UofSC vs. Coastal Carolina

Should I go to University of South Carolina Columbia or Coastal Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UofSC or Coastal Carolina 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Clemson Georgia CofC Virginia Tech NC State Auburn Florida State ECU Tennessee Penn State UNC Chapel Hill IU
University of South Carolina Columbia vs. Coastal Carolina University comparison
University of South Carolina Columbia Coastal Carolina University College 3 College 4
University of South Carolina Columbia Coastal Carolina University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 UofSC Coastal Carolina
Location Columbia, SC Conway, SC
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 35,653 10,337
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #208 #821
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sc.edu coastal.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UofSC Coastal Carolina
Tuition (In State) $12,288 $11,460
Tuition (Out of State) $33,528 $28,310
Room & Board $11,780 $10,628
Avg Net Price $22,427 $14,016
Avg Grant Aid $6,880 $10,610
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 88%

Admission

 UofSC Coastal Carolina
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 42,188 17,161
Admitted 27,022 13,493
Acceptance Rate 64.1% 78.6%
Enrolled % 24.3% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 20/25
SAT Range 1180/1380 1020/1190
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 Dec 1, 2023

Academics

 UofSC Coastal Carolina
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 UofSC Coastal Carolina
Graduation Rate 70% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,700 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $24,930
Median Loan Payment $240 $257

Diversity

 UofSC Coastal Carolina
% Men 42% 45%
% Women 58% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 77% 68%
% Black 10% 20%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 UofSC Coastal Carolina
% In-State 52% 31%
% Out-of-State 47% 68%

Campus

 UofSC Coastal Carolina
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than Coastal Carolina based on total student enrollment (35,653 students vs. 10,337 students)

UofSC vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UofSC or Coastal Carolina?

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is 7.2% more expensive to attend than Coastal Carolina for in-state tuition ($12,288.00 vs. $11,460.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.4% higher at UofSC than Coastal Carolina University ($33,528.00 vs. $28,310.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Coastal Carolina University than UofSC ($14,016 vs. $22,427)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 10.8% lower than costs at University of South Carolina Columbia ($10,628 vs. $11,780)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than Coastal Carolina University (98% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Coastal Carolina University students is 54.2% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($10,610 vs. $6,880)

UofSC vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 211 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1009)
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Coastal Carolina (22)
  • Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UofSC (3.69)
  • Coastal Carolina has a higher acceptance rate (78.6%) than UofSC (64.1%)

UofSC vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UofSC or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and UofSC.

  • The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than Coastal Carolina University (70% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $9,500 more per year than Coastal Carolina graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $42,200)
  • University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $1,680 lower median federal student loan debt than Coastal Carolina graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,930)
  • UofSC graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than Coastal Carolina graduates. ($240 vs. $257)
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 54%)

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