UNCG vs. CSU

Deciding between University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Charleston Southern University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Charleston Southern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNCG Greensboro, NC
  • CSU Charleston, SC
  • Setting
  • UNCG Large City
  • CSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNCG 18,012
  • CSU 3,832
  • Type
  • UNCG Public 4 Year
  • CSU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNCG #646
  • CSU #952
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNCG -
  • CSU Baptist
  • Status
  • UNCG Non-profit
  • CSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNCG
  • CSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNCG $7,661
  • CSU $32,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNCG $24,012
  • CSU $32,520
  • Room & Board
  • UNCG $10,688
  • CSU $12,200
  • Average Net Price
  • UNCG $11,404
  • CSU $21,080
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNCG $9,863
  • CSU $23,240
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNCG 87%
  • CSU 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNCG 12,948
  • CSU 4,660
  • Admitted
  • UNCG 11,460
  • CSU 4,495
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNCG 88.5%
  • CSU 96.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UNCG 21.2%
  • CSU 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNCG 1250
  • CSU 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNCG 24
  • CSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNCG 3.59
  • CSU 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNCG A-
  • CSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNCG Challenging
  • CSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNCG
  • CSU
  • ACT Range
  • UNCG 22/27
  • CSU 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • UNCG 1150/1355
  • CSU 930/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNCG Test optional
  • CSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNCG Mar 1, 2027
  • CSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNCG 18:1
  • CSU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNCG
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • CSU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNCG 53%
  • CSU 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNCG $39,100
  • CSU $39,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNCG 56%
  • CSU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNCG $22,737
  • CSU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNCG $235
  • CSU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNCG 33%
  • CSU 37%
  • % Women
  • UNCG 67%
  • CSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNCG High
  • CSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • UNCG No
  • CSU No
  • % White
  • UNCG 52%
  • CSU 61%
  • % Asian
  • UNCG 5%
  • CSU 2%
  • % Black
  • UNCG 28%
  • CSU 26%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNCG 8%
  • CSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • UNCG 0%
  • CSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNCG 0%
  • CSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNCG 4%
  • CSU 2%
  • % International
  • UNCG 2%
  • CSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNCG 0%
  • CSU 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNCG 93%
  • CSU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNCG 5%
  • CSU 28%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UNCG Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UNCG No
  • CSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • UNCG Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UNCG No
  • CSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UNCG No
  • CSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Greensboro, NC with Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (18,012 students vs. 3,832 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro is located in Greensboro, NC (Large City setting); Charleston Southern University is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Charleston Southern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 18:1; Charleston Southern University 12:1.

UNCG vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCG or CSU? 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 University of North Carolina at Greensboro than CSU ($11,404 vs. $21,080).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are 12.4% lower than at Charleston Southern University ($10,688 vs. $12,200).
  • Charleston Southern University is 324.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCG (about $24,859 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $7,661.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.4% higher at CSU than at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (about $8,508 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $24,012.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Charleston Southern University than at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (98% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 135.6% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Greensboro students ($23,240 vs. $9,863).

UNCG vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCG or CSU? 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 CSU and UNCG.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1250) is 200 points higher than at CSU (1050).
  • Incoming UNCG students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1150/1355; Charleston Southern University 930/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 22/27; Charleston Southern University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNCG - Test optional; CSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNCG Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNCG students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at CSU (3.24).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than UNCG (88.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.2% at UNCG vs. 17.7% at CSU.

UNCG vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNCG and CSU? 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).

  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Charleston Southern University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn a median of about $700 more per year than UNCG graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Greensboro graduates have a $4,263 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($22,737 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UNCG graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($235 vs. $279).
  • More UNCG graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 50%)

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.