Charleston Southern University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Charleston, South Carolina. It enrolls 2,893 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes20
Value24
Affordability49
Selectivity13
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.5%, Charleston Southern University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.5%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
930 – 1160
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Charleston Southern University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
26.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Charleston Southern University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,666 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,666
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
48%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$32,520
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,200
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,850
Books & Supplies
$0
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,070
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,370
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,558
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$20,145
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,024
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,697
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,648
Over $110,000
$23,226
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$26,471Medianpercentile
$28,76875%percentile
$39,62590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $7,471
No Pell $15,359
↓ $11,112
Dependent students $17,477
↓ $8,994
Independent students $19,000
↓ $7,471
Female students $18,500
↓ $7,971
Male students $17,430
↓ $9,041
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,526, less than completers ($26,471), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
42% of full-time students who enrolled at Charleston Southern University graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
42%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Charleston Southern University earn a median of $45,898 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,898
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,000, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Charleston Southern University is home to 2,893 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,893
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.0%1,735
Black 17.9%518
Hispanic 8.8%254
Other 5.2%150
International 2.5%73
Asian 1.3%37
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Charleston Southern University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityCharleston, South Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential1,382 beds on campus
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Charleston Southern University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
58 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Charleston Southern University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$146M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$54,248
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
187 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
46
25%
$68,625
Associate Professors
52
28%
$56,540
Assistant Professors
68
36%
$49,183
Instructors
21
11%
$46,956
Pros & Cons of Charleston Southern University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Charleston Southern University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Charleston Southern University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Charleston Southern University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Charleston Southern University.
Is Charleston Southern University hard to get into?
Charleston Southern University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Charleston Southern University?
Charleston Southern University has an acceptance rate of 96.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Charleston Southern University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Charleston Southern University scored between 930 and 1160 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Charleston Southern University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Charleston Southern University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Charleston Southern University cost?
The average net price after aid at Charleston Southern University is $21,666 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Charleston Southern University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,898 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,666 per year. That's roughly 2.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Charleston Southern University known for?
Charleston Southern University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Charleston Southern University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Charleston Southern University are $45,898, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Charleston Southern University accredited?
Yes. Charleston Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Charleston Southern University?
Charleston Southern University enrolls 2,893 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Charleston Southern University?
Charleston Southern University graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Charleston Southern University a public or private college?
Charleston Southern University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Charleston Southern University located?
Charleston Southern University is located in Charleston, South Carolina.
What programs does Charleston Southern University offer?
Charleston Southern University offers 58 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Charleston Southern University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Charleston Southern University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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