College Of Charleston

College of Charleston's published cost of attendance is $32,362. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-university tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $12,133, middle-income families pay around $16,797, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,996.

Azimuth ranks College of Charleston #719 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

College of Charleston participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for most students, with financial aid reducing the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.

The institution's affordability ranking reflects both the headline net price and the debt load graduates carry out, shaped by the public-tuition structure and the breadth of aid available to students across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,971; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,354, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of College of Charleston earn median 4-year earnings of $58,354, placing the institution in the 33.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,225 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing College of Charleston in the 10.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks College of Charleston #1030 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects strength across applied and professional fields anchored in business and hospitality.

Business Administration is the largest program with 177 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $71,360, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Communication and Media Studies program graduates 171 students earning $58,371, while Psychology, General and Biology, General round out the top programs with 168 and 162 graduates respectively.

The concentration in Business — which represents a significant share of the institution's degree output — aligns with Charleston's regional labor market and hospitality-sector employer demand, contributing to the institution's above-average earnings outcomes for graduates entering professional and service-sector careers.

College of Charleston's program mix is anchored in business, liberal arts, and professional fields—a portfolio shaped by the institution's historic liberal arts identity and its location in Charleston's growing professional services market. Business Administration is the largest program with 177 graduates, followed by Communication and Media Studies, Psychology, General, Biology, General, and Public Health.

Across 49 programs serving roughly 2,130 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with the institution's business-focused signature. The earnings leaders reflect the institution's strength in applied professional fields.

Finance graduates earn median earnings of $84,187 four years after enrollment, with Business Administration delivering $71,360 and Digital Marketing reaching $68,348. Political Science and Communication and Media Studies round out the highest-earning cohorts with $58,955 and $58,371 respectively.

These earnings patterns correspond to the institution's concentration in Business and related professional disciplines, where graduates enter the workforce directly into stable, in-demand roles. The program portfolio emphasizes high-mobility pathways where graduates move into the national labor market immediately after completion.

Business Administration and Communication and Media Studies—the institution's largest programs—deliver earnings that reflect direct workforce entry and employer demand in their respective fields. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how College of Charleston's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends, particularly in professional services and business-adjacent sectors where Charleston's economy shows sustained growth.