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Clemson Georgia Virginia Tech NC State Auburn Florida State Coastal Carolina Tennessee Penn State UNC Chapel Hill IU CSU| College of Charleston | University of South Carolina Columbia | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CofC | UofSC | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Columbia, SC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,729 | 36,579 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #435 | #210 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cofc.edu | sc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CofC | UofSC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,518 | $12,288 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $36,398 | $34,534 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,032 | $12,558 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,806 | $26,068 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,811 | $6,762 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 91% |
Admission |
CofC | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 26,683 | 46,682 | ||
| Admitted | 19,212 | 28,706 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72% | 61.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.7% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.94 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1300 | 1180/1380 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 | Dec 1, 2025 |
Academics |
CofC | UofSC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CofC | UofSC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,200 | $51,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $240 |
Diversity |
CofC | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
CofC | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 38% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 45% | ||
Campus |
CofC | UofSC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than CofC based on total student enrollment (36,579 students vs. 11,729 students)
CofC vs. UofSC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CofC or UofSC?
- College of Charleston is 1.9% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($12,518.00 vs. $12,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.4% higher at CofC than University of South Carolina Columbia ($36,398.00 vs. $34,534.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than UofSC ($20,806 vs. $26,068)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 11.7% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($12,558 vs. $14,032)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than College of Charleston (91% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of Charleston students is 45.1% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($9,811 vs. $6,762)
CofC vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CofC or UofSC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UofSC or CofC .
- The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 79 points higher than at CofC (1141)
- Incoming UofSC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at CofC (26)
- Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UofSC (3.69)
- CofC has a higher acceptance rate (72%) than UofSC (61.5%)
CofC vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CofC or UofSC? 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 UofSC and CofC.
- The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than College of Charleston (70% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $5,500 more per year than CofC graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $46,200)
- College of Charleston students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UofSC graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,250)
- CofC graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than UofSC graduates. ($222 vs. $240)
- More UofSC 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/