Founded in 1770, College of Charleston. is a Public college. Located in South Carolina, which is a city setting in South Carolina, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 10,375 full time undergraduate students, and 919 full time graduate students.
The College of Charleston Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 15:1. There are 531 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at College of Charleston include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
84%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
50
SAT Range
1000-1190
ACT Range
22-27
Admissions at are considered Less Selective, with ,89% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 22 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
93% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 63% were in the top quarter, and 28% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at College of Charleston.
6%
“We”re apathetic”
23%
“We know about current events and vote”
55%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
16%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
33%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
17%
“All the time, including weekends”
3%
“I”m always terrified”
16%
“I only go out in groups”
54%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
28%
“I feel extremely safe”
11%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
67%
“We bought the gear”
22%
“We live for the big game”
2%
“It”s not really our thing”
13%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
55%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
30%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
6%
“Available in class”
44%
“They keep regular office hours”
50%
“They”re always available”
3%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
40%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
52%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
5%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
8%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
39%
“We only party on weekends”
53%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
4%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
34%
“There might be people who do”
51%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
12%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
6%
“We”re apathetic”
23%
“We know about current events and vote”
55%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
16%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
33%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
17%
“All the time, including weekends”
3%
“I”m always terrified”
16%
“I only go out in groups”
54%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
28%
“I feel extremely safe”
11%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
67%
“We bought the gear”
22%
“We live for the big game”
2%
“It”s not really our thing”
13%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
55%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
30%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
6%
“Available in class”
44%
“They keep regular office hours”
50%
“They”re always available”
3%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
40%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
52%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
5%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
170 Students rated on-campus housing 3.6 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
128 Students rated off-campus housing 3.6 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
182 Students rated campus food 3.4 stars. 15 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
184 Students rated campus facilities 4.3 stars. 47 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
184 Students rated class size 4.4 stars. 54 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
183 Students rated school activities 4.2 stars. 49 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
184 Students rated local services 4.5 stars. 67 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
183 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 46 % gave the school a 5.0.
College of Charleston REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of College of Charleston?
108 Students rated College of Charleston
Trace - 05/12/2023
I think College of Charleston has its ups and downs. The area the school is in is beautiful and great for those who love history. The historic buildings and landscapes are fun to explore even if they aren't new to you. The price for everything kind of makes the whole idea not so great. Living is a great expense as your not getting much in return and there's no where to park your car unless you don't care to pay around 200 dollars a month for a spot in the parking garage. If you like going out and partying then this might not be the best place, house parties usually get shut down fast and bars are very strict on fake id's so there's not much to do within a walking distance unfortunately.
Victoria - 04/20/2023
College of Charleston is the most beautiful campus I have ever seen. The outside areas are the perfect place to study and the facilities are the perfect place to chill. The professors are overall very kind and the education level is that of a very prestigious institution. It is so easy to get involved and the culture is very inclusive. I am very proud to go here!
QuaTavies - 04/06/2023
I think that the College of Charleston is a great place overall. The community within the school is very friendly and there's a great diversity when it comes to clubs or groups for others to fit in. The professors there are also very welcoming and open when students need them with both school and non-school related things. Lastly with the college being in downtown Charlston, you can always find something to do if you get bored.
Mars - 07/13/2022
The campus is really busy and beautiful, and for the most part I did have a great time learning about my passions.
The low review is for my incredibly upsetting experience studying in the Vocal Performance program my first two years. I witnessed very toxic behavior from professors and an extremely racist incident from the head of the vocal program, which eventually caused myself and some of my peers to drop our music minors and majors. We tried in very hard to push the issue, but she brings in quite a bit of money for the school, so nothing was ever done. If you are a potential student of color, please avoid studying in their vocal performance program, as this professor is still employed there and up for tenure soon. This is a prime example of how the people in charge of the college do not care if students have legitimate complaints, if it affects their wallet.
Andrew - 07/09/2022
Being part of the College of Charleston in has allowed me to grow as an individual, see different perspectives from my classmates, and flourish in an environment rich in history and optimistic in the future.
Dakota - 03/26/2021
College of Charleston is an amazing school located in an area rich with historical importance. It not only cares for its students, but also presents a multitude of opportunities and support networks for them. There is a place for everyone on campus and inside the classrooms.
Danielle - 03/11/2021
Going to the College of Charleston during a pandemic has definitely made the college experience a little off. However, there have been many uplifting and encouraging programs, campus communities, and other ways to get involved that have made the college life so much better. The arts program, science programs like biology and biochemistry, and sports here are amazing.
Monalia - 12/12/2020
College of Charleston was not the worse, but could\'ve definitely been better. The city was a nice environment, but unlike other cities there weren\'t many things to do. The professors at the school vary in terms of helpfulness and teaching ability. The plus side was there were lots of clubs and organizations to join to keep you active on campus. And the club sports were pretty fun!
Amber - 11/11/2020
I think it would be better if there were no pandemic restrictions. As a freshman, it is difficult to meet people when we don't have many classes to actually go to and there are no orientation activities. I have made some good friends though and look forward to next semester.
reianna - 05/26/2020
Unfortunately, do to COVID-19 I haven't had the opportunity to go to the school and take a tour. However, I did take a virtual tour and from what I saw of the school it is absolutely beautiful and looks like an amazing place to study. All of the students looked happy and from what I could see there looked like a ton culture there and everyone looked happy to be there. I may not be a student currently but the virtual tour definitely made me want to be a student there this fall and I hope to be as happy as the kids looked in the tour.
Sydney - 04/16/2020
College of Charleston is a beautiful school that has a wide variety of areas of study. The professors are great and learning and growing is encouraged all over campus. There are so many opportunities at College of Charleston, between the academics, clubs, and organizations.
Madison - 04/08/2020
Attending the College of Charleston was by far the best decisions I have ever made. The teachers are so dedicated to making sure students get the help they need and this school is perfect for the major I am pursuing (Historic preservation and community planning)
Maddie - 12/15/2019
College of Charleston is unlike any place I've ever been. It's beautiful campus, amazing location, developing culture, and commitment towards its students is unparalleled. The College fosters all types of students and all of their unique, individual interests. As someone who has many different interests, I have found the College to be a perfect fit as it encourages and positively develops every aspect of my personality.
Makayla - 11/12/2019
It is a great school with a lot of potential but there is an overall large miscommunication with faculty and students. With a strong liberal arts concentration on campus, it is easy for social sciences to be completely underestimated or even misidentified. There should be ample opportunities for students to receive the education they are paying too much for, to begin with.
Guinevere - 10/26/2019
I absolutely love the College of Charleston. The campus is stunning and located in one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The progressive and accepting culture of the College makes me feel included and safe at all times. The professors are stellar and give students huge responsibilities to take control of their own education. They treat us as adults and engage in stimulating conversations in and outside of class. There is plenty to do on and off campus with King Street, Waterfront Park, and the Battery all within a 20 minute walk. There is no better place to study history, as Charleston's is rich and diverse, and I feel immersed in the surrounding city. I love the College and am grateful that I can study in such an incredible city and at such an amazing university.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for College of Charleston is 84%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What is the stereotype of students at your school?
The Princeton Review said that if CofC students were any more laid back, they would fall over. CofC is a liberal arts school that attracts an array of personalities. One of the biggest stereotypes of our school is that we are full of stoners, surfers, and sorority girls.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
A quick look around any student parking lot or garage will prove that many students are not struggling. Overall though, I believe that the typical student experience can be found here because many students do work to pay their own way. The downtown area offers a multitude of employment choices for students from tour guides and restaurant staff to retail clerks and valet parking attendants. Anyone who frequents restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions downtown can see the college student presence.
The Greek system is the same as it always was and is similar to the system in any other Southern school. Delusionally inflated egos exist in both sororities and fraternities but there are many exceptions so don't right them all off. If you plan to stay in Charleston after graduation, the connections made in the fraternity/sorority made prove useful in future employment/promotions because many graduated Greeks never truly grow up and base life altering decisions on trivial matters such as fraternity/sorority membership in college.
Yes is a strong attraction to the beach for many students, and yes they may make irresponsible decisions in pursuit of temporary fun/pleasure. But also realize that many students do not grow up near beaches, so it can be a huge temptation in the early fall and late spring semesters to take advantage of this. Also there are no more drugs/drinking than any other college.
Class sizes are usually small. Most classes are not lecture halls. There have only been a few classes where the teachers did not know my name. Each teacher has office hours which are beneficial. Most classes will have some type of group assignment. Overall I've enjoyed most of my professors. The buildings are all pretty close to each other, so it is not hard to get from one side of campus to another. Many of the buildings are being fixed and updated. The business center is amazing and the School of Education just opened new teacher offices. The library is only 2 years old and is a great place to study. Outside of class students have intellectual conversations. With the 2008 election coming up, it is a common conversation, not to mention economy problems, and global warming. The most interesting class I have ever taken was geology. My teacher was funny and knew how to relate the information to the students in a fun manor. I am an education major. My professors are all amazing. They work to help each student. If I needed extra help I never felt intimidated to ask. They are dedicated to helping each student succeed. Since CofC is a liberal arts college there are certain requirement outside of your major that you must complete. I think it is a great way to try different areas and then chose what most interesting.
My classmates here often appear superficial, but many have truly ended up being some of the nicest and often most understanding people I've met due to the mutual desire for a broadened sense of other people and different environments that everyone hasn't been exposed to.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
I am involved with the greek community at COFC. I am a member of ZTA. I also attend Intervarsity or Campus Outreach, which are christian organizations on campus. I wish athletic events were more popular. I met my closest friends in my sorority.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are quite a few things I would tell myself to do differently. For one, I would tell myself to spend a lot more time with my family. Going off to school makes you realize how much you value your family and being around them and it makes you miss them more when you don't get the kind of time with them you need. I would also tell myself to study more diligently and start working on organization and time management. In college, your success depends very much on your ability to organize your time, thoughts, and life. I was not the most organized person in high school and I did not study very much so I did not give myself the chance to develop adequate study skills. Those are the main things I would tell myself to do differently as a high school senior if I could go back in time.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
This is a big city school, so you get all the city life that goes with it. Since the campus is so close to high class stores, I sometimes feel looked down upon wearing just a t-shirt and jeans to class. Also a couple major fire stations are located close to campus and the sirens are disruptive during class.
Creating Liberal Arts majors. Also we're very good with our math and science courses, as MUSC is right around the corner, we produce med students like myself who graduate and go straight there.
The best thing about the College of Charleston is definitely the location. However, it is also one of the worst things. The city is so beautiful, and the beach is only minutes away. I dont know why anyone would not want to come to school here. There is history EVERYWHERE you look and the people are so friendly. It is sometimes hard to concentrate on school with such wonderful people and such a beautiful place. It is important to make good friends with the same ambitions as you. Making those friends will help you stay focused.
CofC's basketball team hasn't made it into the March Madness tournament during the past two years I have been here, but they have been close! The basketball games are the most popular sporting event for students especially since the arena is on-campus. We have other good sporting teams too like baseball and soccer but the fields are over the bridge and require a 10-minute car ride, so my friends and I don't get to many games.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
80% of students attending College of Charleston receive some sort of financial aid.
24% were awarded federal grants.43%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
