Colleges in Charleston, South Carolina
11 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 11 colleges and universities in Charleston, South Carolina (4 Private for-profit, 4 Public, 3 Private nonprofit). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 11 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $19,019 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 62.1%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 52% of applicants.
The median net price in Charleston runs about $2,378 higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $16,641.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Charleston, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$19,019
After aid
Median grad rate
62.1%
6-year
Median admission rate
52%
Median enrollment
229
Undergrad
All colleges in Charleston
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Charleston Charleston, SC | SC | Public, 4-year | $18,960 | 65.8% | 60% | 10,558 | Complete | |
| Trident Technical College Charleston, SC | SC | Public, 2-year | $1,406 | 29.6% | Not available | 10,512 | Partial | |
| Charleston Southern University Charleston, SC | SC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $21,666 | 47.2% | 96% | 2,893 | Complete | |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SC | SC | Public, 4-year | $20,723 | 75.0% | 23% | 2,705 | Complete | |
| Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC | SC | Public, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 303 | Partial | |
| American College of the Building Arts Charleston, SC | SC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $30,403 | 62.1% | 44% | 155 | Complete | |
| Charleston Cosmetology Institute Charleston, SC | SC | Private for-profit, <2-year | $15,548 | 54.7% | Not available | 100 | Partial | |
| Top of the Line Barber College Charleston, SC | SC | Private for-profit, <2-year | $19,078 | 23.1% | Not available | 45 | Partial | |
| Vski Cosmetology School Charleston, SC | SC | Private nonprofit, <2-year | $10,578 | 80.0% | Not available | 31 | Partial | |
| Miller-Motte College-Charleston Charleston, SC | SC | Private for-profit, 2-year | Not available | 86.7% | Not available | 9 | Partial | |
| Charleston School of Law Charleston, SC | SC | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private for-profit (4)
Private for-profit colleges in Charleston operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Charleston Cosmetology InstituteNet price: $15,548Grad: 54.7%
- Top of the Line Barber CollegeNet price: $19,078Grad: 23.1%
- Miller-Motte College-CharlestonNet price: Not availableGrad: 86.7%
- Charleston School of LawNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (4)
Public colleges in Charleston are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- College of CharlestonNet price: $18,960Grad: 65.8%
- Trident Technical CollegeNet price: $1,406Grad: 29.6%
- Citadel Military College of South CarolinaNet price: $20,723Grad: 75.0%
- Medical University of South CarolinaNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private nonprofit (3)
Private nonprofit colleges in Charleston are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Charleston Southern UniversityNet price: $21,666Grad: 47.2%
- American College of the Building ArtsNet price: $30,403Grad: 62.1%
- Vski Cosmetology SchoolNet price: $10,578Grad: 80.0%
Top programs in Charleston
Most-completed programs across Charleston colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business19.4% of degrees
- Health professions13.4% of degrees
- Liberal arts8.7% of degrees
- Biological sciences6.5% of degrees
- Computer science6.3% of degrees
- Psychology4.6% of degrees
- Social sciences4.6% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts4.1% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Charleston
Q.How many colleges are in Charleston, South Carolina?
There are 11 colleges and universities in Charleston, South Carolina that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 4 Private for-profit, 4 Public, 3 Private nonprofit.
Q.What is the largest college in Charleston?
By undergraduate enrollment, College of Charleston is the largest institution in Charleston with roughly 10,558 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Charleston?
Based on average net price after aid, Trident Technical College is the most affordable institution in Charleston at $1,406 per year.
Q.Which Charleston college has the highest graduation rate?
Miller-Motte College-Charleston reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Charleston institutions at 86.7%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Charleston?
The median net price across all 11 colleges in Charleston is $19,019 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Charleston?
Across Charleston colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Liberal arts.
Q.Are there community colleges in Charleston?
Yes — Charleston includes 4 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in South Carolina
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Charleston that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.