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JMU Mason UofSC Clemson Coastal Carolina Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU CSU Elon William & Mary| College of Charleston | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CofC | VCU | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,729 | 28,238 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #435 | #469 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cofc.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CofC | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,518 | $12,850 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $36,398 | $34,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,032 | $16,119 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,806 | $22,852 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,811 | $12,433 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 99% |
Admission |
CofC | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 26,683 | 19,052 | ||
| Admitted | 19,212 | 17,729 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72% | 93.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.7% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.94 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1300 | 1030/1270 | ||
| 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 | Jan 18, 2026 |
Academics |
CofC | VCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CofC | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,200 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $240 |
Diversity |
CofC | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 6% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
CofC | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 38% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 6% | ||
Campus |
CofC | VCU | ||
| 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
- Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than CofC based on total student enrollment (28,238 students vs. 11,729 students)
CofC vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CofC or VCU?
- Virginia Commonwealth University is 2.7% more expensive to attend than CofC for in-state tuition ($12,850.00 vs. $12,518.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.8% higher at CofC than Virginia Commonwealth University ($36,398.00 vs. $34,744.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than VCU ($20,806 vs. $22,852)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Charleston are 14.9% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($14,032 vs. $16,119)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than College of Charleston (99% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 26.7% larger than aid received College of Charleston ($12,433 vs. $9,811)
CofC vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CofC or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or CofC .
- The average SAT score at College of Charleston (1141) is 44 points higher than at VCU (1097)
- Incoming CofC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VCU (24)
- Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at VCU (3.75)
- VCU has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than CofC (72%)
CofC vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CofC or VCU? 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 VCU and CofC.
- The graduation rate at CofC is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (63% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $1,300 more per year than CofC graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $46,200)
- College of Charleston students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,250)
- CofC graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($222 vs. $240)
- More CofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/