How to Get Into the College of Charleston: Acceptance Rate & Strategies

College of Charleston admissions: introduction

Are you considering applying to the College of Charleston? You're in good company! In the last application cycle, about 22,000 students applied.

Keep reading to learn about acceptance rates for each round of applications, the GPA and standardized test scores that will make you competitive, tips for applying, and more.

It's a lot to keep track of. If you'd like some help navigating the admissions process, I'd be delighted to work with your family! You can book a one-on-one consultation here and sign up for online classes here.

Also, I'm going to level with you. This is an SEO post. If you want to see how I write for normal people, not for Google, here's my Substack.

Bottom line up front

In case you're here just to see the numbers, here they are:

Overall acceptance rate: 76%
Regular-decision acceptance rate: 76%
Early-decision acceptance rate: 73%
Transfer acceptance rate: 87%
SAT composite: 1140-1290
SAT EBRW: 580-660
SAT Math: 550-640
ACT composite: 24-30
ACT Math: 22-27
ACT English: 24-32

College of Charleston | Charleston, SC | College of Charleston Admissions

How hard is it to get admitted to the College of Charleston?

Not too tough. The college lets in more than half of applicants. The overall acceptance rate is about 76%. To learn more about choosing safety, target, and reach schools, take Clarke College Insight's online course on "making the list." And read on for more specific admission statistics for men, women, early and regular decision rounds, and transfer applicants.

College of Charleston admissions statistics

For first-year students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall acceptance rate was 76%. The overall acceptance rate for women was 80%, and the overall acceptance rate for men was 67%. Those acceptance rates include all rounds of admission, early and regular.

College of Charleston regular decision acceptance rate

Excluding applicants who applied early decision, the acceptance rate was 76%. That rate does include some unspecified number of early action applicants, because the College of Charleston doesn't publish data on those applicants.

College of Charleston early decision acceptance rate

The College of Charleston has early decision and early action programs. The early decision deadline is October 15, the early action deadline is November 1, and the regular decision deadline is January 15.

The early decision acceptance rate was 73%. Applying early decision means you commit to attend that college if admitted.

The school doesn't publish data on its early action applicants, so I can't tell you more about them.

College of Charleston transfer acceptance rate

For transfer students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall transfer acceptance rate was 87%. The transfer acceptance rate for women was 89%. The transfer acceptance rate for men was 85%. Those transfer rates are so high for two reasons, probably: transfers from community colleges, since CofC is a public college, and that the college is just trying to get paying customers in the door.

How hard is it to get off the waitlist at the College of Charleston?

Very easy. 99% of waitlisted students got in last year, eventually.

What is a good GPA for the College of Charleston?

The average weighted high school GPA for the most recent class was 4.07. That number doesn't mean much because of grade inflation, in my opinion. High school class rank information for the last incoming class is more informative:

Percent in top 10% of high school class: 19.9%
Percent in top 25% of high school class: 50.2%
Percent in top 50% of high school class: 85.5%
Percent in bottom 50% of high school class: 14.4%

If you’re in the top half of your class, the College of Charleston is probably a good option. If you're in the lower half of your class, let’s talk about it.

What is a good SAT/ACT score for the College of Charleston?

Comparing your SAT or ACT scores against those of the "middle 50" of colleges you're interested is a crucial step in deciding whether it's worth your time to apply. The middle 50 gives us more information than average scores do.

What is the middle 50? In statistics, another term for this range is the interquartile range: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. That may sound intimidating, but it's an easy concept to grasp once someone explains it to you.

The middle 50 range for test scores tells us what the middle half of freshmen College of Charleston students got on the test. That means a quarter of enrolled students got lower scores, and a quarter got higher scores.

Here are the middle 50 ranges for the College of Charleston.

SAT composite: 1140-1290
SAT EBRW: 580-660
SAT Math: 550-640
ACT composite: 24-30
ACT Math: 22-27
ACT English: 24-32

If your scores are in that range, College of Charleston could be a good option for you. If your test scores fall below those ranges, it's probably best not to put this schol on your list, unless you're a recruited athlete.

Tips for applying to the College of Charleston

To get into the College of Charleston, you need to meet its academic threshold and stand out in a good way among other applicants.

Aim to have an appealing high school transcript ready before fall semester of senior year. Specifically, aim to take as many AP, IB, or community college classes as you can, within reason, and get good grades in them. Your transcript--the classes you take and your high school GPA--are crucial for surviving the first round of cuts. To find out what "within reason" means and strategies to achieve that attractive transcript with minimal stress, take my online class on academics.
Send in your ACT or SAT score! Even at test-optional colleges like the College of Charleston, score-submitters generally get in at higher rates. To find out the evidence-based way to achieve the highest score possible on standardized tests--with minimal stress and hassle and without taking time and attention away from schoolwork--take my online class.
Choose extracurriculars that are likely to fill a talent gap in the student body and focus on just a few. Aim to be specialized rather than well-rounded. For the full checklist of traits that will let you choose extracurriculars that you AND admissions officers will like, take my online class on extracurriculars.
Visit campus if you can, ideally some time when classes are in session. Arrange your visit through the admission office, or at least mention it to them by email, and try to meet with a student group and a professor of interest. Take notes and use them to write a compelling essay about why you like the College of Charleston in particular. Those college-specific details are a great way for prospective students to show that they're likely to enroll if admitted.
Give your recommendation letter writers plenty of lead time, so no subconscious resentment about a last-minute hassle bleeds into their prose. The end of junior year is best. Equip them with brag sheets that do most of the work for them and show off your best traits.
There isn't much admission benefit in applying early decision, and you would foreclose the option of comparing financial aid offers from other colleges. So, I don't recommend you apply early decision to the College of Charleston. If your application is ready and you want to hear early, try the early action option.

For personalized guidance for your child's goals and strengths, you can book a one-on-one consultation here. I look forward to working with your family!