USC Beaufort vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare University of South Carolina Beaufort in Bluffton, SC with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than USC Beaufort based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 2,208 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of South Carolina Beaufort is located in Bluffton, SC (Distant Rural setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of South Carolina Beaufort 15:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

USC Beaufort vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC Beaufort or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University than USC Beaufort ($14,379 vs. $15,363).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 4.6% lower than at University of South Carolina Beaufort ($12,146 vs. $12,725).
• Coastal Carolina University is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than USC Beaufort (about $910 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,730.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.1% higher at Coastal Carolina than at University of South Carolina Beaufort (about $7,852 more per year; $29,628.00 vs. $21,776.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Coastal Carolina University than at University of South Carolina Beaufort (94% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Coastal Carolina University students is 16% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Beaufort students ($10,087 vs. $8,692).

USC Beaufort vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC Beaufort or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and USC Beaufort.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Coastal Carolina University (1140) is 110 points higher than at USC Beaufort (1030).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 19 at USC Beaufort).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Beaufort 940/1110; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Beaufort 17/22; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC Beaufort - Test-free; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman USC Beaufort students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Coastal Carolina (3.72).
• Coastal Carolina has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than USC Beaufort (72.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.1% at USC Beaufort vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

USC Beaufort vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC Beaufort and Coastal Carolina? 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).

• Coastal Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than University of South Carolina Beaufort's (21%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than USC Beaufort graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Carolina Beaufort graduates have a $456 lower median loan debt than Coastal Carolina graduates ($24,474 vs. $24,930).
• Among borrowers, USC Beaufort graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Coastal Carolina graduates ($253 vs. $257).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Beaufort students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.