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City of North Charleston city hallPhoto: John Rutledge Smith · Public domain
Colleges in and near North Charleston

North Charleston is home to four colleges, with about 11,000 students on campus

Trident Technical College (7,680 students on campus) and Charleston Southern University (2,966) are inside the city. About 6% of North Charleston’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as South Carolina (6%).

Trident Technical CollegeCharleston Southern University

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 North Charleston. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
28,172 students on campus
Nearest college
2.1 mi
Trident Technical College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as SC (6%)
Nearest community college
2.1 mi
Trident Technical College · $4,546 tuition
Nearest public university
10.3 mi
Citadel Military College of South Carolina · $12,570 in-state
Median household income
$63K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in North Charleston

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

Two colleges within 4.6 milesCharleston Southern University admits 96% of applicants. Together they have 10,646 students on campus.A community college 2.1 miles awayTrident Technical College in Charleston: tuition and fees $4,546 a year for South Carolina residents.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.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as South Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of North Charleston

Five private colleges within 11.5 miles, three public colleges within 11.7 miles, and Trident Technical College 2.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCollege of CharlestonTrident Technical CollegeNorth Charleston
University or collegeCommunity college
Trident Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,680 on campus · In North Charleston$1knet price30%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,546 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Southeastern College-CharlestonUniversity or college · For-profit · 229 on campus · In North Charleston98%admitted$31knet price67%graduate$31kearningsMiller-Motte College-CharlestonUniversity or college · For-profit · 124 on campus · In North CharlestonCharleston Southern UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,966 on campus · In North Charleston96%admitted$22knet price47%graduate$46kearningsCitadel Military College of South CarolinaUniversity or college · Public · 2,976 on campus · 10.3 mi · Charleston23%admitted$21knet price75%graduate$72kearningsAmerican College of the Building ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · 10.4 mi · Charleston44%admitted$30knet price62%graduateMedical University of South CarolinaUniversity or college · Public · 2,521 on campus · 11.5 mi · Charleston$88kearningsCharleston School of LawUniversity or college · For-profit · 675 on campus · 11.5 mi · CharlestonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.College of CharlestonUniversity or college · Public · 10,861 on campus · 11.7 mi · Charleston60%admitted$19knet price66%graduate$56kearnings

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 $48–75k, where North Charleston’s median household income ($62,956) falls.

Trident Technical CollegeIn North Charleston · sticker $13,408 · tuition $4,546$1,141a year
College of Charleston11.7 mi · Charleston · sticker $32,362$16,797a year
Citadel Military College of South Carolina10.3 mi · Charleston · sticker $33,880$18,140a year
Charleston Southern UniversityIn North Charleston · sticker $44,558$20,697a year
Southeastern College-CharlestonIn North Charleston · sticker $39,014$29,900a year
American College of the Building Arts10.4 mi · Charleston · sticker $38,073$32,248a 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 North 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 →Trident Technical CollegeSoutheastern College-CharlestonCharleston Southern UniversityCitadel Military College of South CarolinaCollege of Charleston
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 North Charleston

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across North Charleston’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 26%Business 16%Liberal arts 15%Computer science 8%Personal & culinary services 5%Mechanics & repair 4%Everything else 27%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesTrident Technical College · 449 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingTrident Technical College · 171 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCharleston Southern University · 80 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherTrident Technical College · 66 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Data ProcessingTrident Technical College · 54 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCharleston Southern University · 45 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralCharleston Southern University · 32 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralCharleston Southern University · 29 graduates a year
$42k4 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 North Charleston

Is North Charleston a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 North Charleston residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as South Carolina (6). The largest campus in the city, Trident Technical College, has 7,680 students on campus.

What colleges are in North Charleston?

Trident Technical College, Charleston Southern University, Southeastern College-Charleston and Miller-Motte College-Charleston are inside the city.

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

Trident Technical College in Charleston, 2.1 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 North 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 →