AU vs. CSU

Should I go to Anderson University or Charleston Southern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or CSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Anderson University vs. Charleston Southern University comparison
Anderson University Charleston Southern University College 3 College 4
Anderson University Charleston Southern University
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Overview

AU CSU
Location Anderson, SC Charleston, SC
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 4,121 3,418
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #918
Religious Affiliation Baptist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website andersonuniversity.edu csuniv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU CSU
Tuition (In State) $30,860 $29,490
Tuition (Out of State) $30,860 $29,490
Room & Board $11,230 $11,250
Avg Net Price $21,633 $17,536
Avg Grant Aid $24,409 $26,417
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

AU CSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,043 4,967
Admitted 2,289 4,309
Acceptance Rate 45.4% 86.8%
Enrolled % 34.9% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.24
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 940/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

AU CSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

AU CSU
Graduation Rate 48% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,500 $39,800
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,862 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $277 $279

Diversity

AU CSU
% Men 35% 36%
% Women 65% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 83% 61%
% Black 8% 26%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

AU CSU
% In-State 68% 76%
% Out-of-State 31% 23%

Campus

AU CSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Anderson University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (4,121 students vs. 3,418 students)

AU vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or CSU?

  • Anderson University is 4.6% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($30,860.00 vs. $29,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at AU than Charleston Southern University ($30,860.00 vs. $29,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Charleston Southern University than AU ($17,536 vs. $21,633)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 0.2% lower than costs at Charleston Southern University ($11,230 vs. $11,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than Charleston Southern University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 8.2% larger than aid received Anderson University ($26,417 vs. $24,409)

AU vs. CSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or CSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSU or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Anderson University (1078) is 48 points higher than at CSU (1030)
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at CSU (3.24)
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than AU (45.4%)

AU vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or CSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CSU and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Charleston Southern University (48% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn on average $2,300 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($39,800 vs. $37,500)
  • Anderson University students graduate with a $138 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($26,862 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/