College of Charleston (CofC) vs Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)

College of Charleston and Florida Gulf Coast University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. College of Charleston, rooted in history and tradition, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate, while Florida Gulf Coast University, known for its affordability and diverse student body, offers a more accessible admissions process. Delve into our comprehensive comparison table to explore the nuances of each university, including popular majors, student demographics, and financial aid options, to determine which aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
College of Charleston logo

College of Charleston

Florida Gulf Coast University logo

Florida Gulf Coast University

Overview

Location Charleston, South Carolina Fort Myers, Florida
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
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 83.0% 82.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 76.1% 89.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range 1090 - 1280 1010 - 1180
ACT range 23 - 29 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 24.0% 79.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 45.0%
Total number of applicants 20,484 14,462
Total number of admissions given out 15,590 12,901
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,473 3,125
Yield rate 15.9% 24.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $30,535

Out of state: $51,995
In state: $20,390

Out of state: $39,434
Average net price $20,255 $9,840
Tuition
In state: $12,518

Out of state: $33,978
In state: $4,191

Out of state: $22,328
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,409

Meal plan: $4,550
Room/dormitory: $4,820

Meal plan: $4,346
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $9,850
78.0%
Average amount $6,754
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $5,362
30.0%
Average amount $7,251
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $22,293
4.0%
Average amount $16,201

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,967
Men 33.6% Women 66.4%
14,228
Men 42.9% Women 57.1%
Graduate students 974
Men 22.6% Women 77.4%
1,681
Men 29.2% Women 70.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 53.1% 17.6%
International students 1.2% 2.1%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 3,338 4,732
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 Pennsylvania Virginia Maryland Florida Illinois New Jersey Pennsylvania Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Engineering
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 22:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.0% 56.2%
Dropout rate 6.0% 26.2%
Transferred out 26.3% 13.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,910
  • Year 2: $59,722
  • Year 3: $85,341
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $74,972
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $70,296
  • Year 3: $73,324
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,429
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $68,880
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,840
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $68,095
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,707
  • Year 2: $47,520
  • Year 3: $65,837
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,279
  • Year 2: $62,409
  • Year 3: $64,731
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,799
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $63,963
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,944
  • Year 2: $46,769
  • Year 3: $59,253
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,874
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $58,083

Compare Similar Colleges

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