What is the acceptance rate at Charleston Southern University?

Charleston Southern University's acceptance rate is approximately 96% (Charleston, SC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Charleston Southern University?

Admitted students at Charleston Southern University typically score 930–1160 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Charleston Southern University cost?

At Charleston Southern University, the average net price (after aid) is about $21,666 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Charleston Southern University?

Charleston Southern University enrolls approximately 2,893 undergraduate students.

Where is Charleston Southern University located?

Charleston Southern University is located in Charleston, SC.

Charleston Southern University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Charleston Southern University

Charleston, SCprivate nonprofitcharlestonsouthern.edu

Acceptance

96%

SAT 25–75

930–1160

Avg net price

$21,666

Earnings (10 yr)

$45,898

Graduation rate

47%

Admit rate has ranged 50%–87% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Charleston Southern University is a Baptist-affiliated institution where faith and academics intertwine—think small classes (63% under 20 students), an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, and mandatory chapel. With a 96% acceptance rate, it’s accessible but struggles with graduation rates (49% in six years). The campus charms with a reflection pond and vibrant student orgs, while $80M in annual aid softens its $30K+ sticker price.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 2,893
In-state tuition: $32,520
Out-of-state tuition: $32,520
Financial Aid: $80M+ annually awarded
Avg Class Size: 63% under 20 students
Acceptance Rate: 96.5%
6-Year Grad Rate: 49%
Mandatory Chapel: Weekly
On-Campus Housing: 46% of students
Student-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Median Earnings Post-Grad: $40,736/year

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $45,898
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.1×
Median debt at graduation: $26,471
Graduation rate: 47%
First-year retention: 63%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 49%
Pell (lower-income) share: 63%
First-generation share: 31%
Endowment / student: $10,315

Financial health

3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard

U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$56,867
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,589
Accounting and Related Services$39,927
Criminal Justice and Corrections$37,568
Human Resources Management and Services$36,674
Marketing

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 0
Per 1,000 students: 0.00

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 123
Summer high: 88°F
Winter low: 45°F
Annual rain: 55.1"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively High

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 45
Scholarly works: 515

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 2.1%
Bottom → top quintile: 18%
From bottom quintile: 12%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Charleston Southern University?: Charleston Southern University's acceptance rate is approximately 96% (Charleston, SC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Charleston Southern University?: Admitted students at Charleston Southern University typically score 930–1160 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Charleston Southern University cost?: At Charleston Southern University, the average net price (after aid) is about $21,666 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Charleston Southern University?: Charleston Southern University enrolls approximately 2,893 undergraduate students.
Where is Charleston Southern University located?: Charleston Southern University is located in Charleston, SC.

Admissions

Charleston Southern’s admissions process is decidedly unselective, with a 96.5% (4,495 admits from 4,660 applicants in 2024). The university is test-flexible, accepting SAT (530 EBRW/490 Math minimum), ACT (19 English/19 Math), or CLT (64) scores for regular admission. Bridge programs exist for those below thresholds. Notably, is low—only 27.1% of admitted students enroll, suggesting many treat CSU as a safety school. Demographically, it skews local: 68% of students hail from South Carolina.

collegedata.com datausa.io petersons.com charlestonsouthern.edu parchment.com

Academics

CSU offers 60+ undergraduate and 20 graduate programs across eight colleges, from business to ministry. The curriculum is steeped in Christian values—even science courses integrate faith. Small classes dominate (63% have fewer than 20 students), and the 11:1 faculty ratio ensures accessibility. Online education is expanding, with flexible options for non-traditional students. Reddit reviews praise ‘chill’ communications and business classes, while STEM majors face tougher rigor. Free counseling services and academic support at ‘The Hub’ provide safety nets.

Compare Charleston Southern University

vs Virginia Wesleyan University vs Lincoln Memorial University vs Asbury University vs Anderson University

Charleston Southern University

Admission requirements

Outcomes & value

Financial health

Top-earning majors

Campus safety

Climate

Research output

Economic mobility

Quick answers

Admissions

Academics

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