Coastal Carolina vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC with University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 10,619 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, SC (Small City setting); University of South Dakota is in Vermillion, SD (Distant Town setting).
• Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Dakota is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Coastal Carolina University 17:1; University of South Dakota 16:1.

Coastal Carolina vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastal Carolina or USD? 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 USD ($14,379 vs. $19,133).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 14.7% lower than at Coastal Carolina University ($10,356 vs. $12,146).
• Coastal Carolina University is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than USD (about $2,208 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $9,432.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 128.9% higher at Coastal Carolina than at University of South Dakota (about $16,686 more per year; $29,628.00 vs. $12,942.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Coastal Carolina University than at University of South Dakota (94% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Coastal Carolina University students is 79.4% larger than aid received by University of South Dakota students ($10,087 vs. $5,623).

Coastal Carolina vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Dakota (1220) is 80 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1140).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at USD).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220; University of South Dakota 1125/1315.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Coastal Carolina University 21/26; University of South Dakota 19/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Coastal Carolina - Test optional; USD - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at USD (3.43).
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.9% at Coastal Carolina vs. 24.1% at USD.

Coastal Carolina vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of South Dakota's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Coastal Carolina University's (46%).
• Graduates from University of South Dakota earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Coastal Carolina graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,200 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $70 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($24,930 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($257 vs. $258).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 54%)

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.