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East Battery Street Charleston Aug2010Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Charleston

Charleston is home to five colleges, with about 17,000 students on campus

College of Charleston (10,861 students on campus) and Citadel Military College of South Carolina (2,976) are inside the city. About 9% of Charleston’s residents are enrolled in college, above South Carolina (6%).

Citadel Military College of South CarolinaMedical University of South CarolinaCollege of Charleston

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Charleston. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
28,172 students on campus
Nearest college
2.2 mi
American College of the Building Arts
Residents in college
9%
Above SC (6%)
Nearest community college
7.7 mi
Trident Technical College · $4,546 tuition
Nearest public university
2.3 mi
Citadel Military College of South Carolina · $12,570 in-state
Median household income
$92K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Charleston

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 3.6 milesCitadel Military College of South Carolina admits 23% of applicants; College of Charleston admits 60%. Together they have 16,358 students on campus.In-state price at Citadel Military College of South CarolinaLiving in South Carolina, Citadel Military College of South Carolina charges $12,570 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $38,508. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 7.7 miles awayTrident Technical College in Charleston: tuition and fees $4,546 a year for South Carolina residents.Students are 9% of residentsAbove South Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Charleston

Five private colleges within 12.2 miles, three public colleges within 3.6 miles, and Trident Technical College 7.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCollege of CharlestonTrident Technical CollegeCitadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston
University or collegeCommunity college
American College of the Building ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · In Charleston44%admitted$30knet price62%graduateCitadel Military College of South CarolinaUniversity or college · Public · 2,976 on campus · In Charleston23%admitted$21knet price75%graduate$72kearningsCharleston School of LawUniversity or college · For-profit · 675 on campus · In CharlestonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Medical University of South CarolinaUniversity or college · Public · 2,521 on campus · In Charleston$88kearningsCollege of CharlestonUniversity or college · Public · 10,861 on campus · In Charleston60%admitted$19knet price66%graduate$56kearningsSoutheastern College-CharlestonUniversity or college · For-profit · 229 on campus · 5.9 mi · North Charleston98%admitted$31knet price67%graduate$31kearningsTrident Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,680 on campus · 7.7 mi · Charleston$1knet price30%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,546 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Miller-Motte College-CharlestonUniversity or college · For-profit · 124 on campus · 9.6 mi · CharlestonCharleston Southern UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,966 on campus · 12.2 mi · Charleston96%admitted$22knet price47%graduate$46kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Charleston’s median household income ($92,414) falls.

Trident Technical College7.7 mi · Charleston · sticker $13,408 · tuition $4,546$2,174a year
College of CharlestonIn Charleston · sticker $32,362$20,089a year
Citadel Military College of South CarolinaIn Charleston · sticker $33,880$20,620a year
Charleston Southern University12.2 mi · Charleston · sticker $44,558$21,648a year
American College of the Building ArtsIn Charleston · sticker $38,073$33,835a year
Southeastern College-Charleston5.9 mi · North Charleston · sticker $39,014$37,291a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Charleston: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCollege of CharlestonSoutheastern College-CharlestonTrident Technical CollegeCharleston Southern University
College of Charleston66% graduate$56k earnings$23k typical debt
Trident Technical College30% graduate$38k earnings$13k typical debt
Citadel Military College of South Carolina75% graduate$72k earnings$21k typical debt
Charleston Southern University47% graduate$46k earnings$26k typical debt
Southeastern College-Charleston67% graduate$31k earnings$10k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Charleston

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Charleston’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 28%Biology 8%Communication 7%Social sciences 7%Psychology 7%Visual & performing arts 5%Everything else 39%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMedical University of South Carolina · 188 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCollege of Charleston · 178 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralCollege of Charleston · 161 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesCollege of Charleston · 153 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralCollege of Charleston · 133 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Public HealthCollege of Charleston · 129 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCollege of Charleston · 115 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
MarketingCollege of Charleston · 95 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Charleston

Is Charleston a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Charleston residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above South Carolina (6). The largest campus in the city, College of Charleston, has 10,861 students on campus.

What colleges are in Charleston?

College of Charleston, Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston School of Law and 1 more are inside the city. Trident Technical College is 7.7 miles away in Charleston.

What is the closest community college to Charleston, and what does it cost?

Trident Technical College in Charleston, 7.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,546 a year for South Carolina residents; the federal net price, $1,406, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Citadel Military College of South Carolina cost if we live in South Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $12,570 a year in-state and $38,508 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,430 (under $30,000 income) to $24,047 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Charleston. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →