College of Charleston
Charleston, SC, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$20,351
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$14,750
$30k - $48k
$16,208
$48k - $75k
$20,142
$75k - $110k
$22,968
$110k+
$23,397
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$12,978
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$35,798
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$12,986
Books and Supplies
$1,345
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
52%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
22%
Average Aid Per Year
$10,268
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
22%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$2,516
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$8,549
Students receiving state aid
48%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$5,162
Students receiving federal aid
55%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$2,516
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$35,177,616
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$29,071,336

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
42%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$9,245
Students receiving federal loans
40%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,383
Average Other Loans Per Year
$18,095
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$16,470
Loan Default Rate
6%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$210

What Students Are Saying

The College of Charleston is an excellent school with several new buildings, knowledgeable staff, and an A+ location. The price is a little steep for out of state students but being one myself, I can say it is well worth it.
Sophomore Biology Major
College of Charleston is definitely a great buy. It provides excellent housing, dining, professors, and many modern buildings that are all comfortable and conveinent. There are many great organizations and clubs to be a part of as well as sports. CofC has a fantastic location in the heart of Charleston that provides its students with endless entertainment when they are not studying.
Kelly from Pelzer, SC
THIS IS IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE A TRANSFER STUDENT: Financial aid for the first year or so is not really easy to get, but if you look around for scholarships and harass the financial aid folks you’ll probably be able to cut the cost of attendance down. Housing for transfer students is also not easy to get for the first year, but the college has a lot of resources for off-campus living.

If you’re an in-state student, the cost of attendance is fairly low; if you’re out-of-state, not so much. But it could be worse: at my former school, tuition was about $10,000 more. Because the classes are great and I’m really enjoying it here, though, it’s definitely worth it.
Laura, who is an Astrophysics/Biology major, who is at CofC
I think CofC is definitely worth coming to!
Kelli from Sumter, SC
Charleston is a beautiful historic area, and therefore the money can become short, but if you know where to go and what places to eat to save little bits of cash here and there it is not a problem for a college student with a weekend job to support himself.
Robert from Hickory, NC
I am paying out of state tuition so I am paying an extra $6000 a semester to come here. If I were paying in state tuition it would be an even bigger bang for my buck. Especially with the many South Carolina scholarships available to resident students.
Tiffani from El Paso, TX
College of Charleston is relatively affordable I suppose. It is as far as colleges are concerned at least. I've found that many of the students here are kids with rich parents from out of state, just coming to party.
Gene from Blythewood, SC
For being what I believe to be a wonderful school, This is their only set back. Being a public school for the state does not seem to deter them from making one feel like their paying for a private one. And with freshman year the school requires these students to pay for things like a meal plan, or even 15 pages of printer paper that if not used up by end of semester/year will not be rolled over next time for use. Its all of these small, but collective fees that the school does that makes it irritating for students and parents. But even with these costs the school makes up for it in other ways.
Megan from Fort Mill, SC
While the cost of the College of Charleston is high for out-of-state students, I believe that the quality of education you receive as a student at the College is well worth it. I have been away from the College for the semester, and the quality of education at my other university could not compare to what I was used to at the College.
Maureen from Augusta, GA
They are very liberal with their scholarships so apply for anything and everything. The most interest you show, the better. Plus you get to go to school on &#34;America&#39;s Most Beautiful Campus&#34; so that&#39;s pretty incredible.
Maddie from Huntersville, NC