College of Charleston: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

College of Charleston is a public liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 78%. Founded in 1770 and located in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston provides a historically rich environment for students. The C of C has a 13-to-1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of about 21. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, but students will also find thriving pre-professional programs in business and education. On the athletic front, the College of Charleston Cougars compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association.

Considering applying to College of Charleston? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, College of Charleston had an acceptance rate of 78%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 78 students were admitted, making C of C's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

College of Charleston requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 59% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of C of C's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to College of Charleston scored between 550 and 640, while 25% scored below 550 and 25% scored above 640. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 530 and 620, while 25% scored below 530 and 25% scored above 620. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1260 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at College of Charleston.

Requirements

College of Charleston does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests, but will consider these scores if submitted. Note that C of C participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

College of Charleston requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 42% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of College of Charleston's admitted students fall within the top 36% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to C of C received a composite ACT score between 22 and 28, while 25% scored above 28 and 25% scored below 22.

Requirements

College of Charleston does not require the ACT writing section, but will consider writing scores if submitted. Unlike many schools, C of C superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of College of Charleston's incoming class was 3.97, and over 65% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to College of Charleston have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to College of Charleston. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The College of Charleston, which accepts over three-quarters of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, C of C has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. The school is looking for participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Applicants may also choose to submit an optional letter of recommendation to supplement their application. Note that students applying to the Honors College will be required to submit an additional application as well as an essay, resume, and letter of recommendation.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of admitted applicants had high school averages of "B" or higher, combined SAT scores of 1000 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 20 or better. Slightly higher numbers improve your chances significantly.

If You Like College of Charleston, You May Also Like These Schools

• Appalachian State University
• East Carolina University
• Duke University
• Auburn University
• Elon University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and College of Charleston Undergraduate Admissions Office.