C
#4 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

CofC Admission Requirements

Charleston, South Carolina

 0 Reviews

Your chances of getting into College of Charleston

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

76.1%
Admission Difficulty for College of Charleston
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Challenging 
Applicant Competition Very Low 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at CofC is 76.1%.  Its admission rate is the 18th lowest in South Carolina.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into CofC and can you get accepted?

College of Charleston is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 15,590 out of the 20,484 who applied were admitted.

The school has challenging admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 38 percent on standardized admission tests. College of Charleston typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.94. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top half of their high school class. 16% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into CofC?

76% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to College of Charleston you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.94 or better
  • Earn A- grades in high school
  • Score 1190 on the SAT
  • Score 26 on the ACT
  • Graduate in the top half of your high school class
  • Submit letters of recommendation from your teachers

CofC GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.94

Typical High School Grades 

A-

What GPA do you need to get into College of Charleston?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into CofC are to have around a 3.94 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

If your high school grades are above the average 3.94 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as CofC accepts 76% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at CofC is 3.94 on the 4.0 scale. 47% of students who get in have perfect 4.0 GPA's in high school. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #3 in South Carolina for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since CofC is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.

High School GPA's for admitted College of Charleston students
High School GPA Freshmen Within Range Competitiveness 
4.0 47.0% Good
3.75 to 3.99 17.5% Avg
3.50 to 3.74 12.0% Avg -
3.25 to 3.49 10.0% Reach
3.00 to 3.24 7.0% Reach
2.50 to 2.99 5.5% Reach
2.00 to 2.49 1.0% Low
1.00 to 1.99 0% Low
less than 1.00 0% Low

 What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022

Calculate My Chances 

CofC SAT Scores

Test Optional

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to College of Charleston. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 24% of students submitted SAT scores and 16% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

1090-1280

Applicants Submitting SAT 

24%
SAT Scores for College of Charleston
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 560
Math 25th Percentile 530
Composite 25th Percentile 1090
SAT Scores for College of Charleston
SAT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 660
Math 75th Percentile 620
Composite 75th Percentile 1280
Average SAT Score 1190

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to College of Charleston?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at CofC is 1190 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1090-1280. Students who get into College of Charleston score in the top 43 percent of all SAT test takers..  CofC ranks #5 in the state of South Carolina for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1190 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. CofC regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1090 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1090, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 990, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

College of Charleston is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "considered but not required".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1190 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1185, you have around a 76% chance of being admitted. A 1280 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 86% chance of getting in.

College of Charleston admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1280 and Above Good >86%
1185 to 1280 Avg + 76%-86%
1090 to 1185 Avg - 62%-76%
995 to 1090 Reach 47%-62%
Less than 995 Low <47%
Calculate My Chances 

CofC ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

23-29 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

16%
ACT Scores for College of Charleston
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 22
Math 25th Percentile 21
Composite 25th Percentile 23
ACT Scores for College of Charleston
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 30
Math 75th Percentile 27
Composite 75th Percentile 29
Average ACT Score 26

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into CofC?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to CofC is 26, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 23 and 29.  The school ranks #5 in South Carolina for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 26. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 23 and score in the score in the top 32 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 20.

16 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to College of Charleston.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as College of Charleston is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "considered but not required".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into CofC for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 26 score has around 76% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 86% with a 29 ACT score.

College of Charleston admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
29 and Above Good >86%
26 to 29 Avg + 76%-86%
23 to 26 Avg - 62%-76%
20 to 23 Reach 47%-62%
Less than 20 Low <47%
Calculate My Chances 

High School Class Rank

82% of College of Charleston freshman are in the top half of their high school graduating class and 43% are in the top quarter.

High School Class Rank for admitted College of Charleston students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 14.7%
Top 25% of class 42.8%
Top 50% of class 82%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

College of Charleston admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 13,962 6,522 20,484
Accepted 11,096 4,494 15,590
Acceptance Rate 79% 69% 76%
Enrolled 1,755 718 2,473
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 16% 16% 16%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 15, 2024

Days left to Apply

109

Applicants have 109 days left until the Fall 2024 term applications are due on Jan 15, 2024.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to College of Charleston is $60.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to College of Charleston and what student information is used for admission decisions?

College of Charleston Application Requirements
Test Scores Considered but not required
High School GPA Required
High School Class Rank Required
Completion of College Preparatory Program Required
Recommendations Recommended
Demonstration of Competencies Neither required nor recommended

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at College of Charleston
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because College of Charleston is lightly competitive to get into, you have a very good chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.94 GPA, you are almost certain to getting in. Combining this with an SAT score of 1190 and ACT of 26 will almost guarantee your admission.

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to College of Charleston often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=217819 IPEDS survey data for College of Charleston.

FAQs

Does College of Charleston prefer SAT or ACT?

24% of students submit their SAT scores to CofC. 16% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.

What is my chance of getting into College of Charleston?

76% of those who apply are granted admission to CofC. Admission competition is and the college has challenging admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.

What SAT score is required for College of Charleston?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1090 and 1280. The average SAT score is 1185. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.

What ACT score is required for College of Charleston?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 23 and 29. The average ACT score is 26. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.