FAU vs. CofC

Should I go to Florida Atlantic University or College of Charleston? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if FAU or CofC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

FGCU UCF UofSC Florida State Clemson Nova FIU Coastal Carolina University of South Florida St. Petersburg UNF USF Main Campus UT
Florida Atlantic University vs. College of Charleston comparison
Florida Atlantic University College of Charleston College 3 College 4
Florida Atlantic University College of Charleston
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 FAU CofC
Location Boca Raton, FL Charleston, SC
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 29,592 10,885
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #738 #428
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fau.edu cofc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 FAU CofC
Tuition (In State) $2,522 $12,518
Tuition (Out of State) $14,374 $35,338
Room & Board $12,536 $12,986
Avg Net Price $9,711 $21,120
Avg Grant Aid $10,334 $9,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 100%

Admission

 FAU CofC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,268 22,020
Admitted 19,734 16,666
Acceptance Rate 81.3% 75.7%
Enrolled % 22.1% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.94
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Easy Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 24/30
SAT Range 1020/1200 1130/1300
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 FAU CofC
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (9%)

Outcomes

 FAU CofC
Graduation Rate 43% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $46,200
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,861 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $174 $222

Diversity

 FAU CofC
% Men 42% 32%
% Women 58% 68%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 80%
% Black 20% 7%
% Hispanic 26% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 FAU CofC
% In-State 72% 44%
% Out-of-State 22% 54%

Campus

 FAU CofC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Florida Atlantic University is larger than than CofC based on total student enrollment (29,592 students vs. 10,885 students)

FAU vs. CofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FAU or CofC?

  • College of Charleston is 396.4% more expensive to attend than FAU for in-state tuition ($12,518.00 vs. $2,522.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 145.8% higher at CofC than Florida Atlantic University ($35,338.00 vs. $14,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Atlantic University than CofC ($9,711 vs. $21,120)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Atlantic University are 3.6% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($12,536 vs. $12,986)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of Charleston than Florida Atlantic University (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Atlantic University students is 8.8% larger than aid received College of Charleston ($10,334 vs. $9,499)

FAU vs. CofC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FAU or CofC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CofC or FAU .

  • The average SAT score at College of Charleston (1141) is 94 points higher than at FAU (1047)
  • Incoming CofC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at FAU (23)
  • Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at FAU (3.74)
  • FAU has a higher acceptance rate (81.3%) than CofC (75.7%)

FAU vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, FAU or CofC? 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 CofC and FAU.

  • The graduation rate at CofC is higher than Florida Atlantic University (63% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates of Florida Atlantic University and CofC have equivalent average earnings after ten years ($46,200 vs. $46,200)
  • Florida Atlantic University students graduate with a $4,639 lower median federal student loan debt than CofC graduates. ($16,861 vs. $21,500)
  • FAU graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than CofC graduates. ($174 vs. $222)
  • More CofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FAU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/