CSU vs. UTC

Should I go to Charleston Southern University or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or UTC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Charleston Southern University vs. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
Charleston Southern University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
Charleston Southern University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Overview

CSU UTC
Location Charleston, SC Chattanooga, TN
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 3,418 11,283
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #918 #788
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuniv.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU UTC
Tuition (In State) $29,490 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $29,490 $24,110
Room & Board $11,250 $9,500
Avg Net Price $17,536 $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $26,417 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 94%

Admission

CSU UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,967 8,345
Admitted 4,309 6,897
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 82.6%
Enrolled % 16.9% 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.61
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 20/26
SAT Range 940/1170 1023/1210
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

CSU UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

CSU UTC
Graduation Rate 38% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,800 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $279 $214

Diversity

CSU UTC
% Men 36% 42%
% Women 64% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 61% 75%
% Black 26% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

CSU UTC
% In-State 76% 89%
% Out-of-State 23% 11%

Campus

CSU UTC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 3,418 students)

CSU vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or UTC?

  • Charleston Southern University is 269% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($29,490.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.3% higher at CSU than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($29,490.00 vs. $24,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than CSU ($14,417 vs. $17,536)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 18.4% lower than costs at Charleston Southern University ($9,500 vs. $11,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Charleston Southern University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 183.8% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($26,417 vs. $9,309)

CSU vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or UTC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UTC or CSU .

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 57 points higher than at CSU (1030)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at CSU (3.24)
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than UTC (82.6%)

CSU vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU or UTC? 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 UTC and CSU.

  • The graduation rate at UTC is higher than Charleston Southern University (39% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga earn on average $800 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $39,800)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $6,208 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($20,792 vs. $27,000)
  • UTC graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($214 vs. $279)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/