College of Charleston acceptance rate & admissions

College of Charleston admits 60% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For Fall 2023, 19,212 of 26,683 applicants were admitted and 2,637 enrolled. The school considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional). The middle half of Fall 2024 enrolled first-year students scored 1140–1310 on the SAT or 25–30 on the ACT.

Check your chances at College of Charleston → Compare your GPA and scores with these ranges, and with other colleges.

Acceptance rate
60%

More selective than 79% of South Carolina colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class

Test scores
Considered, not required

21% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 11% sent ACT scores.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Admitted students who enroll
14%

Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose College of Charleston over other offers.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Applicants, admits and enrollment

Applied26,683
Admitted19,212
Enrolled2,637

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.

College of Charleston SAT and ACT scores

Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, College of Charleston is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.

Test25th percentile75th percentile
SAT reading & writing590670
SAT math550640
ACT composite2530
SAT total (approx.)11401310

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.

College of Charleston admissions year over year

Entering classAcceptanceSAT readingSAT mathACTSource
Fall 202460%590–670550–64025–30College Scorecard
Fall 202372%580–660550–64024–29IPEDS

Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.

How selective is College of Charleston compared with other South Carolina colleges?

College of Charleston has the 7th-lowest acceptance rate of 30 South Carolina colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAcceptanceGraduationAvg. net price
3Furman University43%79%$30,308
4American College of the Building Arts44%62%$30,403
5Wofford College52%84%$18,732
6Anderson University55%66%$23,544
7College of Charleston60%66%$18,960
8University of South Carolina-Columbia60%79%$22,811
9Erskine College63%45%$16,525
10Claflin University65%52%$17,800
11North Greenville University67%55%$21,063

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All South Carolina colleges →

Who enrolls at College of Charleston

First-year students who return for year two82%
First-year students from South Carolina38%
Pell Grant recipients19%
First-generation students20%
Women / men68% / 32%
International students1%

College Scorecard; IPEDS

College of Charleston admissions questions

What is the College of Charleston acceptance rate?

College of Charleston accepts 60% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 19,212 of 26,683 applicants were admitted.

Does College of Charleston require the SAT or ACT?

College of Charleston considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 21% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 11% submitted ACT scores.

What SAT score do you need for College of Charleston?

The middle 50% of College of Charleston enrolled first-year students scored 1140–1310 on the SAT and 25–30 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.

How many admitted students enroll at College of Charleston?

14% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (2,637 of 19,212).

Is College of Charleston getting harder to get into?

College of Charleston accepted 60% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 72% for Fall 2023.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to College of Charleston overview