June 11, 2025

Overview

The College of Charleston, though it has the feel of a private school, is part of South Carolina’s university system and the 13th oldest college in the nation. With fewer than 11,000 undergraduates, Charleston has an average class size of 24. It offers big, state school advantages with small school attention. All classes are taught by professors.

Nicole Krasowski, Will Chase, and Georgianna May of the College of Charleston admissions team hosted a webinar for counselors on June 11, 2025. They touted the city’s #1 ranking as “best city in America” and its proximity to three beaches. Most of all, they showed us why the College of Charleston can be a great fit for a wide range of students.

Admissions and applications

The out-of-state admit rate for 2025 was in the upper 60% range, and for in-state students it was in the lower 70% range. Out-of-state students should have an A/B average, or 3.7 to 4.2 weighted. South Carolinians should have a similar GPA using the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale. Honors College students generally have a weighted GPA of 4.3 to 4.7.

The College of Charleston has about a 50-50 split between in-state and out-of-state students. They’ve seen a tremendous growth in applications, as much as 150%, and a good number of those come from outside South Carolina. Unlike the Carolina to their north, there’s no mandate to reserve a specific portion of seats for in-staters.

If applying to College of Charleston, you may apply without standardized test scores. You will be asked to name an intended major, but that information isn’t used in determining admissibility. You’re admitted to the institution, not a major or school. They don’t have caps or limits on any of the majors. If you plan to apply to the Honors College, apply by November 1 so that you will be offered an interview.

The College of Charleston has a supplemental essay that has remained unchanged over the years. Basically, it’s a “Why us?” essay, and you should talk specifically about why you’re a good fit for CofC.

Academics and majors

The most popular majors at Charleston are biology, psychology, business administration, communications, and marketing. Drawing upon the city’s historic character and coastal location, Charleston offers hospitality and tourism management (in the School of Business), historic preservation, and marine biology. CofC has an institutional priority to develop their engineering department and they have scholarships for qualified applicants.

Schools within the College of Charleston, and some noteworthy majors: 

• School of the Arts: historical preservation and community planning, arts management; activities and classes open to all students, even non-majors 
• School of Business: majors include international business and supply chain management 
• School of Education: covers all grades from early childhood to secondary school and special education 
• School of Health Sciences: majors include exercise science, public health 
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences: majors include anthropology, communication, psychology 
• School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs: majors include classics, modern languages 
• School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics: computer science, data science, electrical engineering, systems engineering 
• School of Natural and Environmental Sciences: chemistry and biochemistry; geology and environmental geosciences

Accelerated and Dual-Degree Programs 

For ambitious students, Charleston offers a dual-degree bachelor’s of nursing (BSN) with a bachelor’s in biology that yields both in nine semesters. They also have an accelerated PharmD program, with a BA in biology in three years and the doctor of pharmacy in an additional four years. A one-year master’s in communication allows you to earn your bachelor’s and master’s in five years.

Pre-professional health advising is robust, with programs for medicine (both M.D. and D.O.), veterinary medicine, dentistry, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physician assistant, and more.

Student support and services

Academic life is supported by several centers: the Center for Student Learning, the Career Center, the Center for Entrepreneurship, Academic Advising and Planning, and the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities program. An honors college pulls in about 250 students in each cohort.

Charleston LIFE is a fee-based program for students with mild disabilities, providing 10 students a year with comprehensive education covering academics, social development, independent living, and career development. These students have seven semesters of paid internships and can even study abroad. They are part of the College of Charleston and they may earn certificates but not a bachelor’s degree.

Conclusion

The College of Charleston may not have a football team, but there’s plenty of spirit supporting the Division I Cougars basketball and other DI sports. Strong academics, good support, and the combination of history, culture, and coast make the College of Charleston a desirable place to spend four years.