Charleston Southern University Acceptance Rate
Charleston, South Carolina · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 6,072
- Admitted
- 4,620
- Yield
- 15.7%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Charleston Southern University's acceptance rate has risen from 58.7% in 2014–15 to 76.1% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 4,199 to 6,072 (+45%) over that period.
Its 76.1% rate makes Charleston Southern University more selective than about 51% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 31 tracked South Carolina schools, it is more selective than about 35%.
Charleston Southern University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 15.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 4,199 | 2,463 | 58.7% | 654 |
| 2015–16 | 4,390 | 2,643 | 60.2% | 755 |
| 2016–17 | 4,399 | 2,666 | 60.6% | 723 |
| 2017–18 | 4,125 | 2,323 | 56.3% | 630 |
| 2018–19 | 4,455 | 2,319 | 52.1% | 585 |
| 2019–20 | 5,398 | 2,680 | 49.6% | 579 |
| 2020–21 | 4,953 | 2,664 | 53.8% | 604 |
| 2021–22 | 3,940 | 2,254 | 57.2% | 690 |
| 2022–23 | 4,967 | 4,309 | 86.8% | 727 |
| 2023–24 | 6,072 | 4,620 | 76.1% | 725 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 4,020 | 3,065 | 76.2% |
| Men | 2,052 | 1,555 | 75.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 480–600 | 47% |
| SAT Math | 470–560 | |
| ACT Composite | 17–24 | 33% |
How Charleston Southern University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Charleston Southern University's acceptance rate?
Charleston Southern University's acceptance rate is 76.1% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (4,620 admitted of 6,072 applicants).
Is Charleston Southern University test optional?
Charleston Southern University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Charleston Southern University?
Charleston Southern University received 6,072 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 4,620.
What SAT score do you need for Charleston Southern University?
Admitted students at Charleston Southern University typically scored 480–600 on SAT Reading/Writing and 470–560 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Charleston Southern University getting harder to get into?
Charleston Southern University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 58.7% in 2014–15 to 76.1% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.charlestonsouthern.edu/.