CSU vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Charleston Southern University or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or USC Aiken 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. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Charleston Southern University University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
Charleston Southern University
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Overview

CSU USC Aiken
Location Charleston, SC Aiken, SC
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,418 3,840
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #918 #888
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuniv.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $29,490 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $29,490 $20,856
Room & Board $11,250 $8,376
Avg Net Price $17,536 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $26,417 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

CSU USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,967 2,453
Admitted 4,309 1,855
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 75.6%
Enrolled % 16.9% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.19
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 18/24
SAT Range 940/1170 950/1180
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

CSU USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

CSU USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 38% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,800 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

CSU USC Aiken
% Men 36% 36%
% Women 64% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 61% 58%
% Black 26% 27%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

CSU USC Aiken
% In-State 76% 87%
% Out-of-State 23% 11%

Campus

CSU USC Aiken
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

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (3,840 students vs. 3,418 students)

CSU vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or USC Aiken?

  • Charleston Southern University is 183.6% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($29,490.00 vs. $10,398.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.4% higher at CSU than University of South Carolina Aiken ($29,490.00 vs. $20,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than CSU ($11,872 vs. $17,536)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 34.3% lower than costs at Charleston Southern University ($8,376 vs. $11,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Aiken than Charleston Southern University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 167.1% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($26,417 vs. $9,891)

CSU vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Charleston Southern University (1030) is 54 points higher than at USC Aiken (976)
  • Incoming CSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at USC Aiken (21)
  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than USC Aiken (75.6%)

CSU vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and CSU.

  • The graduation rate at USC Aiken is higher than Charleston Southern University (41% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn on average $200 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($39,800 vs. $39,600)
  • University of South Carolina Aiken students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • USC Aiken graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More USC Aiken 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/