College of Charleston (CofC) vs Wake Forest University (WFU)

College of Charleston and Wake Forest University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. College of Charleston, nestled in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, boasts a vibrant campus and a diverse student body. Wake Forest University, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is renowned for its strong academic programs and beautiful campus. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
College of Charleston logo

College of Charleston

Wake Forest University logo

Wake Forest University

Overview

Location Charleston, South Carolina Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 83.0% 94.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 76.1% 25.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $80
SAT range 1090 - 1280 N/A
ACT range 23 - 29 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 24.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0%
Total number of applicants 20,484 15,156
Total number of admissions given out 15,590 3,816
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,473 1,412
Yield rate 15.9% 37.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $30,535

Out of state: $51,995
$79,886
Average net price $20,255 $24,643
Tuition
In state: $12,518

Out of state: $33,978
$58,708
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,409

Meal plan: $4,550
Room/dormitory: $10,144

Meal plan: $7,870
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $9,850
33.0%
Average amount $53,244
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $5,362
17.0%
Average amount $4,985
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $22,293
3.0%
Average amount $32,719

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,967
Men 33.6% Women 66.4%
5,472
Men 45.7% Women 54.3%
Graduate students 974
Men 22.6% Women 77.4%
3,475
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 53.1% N/A
International students 1.2% 9.8%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 3,338 4,152
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 N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 10:1
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% 90.2%
Dropout rate 6.0% 9.5%
Transferred out 26.3% N/A
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
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $169,430
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $155,438
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,143
  • Year 2: $96,587
  • Year 3: $105,398
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,169
  • Year 2: $80,510
  • Year 3: $96,761
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,086
  • Year 2: $76,836
  • Year 3: $93,939
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,098
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $89,902
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,076
  • Year 2: $65,145
  • Year 3: $79,400
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,533
  • Year 2: $66,653
  • Year 3: $76,702
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,731
  • Year 2: $60,811
  • Year 3: $72,065
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,100
  • Year 2: $55,693
  • Year 3: $70,717
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,086
  • Year 2: $57,411
  • Year 3: $65,270

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