ratio.” Faculty are “engaged, knowledgeable, and passionate about the subject matter they teach,” and they are “eager to engage with students that are excited to study and learn.” The location and the school’s reputation make for tons of internship and professional opportunities, and everything the school has to offer is available to all. If you need anything from academic advising to counseling or career planning, there are people here “with the passion and resources to help.”
Degrees
Certificate
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Post-Master's certificate
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Coop
Experiential
Internship
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Careers
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Coop
Experiential
Internship
Excerpt from Colleges That Create Futures
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Undergraduate tuition* is $12,518 (resident) and $32,848 (non-resident). Tuition includes the fall and spring semesters. Average tech and library fees are $425.
Room and board costs include expenses for housing and food. For on-campus and off-campus students the weighted average room and board cost is $11,815, which includes $8,200 for room (housing) and $3,615 for board (food). For students that indicated on the FAFSA living with parents, there is no room allowance, just the surveyed average off-campus board amount of $2,853.
*Tuition includes the fall and spring semesters and are estimated based on the student taking at least 12 hours per semester. All figures are subject to change without notice. Please see the Treasurer's office website for a complete list of charges.
Financial Aid
The College of Charleston recognizes that a college education is a major expense in most family budgets. It is important to know that there are many federal, state, local and institutional sources available to help students meet those expenses. The Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs administers scholarships, grants, loans, work study and Veterans benefits. Please explore our website for information about those programs.
Dates
Required Forms
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Based upon Fall 2017 enrollment:
- Undergraduate students: 9,895
- Graduate students: 968
- Total: 10,863
- Minority students: 19.8%
- Students living on campus: 31%
- Percentage of in-state students: 69.9*
- Percentage of out-of-state students: 30.1%*
- U.S. states and territories represented: 51
- Foreign countries represented: 61
*Based on tuition residency
College of Charleston students are film buffs, black belts, environmentalists, deejays and volunteers. We've formed more than 200 student clubs and organizations where you can make new friends, learn from others, serve the community, share your talents, and best of all try something totally new.
Our sport clubs are the perfect place to release your inner athlete or a great excuse to hang out at the beach. Or, you can experience hands-on media training with Cistern Yard Media, an organization that controls our campus television studio, radio station, the newsroom and our award-winning literary magazine, Miscellany.
Our students are also dedicated to service. Sign up for Habitat for Humanity, Alternative Spring Break or the always-rockin', never-stoppin' Dance Marathon. Members of the 25 national fraternities and sororities on campus spend serious time volunteering with community groups when they're not planning for Greek Week.
College is a great place to meet people with similar backgrounds or hang out with a whole new crowd. Whatever your preference, we have dozens of religious, international and multicultural organizations to serve our diverse student body.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Trying to describe why Charleston's vibe resonates is like trying to explain why your favorite song rocks. It just does. Downtown Charleston is 20 minutes from some of the best beaches in the Southeast and our year-round temperate weather makes the Charleston area ideal for surfing, kayaking, climbing, hiking and camping.
It seems like there's always something going on in Charleston. The annual Spoleto Festival USA is the premier arts festival in the country. The Cooper River Bridge Run has been called the best 10-K race in the world. And every March, top chefs and fashion designers flock to the Lowcountry for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival and Charleston Fashion Week.
The College of Charleston campus is smack dab in the middle of one of the most lovingly preserved historic districts in America (look both ways for horse-drawn carriages). It's like going to school in a postcard. The College of Charleston was chosen as America's Most Beautiful College Campus by Travel + Leisure Magazine.
The College of Charleston is inseparable from the city of Charleston, and you'll feel like a local no matter where you're from. Charleston is the perfect sized city for the perfect sized college. It's big enough to support a vibrant cultural life – huge concerts and small clubs, dance troupes and opera, historic sites and professional sports – and small enough for students to feel right at home from their very first day
Campus Facilities & Equipment
The Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library is the region's top research library. This modern facility has a holding capacity of one million volumes, seats 1,400 people and has 300+ computers.
The library is also the prime study spot on campus. A huge draw is Rivers Green, a large, inviting lawn and patio area behind the library that's equipped with tables, chairs and high-speed WiFi. Another "perk" is Starbucks, Addlestone's tasty refueling station for marathon study sessions.
TD Arena, a 5,000-seat, state-of-the-art athletic facility that serves as home to the Cougars men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball teams.
Patriots Point, a 35-acre athletic complex, home to the Cougar soccer, softball and baseball programs.
Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, Part museum, part research facility, the center plays a central role in Charleston's black community through research opportunities and outreach programs.
The Center for Entrepreneurship directs its resources and energies to providing experiential activities that assist students in developing an entrepreneurial mindset. It helps connect students to the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem encapsulating guest speakers, mentors, judges, etc. This focus ties directly into the College's strategic plan to provide enhanced "opportunities for experiential learning" and "contribute to the well-being of the region."
Environmental Campus on the Stono River is a majestic 881-acre property along the Stono River and the Intercoastal Waterway. The myriad ecosystems include long-leaf pine forests, wetlands, savannahs, tidal marshes, as well as brackish, saltwater and fresh-water ponds. College of Charleston students and faculty of multiple disciplines – from marine biology to forest management and historic preservation - utilize this vibrant living laboratory. This property enables the College of Charleston to educate its students in an unparalleled natural setting; inspire collaboration across campus, industry and governmental agencies; and prepare students and faculty to be leaders in today's environmentally volatile, global society.
Established in 1955, Grice Marine Laboratory is a core facility in support of the undergraduate and the graduate degree programs in marine and environmental sciences at the College of Charleston. The lab supports research in marine sciences conducted by faculty members and students.
Part of the School of the Arts at the College of Charleston, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is the public face of artistic life at the College. In addition to exhibiting some of the finest contemporary art in the Southeast, HICA sponsors lectures, film series and publications, and serves as an inspiring living laboratory for undergraduate art students.
Harbor Walk, this 45,000-square-foot contemporary complex consists of classrooms, faculty offices and laboratories. Home to the Department of Computer Science and the Computer Science Student Innovation Center, this facility is immediately adjacent to Charleston Harbor.
The Sustainability Literacy Institute (SLI) is the physical, pedagogical, virtual and institutional hub for sustainability literacy efforts at the College. The purpose of SLI is to foster positive social, economic and environmental change by way of a sustainably literate campus community.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Business is booming in Charleston with an explosion of technology startups, a multi-billion-dollar tourism industry and a thriving biomedical community.
The Port of Charleston is a vibrant economic engine, offering a gateway to more than 150 countries and countless internship opportunities.
The city is a true living/learning laboratory for College of Charleston students:
- Hospitality and tourism majors are right in the middle of the number one travel destination in the U.S. (according to Travel + Leisure).
- Marine biology majors study at the Ft. Johnson Marine Science Center, a world-class research facility surrounded by a variety of marine ecosystems on nearby James Island.
- Arts management majors are immersed in a vibrant arts community.
- Computer Science majors work alongside technology business leaders at our Harbor Walk facility
Seventy-four percent of incoming students choose the College of Charleston because of the rich diversity and depth of its study abroad programs. With over 85 study abroad programs to choose from, we encourage students to get out and explore the world. We offer programs led by our own faculty to a broad swath of places. You could study global environmental changes in Panama, volcanos and glaciers in Iceland or culture and art in Costa Rica. Whether for a summer, a semester or a full year, there are so many opportunities to see and explore, and gain a global perspective.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Dorms Female
Frat Sorority
Other
Theme Housing
Students Say
Whether it means having the chance to work near campus or being close enough to walk to class every day, “the location is a perfect fit” for just about every student (particularly the many who surf). “Just going on a walk around town and seeing all of the beautiful houses and their history is extremely entertaining.” The college “really does have a beautiful campus and we take pride in keeping it up,” and students can just as easily live on-campus as rent nearby.
Special Needs Admissions
Documentation Required for LD
A current psychoeducational evaluation administered by an appropriately credentialed professional.Documentation Required for ADHD
The student must submit a report that meets the following guidelines: 1.Completed within the last three years 2.Administered by one of the following: Licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist Licensed school psychologist Psychiatrist M.D. specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of attention deficits Please Note: Evaluations administered by a relative are not accepted. 3.Includes: A diagnosis of ADHD based on the DSM criteria (code required) Comprehensive educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability Results/copies of a Continuous Performance Test (CPT) or a set of norm-referenced behavior ratings from the student, and preferably a parent, spouse, teacher, or significant other Assessment ruling out or addressing potentially confounding conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, hyperthyroidism, substance abuse) Results/copies of behavior ratings or CPT An explanation of the current functional impact of the disability The evaluator's signature, credentials, and licensing numberSpecial Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Golf
Sailing
Soccer
Tennis
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Equestrian Sports
Golf
Sailing
Sand Volleyball
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: The Citadel
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Charleston Southern University
Sustainability
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/