Charleston, South Carolina Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Charleston, South Carolina shows: median public in-state tuition $12,978 (+135.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $64,250 (+18.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,458 (+15.1% vs U.S.) 27,311 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 11 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 27,311 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $12,978 (+135.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $64,250 (+18.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.1% (+0.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,019 (+90.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,458 (+15.1% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 63.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 82.0%
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Charleston, South Carolina—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against South Carolina and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Charleston vs South Carolina & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, South Carolina | $12,978 | $19,019 | $15,458 | 63.9% | 27,311 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $7,558 | $11,376 | $15,917 | 47.3% | 200,978 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Charleston, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, South Carolina | $64,250 | 88.1% | 82.0% | 5.3% | — | 76.1% | 0.35 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $44,999 | 88.8% | 69.7% | 6.5% | — | 66.0% | 0.55 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in South Carolina (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, South Carolina | $12,978 | $19,019 | $15,458 | 63.9% | 27,311 | $64,250 | 88.1% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $20,404 | $20,000 | 30.6% | 35,532 | $36,686 | 87.1% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $20,404 | $20,000 | 30.6% | 35,532 | $36,686 | 87.1% |
| Conway | $8,054 | $13,966 | $15,917 | 48.5% | 16,654 | $47,258 | 78.5% |
| Conway | $8,054 | $13,966 | $15,917 | 48.5% | 16,654 | $47,258 | 78.5% |
| Greenville | $18,484 | $17,979 | $15,988 | 42.8% | 15,579 | $44,354 | 81.1% |
| Spartanburg | $20,650 | $14,250 | $17,155 | 52.3% | 13,262 | $48,587 | 90.0% |
| Rock Hill | $11,136 | $12,744 | $16,988 | 35.5% | 7,646 | $47,185 | 88.5% |
| Orangeburg | $11,060 | $17,948 | $29,000 | 44.1% | 6,238 | $39,283 | 88.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Charleston, South Carolina
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 3 | $72,085 | 88.8% | 83.9% | 4.6% | — | 84.2% |
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 75.0%, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 65.8%, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 47.2%, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.4%, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 87.4%, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 82.2%, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
Top 10 most selective colleges in Charleston, South Carolina (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 22.7%, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 60.0%, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 96.5%, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $72,726, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $68,199, Medical University of South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $67,438, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $66,310, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $98,059, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $97,290, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $88,869, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $78,576, Medical University of South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $60,168, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $43,821, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,606, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $67,667, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,232, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $43,795, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $72,085, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,416, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,898, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $228,704, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $153,230, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $107,571, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Charleston, South Carolina (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $18,960, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 2, Net Price, $20,723, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 3, Net Price, $21,666, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Top 10 colleges in Charleston, South Carolina by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 85.8%, Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 82.0%, College of Charleston
College of Charleston
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 63.1%, Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
In-state tuition: Charleston, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Charleston, South Carolina median in-state tuition is $12,978, +135.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Charleston, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Charleston, South Carolina is $15,458 (+15.1% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
Median earnings (10 years out): Charleston, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Charleston, South Carolina center around $64,250 (+18.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Charleston, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.1% at the median Charleston, South Carolina campus (+0.2 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Charleston, South Carolina median public in-state tuition is $12,978, about +135.4% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +160.0%.
Median graduate debt is $15,458 (+15.1% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Charleston, South Carolina are $64,250, about +18.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 88.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+0.2 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 82.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 76.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Citadel Military College of South Carolina (90.4%), Charleston Southern University (87.4%), College of Charleston (82.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Charleston, South Carolina, sector medians diverge: Public median 10-yr earnings $72,085 (3 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Charleston, South Carolina is 63.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Charleston?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 11 campuses in Charleston, South Carolina with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Charleston?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Charleston is $12,978 and median net price is $19,019. For South Carolina overall, medians are $7,558 and $11,376; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Charleston?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Charleston is $64,250 vs $44,999 for South Carolina and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Charleston colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Charleston is $15,458 vs $15,917 for South Carolina and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Charleston?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Citadel Military College of South Carolina (graduation) and Citadel Military College of South Carolina (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Charleston?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 11 campuses in Charleston, South Carolina, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Baptist (1).
Sources & related
- South Carolina college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON