BAC vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than BAC based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 1,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Belmont Abbey College is located in Belmont, NC (Midsize Suburban setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Belmont Abbey College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Belmont Abbey College 12:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

BAC vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BAC or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University than BAC ($14,379 vs. $24,726).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 6.4% lower than at Belmont Abbey College ($12,146 vs. $12,974).
• Belmont Abbey College is 67.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $7,860 more per year; $19,500.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51.9% higher at Coastal Carolina than at Belmont Abbey College (about $10,128 more per year; $29,628.00 vs. $19,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Belmont Abbey College than at Coastal Carolina University (99% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Belmont Abbey College students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($10,168 vs. $10,087).

BAC vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BAC or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and BAC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Coastal Carolina University (1140) is 60 points higher than at BAC (1080).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at BAC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Belmont Abbey College 960/1200; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Belmont Abbey College 18/26; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BAC - Test optional; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at BAC (3.32).
• Coastal Carolina has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than BAC (74.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at BAC vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

BAC vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BAC and Coastal Carolina? 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).

• Coastal Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Belmont Abbey College's (38%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $300 more per year than BAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $41,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $2,070 lower median loan debt than BAC graduates ($24,930 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BAC graduates ($257 vs. $279).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BAC students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 40%)

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.