College of Charleston Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on April 1, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~72%
- Middle 50% ACT: 26
- Middle 50% SAT: 1225
- Average GPA: 3.9
- Below the typical ranges: Admission is still possible, but merit will be limited. This is not a school that heavily discounts for lower-range applicants, so have financial safeties in place.
- In the typical ranges: You’re competitive for admission and in range for automatic merit, but awards are modest. Focus on applying early and looking at departmental scholarships to improve value.
- Well above the ranges: You’ll likely get the best automatic merit available, but even top awards won’t fully close the out-of-state price gap—this is a “partial discount” school, not a full-tuition play.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 College of Charleston at a Glance
- Out-of-state merit typically ranges around $2K–$12K per year—helpful, but not enough to make it a true “affordable OOS” option on its own.
- There is no guaranteed full-tuition or full-ride scholarship, so families often overestimate the potential upside.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — College of Charleston is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 26; SAT: 1225.
Average net price? About $20,806/yearyear after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes — participates in none.
University program page: https://charleston.edu/legacy/
Need-based scholarship page: https://charleston.edu/financialaid/scholarships/need.html
Honors College site: https://honors.cofc.edu/
Cougar Scholarship Award System: https://cofc.academicworks.com/
Department scholarship page: https://charleston.edu/english/scholarships.html
University scholarship page: https://charleston.edu/cost-aid/scholarships/index.php
Computer Science scholarship page: https://charleston.edu/academics/computerscience/scholarships.html
State scholarship page: https://charleston.edu/cost-aid/scholarships/state-scholarships.php
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
💰 Cost of Attendance at College of Charleston 2026-2027
📅 2026–2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025–2026). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2026–2027 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
| Category (2026–2027) | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters) | $12,518 | $38,384 |
| Housing & Meals (typical) | $14,518 | $14,518 |
| Total (Direct Costs) | $27,036 | $52,902 |
Average Federal Net Price: $20,806 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Who qualifies for in-state rates? South Carolina residents who meet state residency and scholarship eligibility requirements.
Can out-of-state students get discounts? Yes — through merit scholarships that can lower costs by several thousand dollars per year.
Does CofC offer reciprocity or ACM? No. CofC is not listed among Academic Common Market institutions (verified via SREB).
https://charleston.edu/cost-aid/tuition-and-fees/index.php
https://charleston.edu/cost-aid/scholarships/index.php
https://charleston.edu/legal-residency/index.php
https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/institution-profile/217819
https://www.laregents.edu/academic-common-market-sreb/
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/thec/bureau/aa/academic-programs/acm/Academic_Common_Market_Handbook.pdf
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Scholarships | $1,500–$4,000/yr | SC residents; typically weighted GPA of 4.1–4.8 (S.C. scale), ACT 23–30, SAT 1150–1300, and strong course rigor | No | Yes (maintain GPA) | Students in the top quartile of SC admits and above these academic ranges | Apply by standard freshman deadline |
| Nonresident Scholarships | $2,000–$12,000/yr | Out-of-state admits; typically weighted GPA 3.7–4.2, ACT 27–31, SAT 1200–1350, and advanced coursework | No | Yes (maintain GPA) | Nonresidents in the top 25%+ of academic profile, often exceeding listed GPA/test bands | Apply by standard freshman deadline |
| National Merit Finalists | $2,000–$5,000/yr (institutional award) | Must be named National Merit Finalist and list CofC as first choice; most recipients fall above a 4.0 weighted GPA and ACT 30+/SAT 1350+ | Program-driven (NMSC + CofC confirmation) | Yes (maintain GPA/standing) | National Merit Finalists at or above top profile stats; stacks with other scholarships | NMSC deadlines; CofC confirmation varies yearly |
| SC Palmetto Fellows + Val/Sal Guarantee | Full in-state tuition minimum met (state + CofC aid) | SC residents who are Palmetto Fellows (4.0 GPA, 1400 SAT/31 ACT OR top 6%/3.5+ GPA and 1200 SAT/25 ACT) or named Valedictorian/Salutatorian | No | Yes | High achieving SC seniors meeting or surpassing these state benchmarks | Apply by standard freshman deadline |
College of Charleston also participates in the National Merit Scholarship program.
*Ranges reflect mid-50% admit stats and Palmetto Fellows published minimums. Award tiers may shift based on applicant pool and annual budgets.
Do I need to apply separately? No—most scholarships are automatic with admission. Just apply to CofC by the deadline. National Merit has its own steps.
Does CofC superscore? Yes, the College of Charleston superscores the SAT and ACT, boosting eligibility for top award tiers.
Can these awards stack? Some awards stack with state scholarships, but tuition-only programs (like Palmetto Fellows + Val/Sal guarantee) may cap stacking at full tuition.
Do test-optional students qualify? Yes, test-optional admits are considered for merit, though higher awards lean on GPA and course rigor.
https://charleston.edu/financialaid/scholarships/
https://charleston.edu/financialaid/scholarships/state-scholarships.html
https://charleston.edu/financialaid/scholarships/out-of-state.html
https://charleston.edu/quickfacts/
https://che.sc.gov/
https://cofc.academicworks.com/
🏆 Competitive Scholarships
These awards are limited, selective, and require extra steps beyond admission. Deadlines and criteria can change—always read the fine print on the official pages before applying.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President’s Scholarship (SC Residents) | Covers up to full in-state tuition (multi-year) |
South Carolina residents only; near-perfect weighted GPA (historically 4.4+), SAT 1325+/ACT 30+ Must demonstrate top course rigor, leadership and service; selection includes application and interview. |
Yes — separate competitive application or nomination | Yes — must maintain ~3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment | Extremely limited (<1% of entering class); prior winners averaged 4.4–4.7 GPA, ACT 30+/SAT 1325+, dozens of AP/IB courses, and major leadership/service. | Jan 15 |
Note: This award is restricted to South Carolina residents. Out-of-state students are considered for nonresident automatic merit instead. Honors College and departmental awards are covered in their own sections.
Why is this competitive? Only a handful of South Carolina students are chosen each year, making it far more selective than automatic merit.
What profile do winners have? Historically, recipients have 4.4+ GPAs in the most rigorous classes plus ACT 30+/SAT 1325+*, combined with leadership and service.
Can it stack with other aid? It can combine with some state awards, but tuition-only programs may cap stacking at the cost of in-state tuition.
Deadlines? Early application is critical; some rounds align with priority admission and may require separate essays or recommendations.
*GPA/test score ranges are recent recipient averages based on available reporting and may shift by funding or applicant pool.
https://charleston.edu/financialaid/scholarships/
https://blogs.charleston.edu/honorshub/2023/03/06/presidential-scholarships/
https://collegexpress.com/college/scholarships/presidential-scholarship/42657/
🎖️ Honors College
The Honors College at CofC offers a tight-knit academic community inside a larger public university. It’s designed for students who want challenging coursework, faculty mentorship, and early access to research and leadership opportunities. Admission is competitive and requires extra application materials.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Fellows Program 🏆 | Most prestigious Honors award; substantial multi-year support (often close to full tuition) | Incoming freshmen who apply to Honors College by Nov 1 priority deadline; holistic review + interview | No — considered automatically with Honors application | Yes — maintain Honors standing | Students with 4.0 GPAs in rigorous coursework, ACT 30+/SAT 1350+*, leadership roles, and strong essays | Nov 1 |
| Thomas W. Carroll Scholarship | $1,000–$3,000/yr | Incoming freshmen in Honors pursuing Computer Science | No — awarded within Honors College | Yes — renewal tied to GPA and Honors participation | First-year CS majors in Honors with strong academic credentials and essays | Nov 1 |
| Robert “Robbie” Mayhew Cushing Scholarship | $1,000–$3,000/yr | Incoming freshmen in Honors pursuing Computer Science | No — awarded through Honors College | Yes — must remain in Honors and continue CS major | High-achieving incoming CS students with strong Honors applications | Nov 1 |
*GPA/test score ranges are estimates based on typical Honors College profiles; exact cutoffs vary by year.
Is admission automatic? No — you must indicate Honors interest on the CofC or Common App and complete the Honors essay.
Does Honors add time to my degree? No — the curriculum is designed to be completed within four years alongside your chosen major.
Are there deadlines? Yes — students should apply by CofC’s early deadlines (Nov 1 for early action or Jan 15 regular) and complete the Honors supplement on time.
Does Honors come with extra funding? Yes — Honors students may be invited to programs like the Charleston Fellows, which include substantial scholarships and enrichment opportunities (see scholarship sections above).
https://honors.cofc.edu/
https://charleston.edu/financialaid/scholarships/
https://charleston.edu/academics/computerscience/scholarships.html
https://cofc.academicworks.com/
https://250drive.cofc.edu/charleston-fellows-program/
⭐ College Specialty
The College of Charleston is best known for blending its historic Charleston setting with strong academic programs that connect students directly to South Carolina’s coastal economy and cultural institutions. Parents often notice that CofC graduates step into marine science, arts, and tech careers with hands-on experience before graduation.
- Historic Preservation & Community Planning: Located in Charleston’s historic district, this program is one of the most respected in the U.S. for undergraduate preservation studies.
- Data Science: CofC was the first college in the nation to launch a bachelor’s degree in Data Science, a distinction it continues to highlight with industry partnerships and cross-disciplinary tracks.
- School of the Arts: Consistently ranked among the top regional arts programs in the South, offering over 60 scholarships and strong pipelines into professional performance and design fields.
Final Thoughts
Sorting out college costs can feel overwhelming, but at the College of Charleston you’ll find clear opportunities to bring the price down—whether through automatic merit, selective scholarships, or hidden gems like research funding and local partnerships. For first-gen families, the key is knowing that strong academics, early FAFSA submission, and targeted programs can open real doors here. Pair this with South Carolina’s state aid, and CofC can be far more affordable than the sticker price suggests.