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College of Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$18,960What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
60%
Graduation rate
65%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
10,558
In-state tuition
$12,978Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$38,296
SAT midpoint
1,185
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$56,416Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$18,960

Better than 17% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

65%

Better than 77% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$56,416

Better than 56% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$23,250

Better than 24% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$32,362

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$18,960

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for College of Charleston
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time65%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return82%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$23,250
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$56,416

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at College of Charleston by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer and Information Sciences, General$67,43850
Information Science/Studies$63,06921
Finance and Financial Management Services$54,63455
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$49,78628
Accounting and Related Services$49,70237
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$45,61330
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$41,402115
Business Administration, Management and Operations$41,299178
Marketing$40,72395
Special Education and Teaching$39,83214
Hospitality Administration/Management$39,68847
Chemistry$39,20837
International Business$37,62435
Communication and Media Studies$36,903153
Political Science and Government$35,39886
Historic Preservation and Conservation$35,32622
Computer Software and Media Applications$34,16624
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$32,50328
Public Health$31,848129
Biology, General$30,538133
English Language and Literature, General$29,54443
Psychology, General$29,339161
Sociology$28,80143
History$28,44955
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$27,46756
Anthropology$26,84223
International/Globalization Studies$25,76448
Fine and Studio Arts$24,07057
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$23,71360
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$21,64524
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reported33
Real EstateNot reported28
EconomicsNot reported20
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported16
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported15
Data ScienceNot reported14
PhysicsNot reported13
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported12
MathematicsNot reported12
ArcheologyNot reported11
MusicNot reported10
Astronomy and AstrophysicsNot reported10
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported8
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported7
PhilosophyNot reported7
DanceNot reported7
Area StudiesNot reported7
Urban Studies/AffairsNot reported5
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported3
Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyNot reported2
Computer EngineeringNot reported1
StatisticsNot reportedNot reported
Systems EngineeringNot reportedNot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reportedNot reported
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reportedNot reported

All 56 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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