College of Charleston Acceptance Rate
Charleston, South Carolina · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 26,683
- Admitted
- 19,212
- Yield
- 13.7%
- 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, College of Charleston's acceptance rate has fallen from 78% in 2014–15 to 72% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 11,179 to 26,683 (+139%) over that period.
Its 72% rate makes College of Charleston more selective than about 59% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 31 tracked South Carolina schools, it is more selective than about 55%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (75.4% for women vs 63.8% for men, a 11.6-point gap). College of Charleston has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 13.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 11,179 | 8,722 | 78% | 2,166 |
| 2015–16 | 11,722 | 9,043 | 77.1% | 2,237 |
| 2016–17 | 10,828 | 9,110 | 84.1% | 2,349 |
| 2017–18 | 11,900 | 9,574 | 80.5% | 1,840 |
| 2018–19 | 11,675 | 9,254 | 79.3% | 2,199 |
| 2019–20 | 11,783 | 9,230 | 78.3% | 2,051 |
| 2020–21 | 15,214 | 11,307 | 74.3% | 2,052 |
| 2021–22 | 20,484 | 15,590 | 76.1% | 2,473 |
| 2022–23 | 22,020 | 16,666 | 75.7% | 2,210 |
| 2023–24 | 26,683 | 19,212 | 72% | 2,637 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 18,902 | 14,250 | 75.4% |
| Men | 7,781 | 4,962 | 63.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 580–660 | 21% |
| SAT Math | 550–640 | |
| ACT Composite | 24–29 | 11% |
How College of Charleston 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 College of Charleston's acceptance rate?
College of Charleston's acceptance rate is 72% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (19,212 admitted of 26,683 applicants).
Is College of Charleston test optional?
College of Charleston is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to College of Charleston?
College of Charleston received 26,683 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 19,212.
What SAT score do you need for College of Charleston?
Admitted students at College of Charleston typically scored 580–660 on SAT Reading/Writing and 550–640 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is College of Charleston getting harder to get into?
College of Charleston has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 78% in 2014–15 to 72% 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: www.cofc.edu/.