AU vs. CofC

Deciding between Anderson University and College of Charleston? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Anderson University
College of Charleston

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • CofC Charleston, SC
  • Setting
  • AU Small City
  • CofC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 4,710
  • CofC 11,926
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • CofC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #662
  • CofC #384
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU Baptist
  • CofC -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • CofC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • CofC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $34,970
  • CofC $12,978
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $34,970
  • CofC $38,296
  • Room & Board
  • AU $12,720
  • CofC $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $24,434
  • CofC $21,004
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $25,969
  • CofC $8,983
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 98%
  • CofC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 4,548
  • CofC 31,680
  • Admitted
  • AU 2,488
  • CofC 19,016
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 54.7%
  • CofC 60%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 32.5%
  • CofC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1190
  • CofC 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 25
  • CofC 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.72
  • CofC 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • CofC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Challenging
  • CofC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • CofC Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 22/29
  • CofC 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1100/1280
  • CofC 1140/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • CofC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU
  • CofC Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 13:1
  • CofC 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • CofC
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 48%
  • CofC 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $37,500
  • CofC $46,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 60%
  • CofC 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $26,862
  • CofC $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $277
  • CofC $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 42%
  • CofC 32%
  • % Women
  • AU 58%
  • CofC 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU Very Low
  • CofC Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • CofC No
  • % White
  • AU 83%
  • CofC 80%
  • % Asian
  • AU 1%
  • CofC 2%
  • % Black
  • AU 8%
  • CofC 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 3%
  • CofC 5%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • CofC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • CofC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 2%
  • CofC 4%
  • % International
  • AU 1%
  • CofC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 2%
  • CofC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 69%
  • CofC 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 30%
  • CofC 56%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • CofC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • CofC No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • CofC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • CofC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU No
  • CofC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Anderson University in Anderson, SC with College of Charleston in Charleston, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Charleston is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (11,926 students vs. 4,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Anderson University is located in Anderson, SC (Small City setting); College of Charleston is in Charleston, SC (Midsize City setting).
  • Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Charleston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Anderson University 13:1; College of Charleston 16:1.

AU vs. CofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or CofC? 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 College of Charleston than AU ($21,004 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 11.2% lower than at College of Charleston ($12,720 vs. $14,332).
  • Anderson University is 169.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CofC (about $21,992 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $12,978.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.5% higher at CofC than at Anderson University (about $3,326 more per year; $38,296.00 vs. $34,970.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at College of Charleston (98% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 189.1% larger than aid received by College of Charleston students ($25,969 vs. $8,983).

AU vs. CofC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or CofC? 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 CofC and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Charleston (1230) is 40 points higher than at AU (1190).
  • Incoming CofC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Anderson University 1100/1280; College of Charleston 1140/1310.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Anderson University 22/29; College of Charleston 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; CofC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CofC Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (60%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at AU vs. 11.9% at CofC.

AU vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and CofC? 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).

  • College of Charleston's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from College of Charleston earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,200 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Charleston graduates have a $5,362 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, CofC graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.