Meredith vs. CofC

Comparable Facts

Compare Meredith College in Raleigh, NC 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 Meredith based on total student enrollment (11,926 students vs. 1,465 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Meredith College is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); College of Charleston is in Charleston, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Meredith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Charleston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Meredith College 10:1; College of Charleston 16:1.

Meredith vs. CofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Meredith 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 Meredith ($21,004 vs. $24,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Meredith College are 7.3% lower than at College of Charleston ($13,280 vs. $14,332).
• Meredith College is 251.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CofC (about $32,652 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $12,978.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.2% higher at Meredith than at College of Charleston (about $7,334 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $38,296.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Meredith College than at College of Charleston (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Meredith College students is 268.7% larger than aid received by College of Charleston students ($33,116 vs. $8,983).

Meredith vs. CofC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Meredith 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 Meredith.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Charleston (1230) is 10 points higher than at Meredith (1220).
• Incoming CofC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Meredith).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 1098/1348; College of Charleston 1140/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 23/29; College of Charleston 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Meredith - Test optional; CofC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Meredith Feb 15, 2027; CofC Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Meredith (3.52).
• Meredith has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than CofC (60%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Meredith vs. 11.9% at CofC.

Meredith vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Meredith 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 Meredith College's (59%).
• Graduates from College of Charleston earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Meredith graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,200 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Charleston graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Meredith graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, CofC graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Meredith graduates ($222 vs. $268).
• More Meredith 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.