college of charleston essay requirements

College of Charleston (South Carolina)

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at College of Charleston (South Carolina)?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

College of Charleston (South Carolina)’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college essay.

Many students apply to the College of Charleston based on our location, size, reputation, beautiful campus, and nice climate. While these are all important considerations in choosing a college, why is the College of Charleston a particularly good match for you?

Extenuating Circumstances Essay

Are there any anomalies or extenuating circumstances that you’d like us to consider when we review your application?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Let's Get Started!

Here's what you need to know to submit your undergraduate application.

Applying to College of Charleston as a first-year student is simple once you understand the process. Let’s walk through everything you will need to complete your application.

Parts of the Application

Complete the College of Charleston Application  or the Common App . No preference is given to either application type, choose whichever you prefer.

There is a non-refundable $60 application fee. You will be prompted to pay this fee when you submit your application.

You will be prompted to complete the Early Decision Agreement form only if you have chosen to apply Early Decision. Early Decision is binding , if you are accepted, you agree to enroll at the College of Charleston and withdraw all other college applications.

To expedite the application review process, you may submit an unofficial copy of your high school transcript. Upload the unofficial transcript in PDF format (maximum size 5MB). This transcript should include:

• grades and courses through the end of your junior year.
• your senior year schedule.
• your full legal name.
• your date of birth or permanent address.

You may opt to have your counselor submit your transcript to us directly. Preferred methods:

• SCOIR/Parchment/Naviance upload: College of Charleston (Charleston, S.C.)
• Common App: College of Charleston (Charleston, S.C.)

Your counselor may also send your transcript directly to the Office of Admissions via mail (Office of Admission, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29429-0001) or fax (843.953.6322).

The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request an official transcript at any time to assist with the decision process.

All scholarship offers, including state scholarship offers, are contingent upon receipt of an official, final high school transcript from the school of record directly. 

Students who are admitted to College of Charleston will be required to submit an official transcript, verifying graduation from high school, prior to starting classes at the College. 

Dual Enrollment programs allow students to take college classes while still in high school. If you have taken dual enrollment courses, transcripts may be submitted at any time but are not required to complete a first-year student application file.

College transcripts must be submitted directly from the institution of record prior to the student beginning classes at the College of Charleston.

We are test optional. This means you will decide whether you would like us to consider SAT or ACT scores in the evaluation of your application.

If you choose to have your test scores submitted with your application, we will accept either unofficial or official test scores to make an admission decision and award merit scholarships. However, state scholarships will be awarded based on official test scores only.

Your unofficial scores should be sent via email to: [email protected] .

We accept unofficial test scores:

• from high school transcripts.
• forwarded from the testing agency by your high school counselor.
• From testing agency websites (via screenshot, PDF or jpg).

All scores must include your name, test date, all sub-scores and at least one personal identifier (address, email address or testing agency ID).

Once you self-report your scores, if the rest of your application file is complete, your application will go under review immediately based on the scores you’ve provided.

We reserve the right to request official test results at any point during the application review process.

If you choose to apply using unofficial scores, you will still need to provide official results after you are admitted (by June 1 for fall entrance, by January 1 for spring entrance). Official scores must be sent directly from the testing agency via their electronic transmission service. Keep in mind this may take up to three weeks and you will be unable to register for courses without your official scores on file.

Additional Testing Information

• Our institutional code for the SAT is 5113 .
• Our institutional code for the ACT is 3846 .
• Submit all scores from all test dates – we will use your highest scores.
• SAT subject tests are not required but consider submitting your writing scores.

If you would like to send letters of recommendation, limit them to two and request them from guidance/college counselors and/or teachers. They may be submitted via:

• email ( [email protected]) ,
• fax (843.953.6322),
• or Parchment upload.

We do not require arts submissions or auditions for admission, and there is no separate application for the School of the Arts. However, there are some departmental scholarships available requiring auditions or portfolio reviews. Contact School of the Arts for information on scholarship opportunities available for first-year students.

Applying to the Honors College is easy. To be considered, just indicate your interest on the College of Charleston application or Common App, and you will be prompted to complete the supplemental Honors College essay.

Learn more about the Honors College

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College of Charleston Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are College of Charleston's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into College of Charleston and build a strong application.

School location: Charleston, SC

This school is also known as: C of C

Admissions Rate: 75.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at College of Charleston is 75.7% . For every 100 applicants, 76 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet College of Charleston's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

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We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

College of Charleston GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 4

The average GPA at College of Charleston is 4 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 4, College of Charleston requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

College of Charleston hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to College of Charleston will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

College of Charleston SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1214

The average SAT score composite at College of Charleston is a 1214 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes College of Charleston Competitive for SAT test scores.

College of Charleston SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1140, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1290. In other words, a 1140 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1290 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

College of Charleston has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, College of Charleston will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and College of Charleston forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1140, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

College of Charleston ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, College of Charleston likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 25

The average ACT score at College of Charleston is 25. This score makes College of Charleston Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 30.

Even though College of Charleston likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 24 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 24 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to College of Charleston, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 24.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

College of Charleston considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1140 SAT or a 24 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of College of Charleston here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $60
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes Letters of recommendation for Honors College recommended for some freshmen

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office March 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 3
• Social Studies 2
• Electives 3

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes January 15 March 1
• Yes November 1 December 15
• Yes October 15 December 1

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 66 Charleston, SC 29424
• Phone: (843) 805-5507 x5507
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in College of Charleston, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to College of Charleston.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than College of Charleston. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for College of Charleston, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for College of Charleston, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If College of Charleston is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Bachelor’s Essay Student Workflow

This workflow is designed to provide you with a workflow process to follow as you plan your senior thesis (the bachelor’s essay). This is a six-credit project completed over two semesters (the six hours of credit assumes that the student completes approximately 10 hours of engagement in the project per week).  It should be a project that reflects the scholarly and/or creative work of the discipline.

We strongly advise you to approach a faculty advisor at least one semester before their project is scheduled to begin.  You should bring a short (one page) project description accompanied by a bibliography/list of materials to the meeting.  Ideally, every one of you will register for the project through the departmental 499A/B (e.g., PSYC 499A/B, BIOL 448A/B, 498A/B, 499A/B). However, in cases where a project is interdisciplinary or where the student would like to complete a project outside of the major, you can register for the BE using the 499A/B number of the faculty leading your project.  In exceptional circumstances students may use the HONS 499A/B number, but his should be a last resort.

Remember, faculty do not get paid for directing senior theses.  Therefore, it is vital to approach someone with whom you have an existing relationship in a timely manner to demonstrate that you are serious about the project.  Most departments also have guidelines about how many students faculty members should supervise, as well as policies about how to manage bachelor essay proposals. In all cases, the Honors College supports these departmental standards.

The directions below are designed to give you a workflow process to help you compartmentalize things.

1. Check with your department to see if there is an official application process for the BE. Some departments (like English and History) require students to write a proposal, while others simply require the approval of the department chair.  Any departmental processes must be completed before you begin the individual enrollment form.

2. This next step is the most important of all; choosing a faculty member to lead your project. Our advice is to (1) approach someone you already know whose (2) research specialty is related to your project.  By approaching an advisor early with a written proposal, you greatly increase the chances that they will say yes.

3. Complete the individual enrollment form for the BE. Your advisor must complete this step for you; only faculty have access to this form on the CofC internal HUB.  It contains instructions for the supporting information that must be submitted with your application.   You must attach a completed syllabus with specific learning outcomes.

4. The deadline for individual enrollment courses is usually about three weeks into the semester. If you were signing up a student to begin the BE in the fall, for example, you would need to have everything done by the end of the first week in September.

5. You and your advisor will need to set up a regular schedule of meetings in order to monitor progress. What this schedule looks like will depend on your discipline and the nature of the project.

6. ADDENDUM: off-campus projects. Many students use research they have done off-campus (at MUSC, for example) as their BE project.  If you are in this situation, the registration process is slightly different.  You may work with a non-CofC faculty member, but you must identify a CofC faculty member in the same field to physically sign you up for the 6 credits of senior thesis.  This requires you to do a bit of triangulation between your two advisors.  The “on-site” advisor is actually leading your project and doing the grading, but the “CofC” advisor has to help you complete the paperwork and enter the grades for you.

7. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Ganaway at [email protected] .

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Office of Admissions

843.953.5670 [email protected] [email protected] https://charleston.edu/admission

For non-degree students: https://charleston.edu/admission/apply/non-degree

The College of Charleston encourages applications from all academically qualified persons. There is no discrimination in the admission process based on the applicant’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veterans’ status, genetic information, or disability. Applicants who do not initially meet the College of Charleston’s admission requirements may be considered for admission when there is sufficient evidence to suggest the ability to do satisfactory work at College of Charleston.

The following policies and procedures are applicable to all degree-seeking applicants and matriculating students:

Final, official copies of all relevant transcripts from each institution attended must be filed prior to enrollment. Failure to provide information regarding each institution attended or to submit official transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the College. For some applicants, we may require additional documentation specific to application questions.

Eligibility to return to prior institution

Applicants to the College must be eligible to return to the last institution attended and must not be serving academic suspension at that or any other institution. Students who are on disciplinary suspension or have other disciplinary or criminal violations, including pending charges, will be conditionally considered for admission in accordance with the College of Charleston policy 8.1.15 Admitting Applicants for Enrollment with a Criminal or Disciplinary History. These students as well as other applicants are required to provide disciplinary records to the College of Charleston and give written consent and FERPA waiver(s) to have College of Charleston officials discuss their disciplinary history and status with officials from their previous institution(s) and other relevant parties, in the sole discretion of the College.

Financial Aid

Federal financial aid is only available to students in a degree-seeking status.

Transfer Credit

Policies governing transfer credit and credit by exam (AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) and equivalencies are managed by the Transfer Resource Center. Detailed information can be found through the Transfer Resource Center ( https://transfer.cofc.edu/ ).

Distance Education

Students, who take courses via mixed modalities, including distance education and online courses, must meet all appropriate admission requirements. Admissions applications for all students, including those intending to access coursework online may be filed online.

Risk Management Assessment

All applicants are required to answer questions relating to their criminal and disciplinary history, as outlined in College of Charleston, Policy 8.1.5.

Privacy and Security Policies

Information on the privacy and security policies governing applicants’ personal information can be found online at the College’s policy website at  https://charleston.edu/policy .

Appeal of admissions decision

Every student that is not offered admission to the College has the right to appeal their decision. The committee only accepts student-written letters of appeal. An applicant should only appeal if there is substantial new information that the committee was not aware of at the time of the original decision. An applicant should not appeal just to request a second review of their application.

Special circumstances are considered and appeals are evaluated on a case by case basis by an admission professional.

Health Requirements

All students are required to complete a health form and show proof of immunization. Health forms may be downloaded from our website at https://charleston.edu/student-health . Physical exams are not required.

Admissions Procedures

Freshmen admission (degree seeking).

A freshman applicant is a person who has not attended a university, college, or technical school since time of high school graduation. Applicants who attended a post-secondary institution while still in high school are classified as freshmen.

Freshmen applicants must have earned either a high school diploma or its international equivalent, or the General Educational Development Test (GED) and submitted verification of this credential prior to enrolling (GED Diploma).  The minimum acceptable GED score for admission is the score used for awarding an equivalent secondary school diploma in the state where the test was taken. If a GED is submitted in place of a high school diploma, students must also provide their high school record complete through the most recent period of high school attendance. The results of the GED will normally be used in place of the high school diploma only if the applicant left secondary school at least two years before intended enrollment at the College of Charleston. Applicants must provide information about their activities during the time that were not enrolled in school.

Application requirements, deadlines, and detailed information can be found at  https://charleston.edu/admission/apply/undergraduate . Options for fall admission include early decision, early action, and regular notification. Consideration of scholarship awards may require that application deadlines are met.

Decision-Making Process

The College of Charleston maintains a holistic review process involving both quantitative and qualitative components which guide the Office of Admissions in reaching their final decisions. The admissions committee carefully weighs the student’s academic preparation (which includes grades, rank in class, and rigor of courses taken), SAT/ACT results, personal statements and essays, leadership qualification, and special talents. Special circumstances are considered and each application is reviewed and evaluated individually by admissions professionals.

Applicants for freshmen admission must submit:

• A completed application form with a nonrefundable application fee, or application fee waiver.
• Official or unofficial high school records complete up to the time of application.
• Results of the SAT or ACT are not required for applicants for 2021, 2022 or 2023, but may be submitted and will be considered unless the applicant chooses to apply as test score optional. The College’s ACT code no. is 3846 and SAT code no. is 5113. Submission of the optional writing scores for either test is encouraged but not required.

Students who enroll must submit:

• Official final transcripts of secondary school work, including verification of graduation and receipt of a diploma, or GED results and diploma.
• Students who have completed post-secondary work, including dual-credit, while in high school must submit official final transcripts of their college work whether or not they expect to receive credit, and whether or not the coursework is posted to their high school transcript.

Some students must submit:

• Official SAT or ACT test results sent directly from the testing agency if applicable. Enrolling students must request that the results of the tests be sent to the College of Charleston directly from the testing agency prior to orientation.

South Carolina homeschooled students must be registered with a fully accredited and recognized homeschool organization. If it is not, we require a GED. College of Charleston will respect each state’s homeschool laws. If the state does not require an accredited homeschool curriculum, we will abide by those rules for admission consideration. For all homeschooled students, regardless of residency, we require the full academic history of all high school coursework and grades.

To be well prepared for the challenging academics at the College of Charleston, freshman applicants should take a rigorous secondary school program of study that includes a variety of subjects. The following curriculum shows the best preparation for enrollment at the College of Charleston. This curriculum will also ensure that students are in compliance with the course requirements from the SC Commission on Higher Education for entry into S.C. four-year colleges.

The College of Charleston admissions committee can consider applicants who have not taken all of these courses due to circumstances beyond their reasonable control.

A college preparatory course in computer science (programming, not keyboarding) is recommended. Other acceptable electives include college preparatory courses in English, fine arts, foreign languages, humanities, laboratory science, mathematics or social sciences.

Cougar Advantage Admissions Initiative

Public school students from South Carolina, applying for admission for the 2020 fall semester and thereafter, will be automatically admitted based on a rank in class that places them in the top ten percent. Additional information about qualifications is posted on the Cougar Advantage website.

First Year Impact Admission (Freshmen)

Some freshmen students are required to participate in the First-Year Impact program as a condition of their admission. These students are identified by the admissions staff during the admissions process. Upon matriculation, First-Year Impact students are assisted by special academic support services to ensure that they are given a solid foundation on which to build their academic success. The First Year Impact program is managed by the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence.

Transfer and Bridge Programs

Students participating in transfer and bridge programs must successfully complete program requirements and then complete an application before enrolling at the College of Charleston for the subsequent semester. Additional information about transfer and bridge programs is available from the Office of Admissions.

Charleston Bridge

Charleston Bridge is a one-semester, residential program that will give selected applicants admission to the College of Charleston, following a semester of work at Trident Technical College.

Charleston Bridge participants are identified and invited to participate through the College of Charleston’s admissions process.

At the end of the fall semester, students who have met bridge requirements will be eligible to transfer to the College of Charleston in the January immediately following the end of the fall semester and will be required to participate in the First Year Impact Program.

iCharleston

iCharleston is a one-semester, international, residential program that will give selected applicants admission to the College of Charleston following a semester of work at an international partner collegiate institution.

iCharleston participants are identified and invited to participate through the College of Charleston’s freshman admissions process.

Deferred Enrollment and Gap Year

Freshmen who have been admitted are eligible for deferred enrollment or a gap period up to one academic year. A gap semester or year typically consists of a program or period of non-credit bearing experiential activities that are undertaken after high school graduation. Scholarship awards will not be deferred but be based on the new entry term. Transfer students are not eligible for deferred enrollment or a gap period.

College Coursework Elsewhere during gap period

If a student takes college coursework during their gap period, freshman acceptance to the college will be voided and the student will be considered a transfer applicant.

Please note: a change in status from freshman to transfer will void any previously offered institutional scholarships and/or financial aid. Additionally, South Carolina residents should be aware of the state scholarship eligibility requirements once college coursework has begun.

Transfer Admission (degree seeking)

Students who have previously attended, or are currently attending, either a two-year or four-year college since their high school graduation should apply as transfer students and submit a separate transcript from each college or university attended. Prior to matriculation a final official transcript is required from each college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or courses completed. Failure to provide information regarding each college or university attended or failure to submit transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the college.

Students are considered in attendance at an institution if they are registered for classes after the end of the drop/add period. Academic and/or disciplinary information from previous collegiate institutions is required whether or not a student was considered in attendance at that institution. 

Transfer applicants must not be serving academic suspension at that or any other institution. Students who are on disciplinary suspension or have other disciplinary or criminal violations, including pending charges, will be conditionally considered for admission in accordance with the College of Charleston policy 8.1.5 Admitting Applicants for Enrollment with a Criminal or Disciplinary History. These students as well as other applicants may be required to provide disciplinary records to the College of Charleston and give written consent and FERPA waiver(s) to have College of Charleston officials discuss their disciplinary history and status with officials from their previous institution(s) and other relevant parties in the sole discretion of the College.

To be competitive for transfer admission, applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 2.600 from a regionally-accredited institution, calculated on a 4.000 scale. Special circumstances are considered and each application is reviewed and evaluated individually by admissions professionals. Freshman credentials are also evaluated unless a student has completed 12 credit hours or more.

Application requirements and deadlines can be found at  https://charleston.edu/admission/apply/transfer .

Information about the College of Charleston policy related to the statewide transfer articulation of coursework from South Carolina two-year colleges is available via the Office of the Registrar .

Readmit Students (degree seeking)

For undergraduate students returning after an absence from the College of Charleston, a cumulative College of Charleston GPA of a 2.000 or greater is required for admission. If a student has attended another college or university in the interim, official or unofficial transcripts must be submitted for review.

For students who left the College with less than a 2.000 overall GPA, the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence will individually evaluate and make a decision on the conditional readmission of the candidate based on their current potential for academic success. If a student has attended another college or university in the interim, official or unofficial transcripts must be submitted for review.

Application requirements and deadlines can be found at https://charleston.edu/admission/apply/readmitted . Readmit applicants with a College of Charleston GPA of less than 2.000 must meet specified application deadlines: Fall term - June 1; Spring term - Nov 1.

Prior to matriculation a final official transcript is required from each college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or courses completed. Failure to provide information regarding each college or university attended or failure to submit transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the college. 

Note: For additional details see the Readmission    section of the catalog.

Bachelor of Professional Studies 

The Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) program provides adult students with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. Students are reviewed for admission using transfer or readmit admission policies. To become a student in the Bachelor of Professional Studies one must be 21 years of age with an earned high school diploma (or equivalent) and at least 30 credit hours of completed coursework in the following:

Oral and Written Communication (6-7 credit hours)

• English 101 or English 110
• Public Speaking (COMM 104 or equivalent)

Humanities and Fine Arts (6 credit hours)

• Art History/Music App/Theatre/Philosophy/Religious Studies/Ethics/Literature (choose two courses from two different disciplines)

History (3 credit hours)

• History-U.S./European/World (choose one)

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)

• Psychology/Sociology/Anthropology/Political Science/Economics or Geography (choose two courses from two different disciplines)

Natural Science/Mathematics (12 credit hours)

• Chemistry/Physics/Biology/Astronomy or Geology (choose one)
• Statistics (MATH 104 or MATH 250)
• One additional MATH course beyond developmental math
• An additional 3 credit hours to be fulfilled by either an additional math or natural science or logic course.

Veteran Admission

Students who have previously served active duty, in the reserves or in the national guard should apply as transfer students and submit an official or unofficial Joint Services Transcripts (JSTs) or Community College of the Air Force transcripts (CCAF) from their respective branch of service in addition to transcript(s) from each additional college or university attended. Prior to matriculation, a final official transcript is required from any college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or courses completed. Failure to provide information regarding each college or university attended or failure to submit transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the college.

Students are considered in attendance at an institution if they are registered for classes after the end of the drop/add period. Academic and/or disciplinary information on their service record or from previous collegiate institutions is required whether or not a student was considered in attendance at that institution. 

Applicants must not be serving academic suspension at that or any other institution. Students who are on disciplinary suspension or have other disciplinary or criminal violations, including pending charges, will be conditionally considered for admission in accordance with the College of Charleston policy 8.1.5 Admitting Applicants for Enrollment with a Criminal or Disciplinary History. These students as well as other applicants may be required to provide disciplinary records to the College of Charleston and give written consent and FERPA waiver(s) to have College of Charleston officials discuss their disciplinary history and status with officials from their previous institution(s) and other relevant parties in the sole discretion of the College.

To be competitive for transfer admission, applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 2.600 from a regionally-accredited institution, calculated on a 4.000 scale. Special circumstances are considered and each application is reviewed and evaluated individually by admissions professionals. Freshmen credentials (high school record and SAT or ACT scores) are not required for evaluation. A student’s service record and ACE credits obtained while in service will take the place of high school credential requirements.   

Second Degree Students (degree seeking)

Students interested in applying to the College of Charleston for a second degree of any kind should apply as transfer students . Candidates with prior Associates’ degrees should apply as transfer students .

International Applicants (degree seeking)

https://charleston.edu/admission/apply/international/

International applicants, being defined as anyone who is not a citizen of the United States or a U.S. permanent resident, are required to provide additional documentation. United States citizens who are applying with educational credentials from outside of the U.S. may need to submit international documentation and testing, but are not required to provide the financial certification information.  In addition to submitting freshman or transfer application materials, international students must provide proof of English proficiency, certification that they have adequate funds to meet their educational expenses and following documents: 

These documents include but are not limited to:

• A copy of their current passport ID page. Additional documentation regarding citizenship and citizenship status may be required. 
• An official copy of secondary and post-secondary transcripts with certified word for word English translations. 
• A course-by-course evaluation of post-secondary work (university-level course work or 13th year of secondary school) from any non-U.S. institution. For transfer credit to be evaluated an official evaluation must be submitted from a credential evaluation agency along with course descriptions/syllabi for each course. A current list of preferred evaluation services can be found on the website. 
• Demonstration of English proficiency via official submission of one of the following six English proficiency scores. For specific scores requirements and additional information, please reference the website. If English is the applicant’s native language, an English proficiency waiver may be granted upon international admissions professional review of documentation. 
• iBT TOEFL (code: 5113) minimum score of 80 
• IELTS minimum overall score of 6.5 
• iTEP Academic Plus minimum score of 3.8 
• SAT (code: 5113) minimum Evidence Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) score of 500 
• ACT (code: 3846) minimum Reading score of 18 and English score of 20 
• Duolingo English Test minimum total score of 105 

Special circumstances are considered and each application is reviewed and evaluated individually by admissions professionals. Application requirements and deadlines can be found online. Students should allow 2-4 months for completion of these requirements. 

Upon depositing and in order to receive their Form I-20, international applicants must provide a certificate of finances that gives specific information on their ability to meet the financial demands of tuition, fees and cost of living at the College of Charleston. Details about required financial certification documentation can be found on our website.

International Students (non-degree seeking and exchange)

International applicants seeking to enroll for credit courses without intent on earning a degree from the College of Charleston need to complete a non-degree application (please see https://charleston.edu/admission/apply/non-degree  for the application and additional information) and must provide proof of their English proficiency and certification that they have adequate funds to meet their educational expenses.

International students seeking to enroll into one of the College of Charleston formal bi-lateral exchange programs are required to complete the non-degree admissions application and submit it to the contact individual of the program. Please refer to   the Center for International Education for information regarding the various offerings.

Non-Degree Admission

843.953.5670 https://charleston.edu/admission/apply/non-degree

Access into many of the College of Charleston’s undergraduate courses is available to citizens of the South Carolina Lowcountry and others and facilitated through non-degree enrollment via the Office of Admissions and the Office of Summer Sessions. Senior citizens, high school dual enrollment students, visiting students   from other post-secondary institutions as well as individuals who wish to obtain higher education for employment purposes, graduate school preparation or for personal interest are encouraged to participate. Non-degree students must submit credentials that are appropriate to demonstrate their ability to satisfactorily complete coursework at the College of Charleston. Guidelines recommend an evaluation of transcripts from high school or previous colleges and test scores where appropriate. Students may need to show proof that course prerequisites have been met.

Applicants for admission as non-degree students must submit:

• A completed non-degree application for admission.
• Non-degree applicants who have not attended college may be required to submit their secondary school transcript(s).
• Non-degree applicants who have attended college may be required to submit a transcript from each college attended, including coursework completed during a summer term.
• All applicants must also submit any additional items requested in the application materials or by the Office of Admissions.

Students who wish to take courses at the College prior to high school graduation should complete the application for dual enrollment located here . All requested transcripts and official signatures are necessary before being considered for enrollment.

College of Charleston participates in Teacher Cadet coursework at selected local high schools. Participating high school students can receive college credit of six credit hours for EDFS 105 and EDFS 106 following successful completion of this course. Contact the School of Education at 843.953.5613 for additional information.

60+ Tuition Exemption Program

South Carolina residents who are at least 60 years old qualify for a tuition exemption under South Carolina State law (Section 59-111-320).  If you are 60 years old or older, and a resident of South Carolina you can apply as a degree or non-degree seeking student on a tuition-free basis.  While 60+ students do not pay tuition, there is a $50 registration fee.  Students are responsible for paying any fees. Books and fees (i.e. application, lab, course, program fees) are not exempt. 

• Students must apply and be admitted to the College of Charleston.
• Students must provide proof they have been an SC resident for at least 12 months.

Visit 60+ Tuition Exemption Program (Undergraduate) for admission application instructions. 

Verification of Lawful Presence

Section 59-101-430 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended in 2008, requires that, to attend a public university in the state, a student must be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States. College of Charleston is required to verify the status of all students prior to their enrollment. The Board of Trustees of the College has approved a verification process to comply with the law.

Procedures for U.S. Citizens

Every student must provide proof of U.S. citizenship before being allowed to register for coursework. Students may verify their lawful presence in one of the following ways:

• File a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal-Student Aid) to College of Charleston- our code number is 003428;
• Present a valid South Carolina driver’s license issued after January 1, 2002;
• Present a current U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport that has not been expired more than 10 years
• Present an original U.S. or U.S. Territory Birth Certificate (not hospital certificate), Certification of Naturalization, U.S. Government-issued Consular Report of Birth Abroad of Certificate of Citizenship.

Every student must provide proof of U.S. citizenship before being allowed to enroll.

Questions about the College’s policy and procedures regarding this matter may be sent to [email protected] .

Procedures for Non-U.S. Citizens

Your admissions officer will verify your lawful presence in the United States when you apply to and enroll in the College. When your document expires or your status changes you must provide a copy of your current or renewed document to the Center for International Education. Students are not allowed to attend classes unless their lawful presence proof documents are current.

Proof of Lawful Presence Documents for Non-U.S. Citizens:

• Current Permanent Resident Card
• Current Visa Documentation ( NOTE: If you are in F1 or J1 status, your lawful presence will be confirmed by the Center for International Education . )
• Any other appropriate document which verifies lawful presence in the United States in accordance with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (“SAVE”) operated by USCIS.

Completion of a FAFSA or possession of a South Carolina driver’s license is not sufficient proof of lawful presence without one of the above documents.

NOTE: International students should contact the Center for International Education by phone at 843.953.7661 or by email at [email protected] .

College of Charleston

4 year • Charleston, SC

College of Charleston is a public institution that was founded in 1770. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,972 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 95 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. College of Charleston's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities South, #9. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,978; out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,858.

The College of Charleston’s location in South Carolina positions students for both downtown and beach living. No student is required to live on campus; freshmen may apply to live either in a residence hall or in a university-owned historic home in downtown Charleston, though the latter is typically reserved for upperclassmen. The area is a scenic place to live, as the campus has made appearances in feature films including "The Notebook," "Dear John" and "The Patriot."

The College of Charleston’s sports teams, known as the Cougars, compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association and have been traditionally dominant in baseball, women’s volleyball and sailing. The school does not have a football team. The student body is more than 60 percent female, and about 20 percent of students are active in Greek life. The College of Charleston offers more than 30 graduate degree and certificate programs through The Graduate School of the University of Charleston, South Carolina. Notable alumni of the College of Charleston include actor Matt Czuchry, who has played lead roles on the television shows "Gilmore Girls" and "The Good Wife," and novelist Padgett Powell, author of "Edisto."

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At-a-Glance

In-state tuition and fees

Undergraduate Enrollment

Acceptance Rate

From the School

Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities , cutting-edge programs and accessible faculty attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world.

Nearly 10,000 undergraduates and approximately 1,000 graduate students at the College enjoy a small-college feel blended with the advantages and diversity of a mid-sized, urban university. They work closely with a committed faculty, made up of more than 800 distinguished teacher-scholars. And the city of Charleston – world-renowned for its history, architecture, culture and coastal environment – serves as a living and learning laboratory for experiences in business, science, technology, teaching, the humanities, languages, and the arts.

A College of Charleston education is a personalized education. We offer 67 majors and 81 minors. In addition, you can pursue undergraduate certificates in three areas of specialty, including project management. At the College, you'll have the freedom to mix and match your academic interests to create a unique, intellectually stimulating course of study.

We've given you a head start with our 25 interdisciplinary minors such as Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Crime, Law and Society and Data Science, the first undergraduate program of its kind in the nation. These programs draw resources from several different schools and departments in order to approach each topic from all academic angles.

No matter which major or minor you choose, you'll be taught by exceptional professors whose top priority is your success.

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2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

• #9 in Regional Universities South  (tie)
• #4 in Top Public Schools
• #41 in Best Value Schools

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High School GPA*

Admissions Website

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Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

In-State Tuition & Fees

Room & Board

$14,032 (2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

*Average in-state cost after aid

Popular Majors

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Speech Communication and Rhetoric

Psychology, General

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Business Administration and Management, General

Public Health Education and Promotion

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

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Graduate Enrollment

Total Enrollment

Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students

Student Diversity

Gender Distribution

Ethnic Diversity

Minority Enrollment

Two or more races

International

Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Campus Life

Housing and Dorms

Types of campus housing available:

• women's dorms
• men's dorms
• sorority housing
• fraternity housing
• apartment for single students
• special housing for disabled students
• theme housing
• other housing options

Student Activities

Sports Teams

Fraternities

After College

Graduation Rate

Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

Average Debt at Graduation

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Featured User Review

Small class sizes, excellent professors, plenty of clubs and activities, phenomenal basketball team and spirited home games in a fun diverse city with a pleasant climate filled with history, culture and art. Oh and gorgeous beaches 20 mins away.

SofBroadProvidence, RI

Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.

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