Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Penn State JMU NC State Purdue UofSC Clemson UVA Mason Maryland William & Mary Coastal Carolina VCU| College of Charleston | Virginia Tech | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CofC | Virginia Tech | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Blacksburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,729 | 38,294 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #435 | #145 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cofc.edu | vt.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CofC | Virginia Tech | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,518 | $12,698 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $36,398 | $33,310 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,032 | $14,888 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,806 | $22,205 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,811 | $8,542 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 55% |
Admission |
CofC | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 26,683 | 47,208 | ||
| Admitted | 19,212 | 26,923 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72% | 57% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.7% | 26.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.94 | 3.97 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1300 | 1240/1420 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 |
Academics |
CofC | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
CofC | Virginia Tech | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,200 | $65,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $23,966 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $247 |
Diversity |
CofC | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
CofC | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 38% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 33% | ||
Campus |
CofC | Virginia Tech | ||
| 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
- Virginia Tech is larger than than CofC based on total student enrollment (38,294 students vs. 11,729 students)
CofC vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CofC or Virginia Tech?
- Virginia Tech is 1.4% more expensive to attend than CofC for in-state tuition ($12,698.00 vs. $12,518.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9.3% higher at CofC than Virginia Tech ($36,398.00 vs. $33,310.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than Virginia Tech ($20,806 vs. $22,205)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Charleston are 6.1% lower than costs at Virginia Tech ($14,032 vs. $14,888)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of Charleston than Virginia Tech (81% vs. 55%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of Charleston students is 14.9% larger than aid received Virginia Tech ($9,811 vs. $8,542)
CofC vs. Virginia Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CofC or Virginia Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Virginia Tech or CofC .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Tech (1210) is 69 points higher than at CofC (1141)
- Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at CofC (3.94)
- CofC has a higher acceptance rate (72%) than Virginia Tech (57%)
CofC vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CofC or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech and CofC.
- The graduation rate at Virginia Tech is higher than College of Charleston (82% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Virginia Tech earn on average $18,800 more per year than CofC graduates after ten years. ($65,000 vs. $46,200)
- College of Charleston students graduate with a $2,466 lower median federal student loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,966)
- CofC graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than Virginia Tech graduates. ($222 vs. $247)
- More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CofC students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/