College of Charleston (CofC) vs Coastal Carolina University

College of Charleston and Coastal Carolina University, both esteemed institutions in South Carolina, offer distinct educational experiences. College of Charleston, nestled in the heart of historic Charleston, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate compared to Coastal Carolina University. With a focus on liberal arts and sciences, College of Charleston attracts students seeking a well-rounded education. Coastal Carolina University, located in the vibrant city of Conway, offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like business and nursing. Its larger student body creates a diverse and lively campus atmosphere. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences, such as student demographics, tuition fees, and available scholarships, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Coastal Carolina University logo

Coastal Carolina University

College of Charleston logo

College of Charleston

Overview

Location Conway, South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina
Campus setting City: Small City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 72.0% 83.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 79.1% 76.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1030 - 1190 1090 - 1280
ACT range 20 - 25 23 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 29.0% 24.0%
Students submitting ACT score 13.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 15,481 20,484
Total number of admissions given out 12,251 15,590
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,519 2,473
Yield rate 20.6% 15.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,318

Out of state: $42,072
In state: $30,535

Out of state: $51,995
Average net price $14,956 $20,255
Tuition
In state: $11,460

Out of state: $27,214
In state: $12,518

Out of state: $33,978
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,440

Meal plan: $3,928
Room/dormitory: $8,409

Meal plan: $4,550
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $9,834
98.0%
Average amount $9,850
Students receiving federal student loan 60.0%
Average amount $5,848
41.0%
Average amount $5,362
Students taking out private loans 16.0%
Average amount $20,291
9.0%
Average amount $22,293

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,790
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
9,967
Men 33.6% Women 66.4%
Graduate students 683
Men 30.7% Women 69.3%
974
Men 22.6% Women 77.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 60.2% 53.1%
International students 1.2% 1.2%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 4,728 3,338
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from South Carolina New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Maryland South Carolina New Jersey Pennsylvania Virginia Maryland

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 51.2% 67.0%
Dropout rate 11.4% 6.0%
Transferred out 36.7% 26.3%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,378
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $69,235
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,086
  • Year 2: $48,198
  • Year 3: $61,332
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,114
  • Year 2: $53,497
  • Year 3: $60,248
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,888
  • Year 2: $65,750
  • Year 3: $59,685
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,976
  • Year 2: $34,704
  • Year 3: $44,693
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,824
  • Year 2: $42,873
  • Year 3: $44,446
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,464
  • Year 2: $37,856
  • Year 3: $44,425
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,250
  • Year 2: $38,168
  • Year 3: $43,145
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,430
  • Year 2: $38,597
  • Year 3: $42,978
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,101
  • Year 2: $36,423
  • Year 3: $42,472
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,600
  • Year 2: $65,238
  • Year 3: $78,911
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,306
  • Year 2: $60,623
  • Year 3: $72,292
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,506
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $70,637
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,151
  • Year 2: $43,519
  • Year 3: $56,541
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,823
  • Year 2: $42,930
  • Year 3: $55,591
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,896
  • Year 2: $40,688
  • Year 3: $48,268
Hospitality Administration/Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,234
  • Year 2: $39,009
  • Year 3: $46,902
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,857
  • Year 2: $36,460
  • Year 3: $45,816
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,619
  • Year 2: $43,000
  • Year 3: $44,802
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,551
  • Year 2: $31,848
  • Year 3: $44,802

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