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Auburn Alabama Kentucky UofSC Clemson Coastal Carolina Ole Miss Florida State ASU CSU IU JMU| College of Charleston | The University of Tennessee | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CofC | Tennessee | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Knoxville, TN | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,729 | 36,304 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #435 | #222 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cofc.edu | tennessee.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CofC | Tennessee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,518 | $11,332 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $36,398 | $29,522 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,032 | $12,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,806 | $20,885 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,811 | $11,491 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 85% |
Admission |
CofC | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 26,683 | 50,488 | ||
| Admitted | 19,212 | 23,221 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72% | 46% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.7% | 28.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.94 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1300 | 1190/1340 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
CofC | Tennessee | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CofC | Tennessee | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,200 | $56,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $20,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $206 |
Diversity |
CofC | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
CofC | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 38% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 41% | ||
Campus |
CofC | Tennessee | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- The University of Tennessee is larger than than CofC based on total student enrollment (36,304 students vs. 11,729 students)
CofC vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CofC or Tennessee?
- College of Charleston is 10.5% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($12,518.00 vs. $11,332.00)
- Out of state tuition is 23.3% higher at CofC than The University of Tennessee ($36,398.00 vs. $29,522.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than Tennessee ($20,806 vs. $20,885)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 12.3% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($12,500 vs. $14,032)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than College of Charleston (85% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee students is 17.1% larger than aid received College of Charleston ($11,491 vs. $9,811)
CofC vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CofC or Tennessee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee or CofC .
- The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 73 points higher than at CofC (1141)
- Incoming Tennessee students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at CofC (26)
- Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
- CofC has a higher acceptance rate (72%) than Tennessee (46%)
CofC vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CofC or Tennessee? 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 Tennessee and CofC.
- The graduation rate at CofC is the same as at The University of Tennessee (63% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from The University of Tennessee earn on average $10,100 more per year than CofC graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $46,200)
- The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CofC graduates. ($20,000 vs. $21,500)
- Tennessee graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than CofC graduates. ($206 vs. $222)
- More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CofC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/