Charleston Southern vs Lee University
Charleston Southern University and Lee University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Charleston Southern, located in the vibrant city of Charleston, South Carolina, boasts an acceptance rate of 68%, while Lee University, nestled in the scenic town of Cleveland, Tennessee, maintains a slightly lower acceptance rate of 58%. Charleston Southern's student body is more diverse, with 40% of students identifying as minorities compared to Lee University's 25%. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Charleston Southern including Business, Education, and Nursing, and popular majors at Lee University including Business, Nursing, and Religion. With graduation rates of 58% and 56% respectively, both universities are committed to student success. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover more key differences and find the university that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Charleston Southern University |
![]() Lee University |
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Overview |
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Location | Charleston, South Carolina | Cleveland, Tennessee |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 68.0% | 81.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Baptist | Pentecostal |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 57.2% | 82.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$25
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SAT range | 990 - 1200 | 1000 - 1230 |
ACT range | 18 - 23 | 20 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 50.0% | 21.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 74.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,940 | 2,222 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,254 | 1,843 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 690 | 620 |
Yield rate | 30.6% | 33.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $42,500 | $34,120 |
Average net price | $18,182 | $19,159 |
Tuition | $28,630 | $19,800 |
Room & board | $11,032 |
Room/dormitory:
$4,390
Meal plan:
$4,120
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $22,425 |
95.0%
Average amount $13,233 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
56.0%
Average amount $5,238 |
56.0%
Average amount $5,583 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $10,921 |
6.0%
Average amount $12,555 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,725
Men 35.6% Women 64.4% |
3,950
Men 37.8% Women 62.2% |
Graduate students |
616
Men 36.7% Women 63.3% |
555
Men 41.4% Women 58.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 23.5% | N/A |
International students | 2.3% | 2.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,424 | 2,033 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Carolina North Carolina Georgia Florida Pennsylvania | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 49.3% | 58.0% |
Dropout rate | 49.7% | 16.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 24.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
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