College of Charleston
College of Charleston — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
College of Charleston at a Glance
The College of Charleston is a public university in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785, it is the oldest university in South Carolina, the 13th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, and the country's oldest municipal college.
1770
256 years old
$157M
$157.1 million (2025)
11,926
10,880 undergrad · 1,046 grad
80 acres
Identity
Is College of Charleston Worth It?
College of Charleston offers moderate value at $18,960/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $56,416, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 65% graduation rate means roughly 35% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How College of Charleston compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #21 of 55 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | CUNY City College | 100 | $3,776 | $66,039 |
| #5 | CUNY Hunter College | 100 | $2,984 | $63,163 |
| #6 | Cypress College | 86 | $4,606 | $43,533 |
| #21 | College of Charleston | 49 | $18,960 | $56,416 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of College of Charleston's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at College of Charleston
The highest-earning program at College of Charleston is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $60,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at $21,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from College of Charleston earns $60,700, while a Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduate earns $21,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates carry $24,690 in median debt vs. $24,125 for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,960/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $60,700 | $60,700 | $24,690 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $47,100 | $47,100 | $19,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $41,700 | $41,700 | $25,871 |
| Marketing | $40,200 | $40,200 | $18,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $35,400 | $35,400 | $20,500 |
| International Business | $35,400 | $35,400 | $20,500 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $34,600 | $34,600 | $18,250 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $34,000 | $34,000 | $19,875 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,300 | $33,300 | $20,728 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $33,000 | $33,000 | $22,500 |
| Sociology | $30,000 | $30,000 | $25,000 |
| Chemistry | $28,100 | $28,100 | $26,180 |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management | $27,300 | $27,300 | $24,615 |
| Biology, General | $27,100 | $27,100 | $22,500 |
| Public Health | $26,400 | $26,400 | $23,250 |
| Political Science and Government | $25,400 | $25,400 | $22,872 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $24,700 | $24,700 | $23,250 |
| Psychology, General | $24,600 | $24,600 | $22,375 |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | $24,400 | $24,400 | $20,750 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $24,000 | $24,000 | $21,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $23,900 | $23,900 | $22,000 |
| History | $23,900 | $23,900 | $22,250 |
| International/Global Studies | $23,100 | $23,100 | $22,710 |
| Anthropology | $23,000 | $23,000 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $23,000 | $23,000 | $21,750 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $21,300 | $21,300 | $26,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $21,000 | $21,000 | $24,125 |
Similar Colleges in SC
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Charleston, SC
- Student Body
- 10,558 students
- Admission Rate
- 60%
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,960
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $56,416
- Median Student Debt
- $23,250