ACCEPTANCE RATE
76.1%
More selective than 42% of listed universities.
SelectiveAccessible
Private University
Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University is a private nonprofit four-year institution located in Charleston, South Carolina. The campus offers a Christian environment with NCAA Division I athletics and over eighty undergraduate majors for students seeking academic excellence and faith-based growth.
Charleston, SCcity, midsize
76.1%ACCEPTANCE
$21,347AVG NET PRICE
49%GRAD RATE
3,545STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
THE SIGNATURE
Charleston Southern University Report Card
Explore university facts, programs, and campus life at a glance.
Charleston Southern University is a private nonprofit four-year institution located in Charleston, South Carolina with Baptist religious affiliation. The campus fosters a Christian environment where students develop godly character through excellent academic experiences and intentional service to others. A total of 3545 students comprise the learning community, supported by committed faculty who help achieve personal and career goals.
Academic offerings include eighty-two undergraduate majors alongside graduate programs available in person or online. The university holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges plus specialized bodies for fields like engineering and nursing. Students complete required experience-based learning through internships, study abroad courses, and the Passport to Purpose program.
Situated in the Lowcountry, the area features beaches and palm trees alongside a booming economy with strong growth in technology and healthcare sectors. Campus life includes NCAA Division I athletics, campus ministries, dining options, and residence halls for commuter students seeking housing support.
AT A GLANCE
TypePrivateFour or more years
Settingcity, midsize
Calendarsemester
Religious affiliationBaptist
GETTING IN
Admissions
Charleston Southern University accepts approximately 76.1 percent of applicants from a pool of 6072 who applied for admission. Prospective students may consider the SAT math midpoint of 515 when evaluating selectivity alongside the university’s private nonprofit status and four-year level designation.
Source: IPEDS 2023
SAT RANGE (MID 50%)
950–1,160
4001600
APPLICATION FEE
Undergraduate application fee $25.
WHAT IT COSTS
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker price tells you little — net price after aid is what most families actually pay.
Source: IPEDS 2023
IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
$31,030/yr
Out-of-state: $31,030/yr.
Net price by income band
$19,840$0–$30,000
$19,236$30,001–$48,000
$22,405$48,001–$75,000
$23,957$75,001–$110,000
$23,804$110,001+
AVERAGE NET PRICE AFTER AID
$21,347/yr
▲ 17% since 2020-2189% receive grants or scholarships
Average grant or scholarship aid $21,011.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Academics
The university offers eighty-two undergraduate majors and specialized accreditation for programs such as engineering, nursing, and physical therapy education. Students can pursue bachelor’s or master’s degrees through in-person, hybrid, or fully online formats while participating in the Passport to Purpose experiential learning program.
Source: IPEDS 2023
Student–faculty ratio
13:1
6-year graduation rate
49%
▲ 13 pts since 2016
First-year retention
62%
Median across 34 institutions in our national dataset: 89%.
Bachelor-level fields offered
82
Bachelor-level fields reported as offered in IPEDS
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Share of bachelor's degree completions, not of all enrolled students.
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.16.6%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.6.6%
Community Health and Preventive Medicine.5.6%
Psychology, General.5.4%
Exercise Science and Kinesiology.5.2%
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration.4.6%
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus & Housing
Reported capacity of institution-controlled housing and campus setting. Capacity does not indicate how many students currently live in university housing.
University-controlled housing capacity
1,382
Includes institution-controlled housing; it may extend beyond campus.
Setting
city, midsize
AFTER GRADUATION
Student outcomes
Earnings and employment of former students after entering the university.
Source: College Scorecard 2025
Median earnings · 10 yrs after entry
$45,898
Median earnings of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Working after 10 yrs
86.2%
Share of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Earning more than a high-school graduate
74.9%
74.9% of former students earn above the Scorecard high-school earnings threshold, ten years after entry.
Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics, and College Scorecard. University Apartments is not affiliated with Charleston Southern University.