Culinary Institute of America vs. CSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY with Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Charleston Southern University is larger than Culinary Institute of America based on total student enrollment (3,832 students vs. 3,147 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Culinary Institute of America is located in Hyde Park, NY (Large Suburban setting); Charleston Southern University is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• Culinary Institute of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Charleston Southern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Culinary Institute of America 18:1; Charleston Southern University 12:1.

Culinary Institute of America vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Culinary Institute of America or CSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Charleston Southern University than Culinary Institute of America ($21,080 vs. $39,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charleston Southern University are 18.8% lower than at Culinary Institute of America ($12,200 vs. $15,030).
• Culinary Institute of America is 22.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $7,330 more per year; $39,850.00 vs. $32,520.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.5% higher at Culinary Institute of America than at Charleston Southern University (about $7,330 more per year; $39,850.00 vs. $32,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Culinary Institute of America than at Charleston Southern University (99% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 20.1% larger than aid received by Culinary Institute of America students ($23,240 vs. $19,350).

Culinary Institute of America vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Culinary Institute of America or CSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU and Culinary Institute of America.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Culinary Institute of America (1060) is 10 points higher than at CSU (1050).
• Incoming CSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at Culinary Institute of America).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Culinary Institute of America 928/1183; Charleston Southern University 930/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Culinary Institute of America 17/23; Charleston Southern University 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Culinary Institute of America - Test optional; CSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Culinary Institute of America students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.26) than students at CSU (3.24).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Culinary Institute of America (91.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31% at Culinary Institute of America vs. 17.7% at CSU.

Culinary Institute of America vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Culinary Institute of America and CSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Culinary Institute of America earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,600 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($155 vs. $279).
• More Culinary Institute of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.