Florida Southern vs. CofC

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with College of Charleston in Charleston, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Charleston is larger than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (11,926 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); College of Charleston is in Charleston, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Charleston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; College of Charleston 16:1.

Florida Southern vs. CofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or CofC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than Florida Southern ($21,004 vs. $29,384).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Charleston are 0.2% lower than at Florida Southern College ($14,332 vs. $14,360).
• Florida Southern College is 239.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CofC (about $31,062 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $12,978.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15% higher at Florida Southern than at College of Charleston (about $5,744 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $38,296.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College than at College of Charleston (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 249.5% larger than aid received by College of Charleston students ($31,394 vs. $8,983).

Florida Southern vs. CofC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or CofC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CofC and Florida Southern.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 10 points higher than at CofC (1230).
• Incoming Florida Southern students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at CofC (27).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; College of Charleston 1140/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; College of Charleston 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; CofC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027; CofC Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Florida Southern (3.73).
• Florida Southern has a higher acceptance rate (64.4%) than CofC (60%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 11.9% at CofC.

Florida Southern vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern and CofC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• College of Charleston's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Florida Southern College's (55%).
• Graduates from College of Charleston earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,200 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Charleston graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Florida Southern graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,000).
• Among borrowers, CofC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Florida Southern graduates ($222 vs. $248).
• More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CofC students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.