Coastal Carolina University Acceptance Rate
Conway, South Carolina · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 18,223
- Admitted
- 14,613
- Yield
- 19%
- 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, Coastal Carolina University's acceptance rate has risen from 63.6% in 2014–15 to 80.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 14,799 to 18,223 (+23%) over that period.
Its 80.2% rate makes Coastal Carolina University more selective than about 42% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 31 tracked South Carolina schools, it is more selective than about 23%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (83% for women vs 76.7% for men, a 6.3-point gap). Coastal Carolina University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 19% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 14,799 | 9,412 | 63.6% | 2,375 |
| 2015–16 | 17,252 | 10,291 | 59.7% | 2,368 |
| 2016–17 | 17,768 | 10,871 | 61.2% | 2,249 |
| 2017–18 | 18,563 | 11,359 | 61.2% | 2,390 |
| 2018–19 | 14,057 | 9,777 | 69.6% | 2,329 |
| 2019–20 | 15,061 | 10,373 | 68.9% | 2,304 |
| 2020–21 | 14,152 | 9,970 | 70.4% | 2,056 |
| 2021–22 | 15,481 | 12,251 | 79.1% | 2,519 |
| 2022–23 | 17,161 | 13,493 | 78.6% | 2,662 |
| 2023–24 | 18,223 | 14,613 | 80.2% | 2,775 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 10,314 | 8,558 | 83% |
| Men | 7,780 | 5,971 | 76.7% |
| Another gender | 129 | 84 | 65.1% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 530–610 | 26% |
| SAT Math | 520–600 | |
| ACT Composite | 20–26 | 9% |
How Coastal Carolina 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 Coastal Carolina University's acceptance rate?
Coastal Carolina University's acceptance rate is 80.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (14,613 admitted of 18,223 applicants).
Is Coastal Carolina University test optional?
Coastal Carolina University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Coastal Carolina University?
Coastal Carolina University received 18,223 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 14,613.
What SAT score do you need for Coastal Carolina University?
Admitted students at Coastal Carolina University typically scored 530–610 on SAT Reading/Writing and 520–600 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Coastal Carolina University getting harder to get into?
Coastal Carolina University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 63.6% in 2014–15 to 80.2% 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.coastal.edu/.