Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Charleston Southern University is a private regional university located in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston Southern University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Charleston Southern University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $42,048 10 years after enrolling, 12th in South Carolina, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Charleston Southern University bachelor students earn 7% less than the national average.
Charleston Southern University’s median net annual cost of $17,671 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Charleston Southern University sorted by number of graduates - Registered Nursing, Business Administration, Education, Biology, Psychology, Health & Fitness - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$17,671
Average years to graduate
4.6
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
HR Management
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 2.98
Criminal Justice
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.49
Accounting
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.87
Education (subject specific)
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 6.29
Religious Studies
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 7.26
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 7.27
Marketing
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 10.22
Social Sciences
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 14.36
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 16.11
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 3 graduate programs at Charleston Southern University - Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Educ. Administration - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 44% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Charleston Southern University is 9% lower than the state average, and 13% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Charleston Southern University, Pell Grant recipients represent 37% of the measured graduating class, 2% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Charleston Southern University graduates within 4.6 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Charleston Southern University’s economic mobility score of 12.73 is calculated by adjusting the 4.94 economic score of lower-income students by the 37% pell grant recipients within the student body. Charleston Southern University’s EMS of 12.73 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Charleston Southern University pays $17,671 a year, $25,289 less than the $42,960 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $17,671
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Charleston Southern University, 99% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $17,671 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 59% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,167. This is 5% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,238
Pell grants
$4,494
State grants
$6,960
Institutional grants
$15,626
Charleston Southern University offers 12 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Charleston Southern University offers 13 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
25
Percentage of programs online
25%
Charleston Southern University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 57% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 3,940 applicants, of which 2,254 were admitted and 690 enrolled. Charleston Southern University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
89%
83%
Female
63%
59%
First time
57%
59%
In-state
80%
68%
1st generation
31%
35%
White
61%
52%
Black
17%
14%
Hispanic
6%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
14%
12%