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UofSC Clemson Coastal Carolina CSU Elon USC Beaufort Furman Winthrop University Citadel Military College of South Carolina Auburn ASU UNCW| Anderson University | College of Charleston | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | CofC | ||
| Location | Anderson, SC | Charleston, SC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,325 | 11,729 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #759 | #435 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | andersonuniversity.edu | cofc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | CofC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $32,710 | $12,518 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,710 | $36,398 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,290 | $14,032 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,222 | $20,806 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $25,586 | $9,811 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 81% |
Admission |
AU | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,732 | 26,683 | ||
| Admitted | 2,499 | 19,212 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 52.8% | 72% | ||
| Enrolled % | 34% | 13.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.72 | 3.94 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1290 | 1130/1300 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | CofC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | CofC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,500 | $46,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,862 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $222 |
Diversity |
AU | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
AU | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 68% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 61% | ||
Campus |
AU | CofC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- College of Charleston is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (11,729 students vs. 4,325 students)
AU vs. CofC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or CofC?
- Anderson University is 161.3% more expensive to attend than CofC for in-state tuition ($32,710.00 vs. $12,518.00)
- Out of state tuition is 11.3% higher at CofC than Anderson University ($36,398.00 vs. $32,710.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than AU ($20,806 vs. $22,222)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 14.2% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($12,290 vs. $14,032)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than College of Charleston (99% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 160.8% larger than aid received College of Charleston ($25,586 vs. $9,811)
AU vs. CofC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or CofC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CofC or AU .
- The average SAT score at College of Charleston (1141) is 63 points higher than at AU (1078)
- Incoming CofC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at AU (24)
- Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at AU (3.72)
- CofC has a higher acceptance rate (72%) than AU (52.8%)
AU vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or CofC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CofC and AU.
- The graduation rate at CofC is higher than Anderson University (63% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from College of Charleston earn on average $8,700 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $37,500)
- College of Charleston students graduate with a $5,362 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,862)
- CofC graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($222 vs. $277)
- More CofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/