ABAC vs. CSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA with Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Charleston Southern University is larger than ABAC based on total student enrollment (3,832 students vs. 3,825 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is located in Tifton, GA (Remote Town setting); Charleston Southern University is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Charleston Southern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 21:1; Charleston Southern University 12:1.

ABAC vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ABAC or CSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College than CSU ($7,308 vs. $21,080).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are 19.7% lower than at Charleston Southern University ($9,800 vs. $12,200).
• Charleston Southern University is 895.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ABAC (about $29,252 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $3,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 207.1% higher at CSU than at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (about $21,932 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $10,588.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Charleston Southern University than at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (98% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 244.4% larger than aid received by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students ($23,240 vs. $6,747).

ABAC vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ABAC or CSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU and ABAC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Charleston Southern University (1050) is 80 points higher than at ABAC (970).
• Incoming CSU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at ABAC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 860/1080; Charleston Southern University 930/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 17/22; Charleston Southern University 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ABAC - Test optional; CSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at ABAC (2.85).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than ABAC (75.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.1% at ABAC vs. 17.7% at CSU.

ABAC vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ABAC and CSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than ABAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduates have a $10,500 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($16,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, ABAC graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($170 vs. $279).
• More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ABAC students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.