CSU vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC 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 CSU based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 3,832 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CSU vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU 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 CSU ($14,379 vs. $21,080).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 0.4% lower than at Charleston Southern University ($12,146 vs. $12,200).
• Charleston Southern University is 179.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $20,880 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at CSU than at Coastal Carolina University (about $2,892 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $29,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Charleston Southern University than at Coastal Carolina University (98% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 130.4% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($23,240 vs. $10,087).

CSU vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU 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 CSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Coastal Carolina University (1140) is 90 points higher than at CSU (1050).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at CSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Charleston Southern University 930/1160; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Charleston Southern University 18/24; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test optional; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at CSU (3.24).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at CSU vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

CSU vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU 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 Charleston Southern University's (38%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $2,070 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($24,930 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($257 vs. $279).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 50%)

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.