College of Charleston

Charleston, SC 10,558 Undergrads 64.4% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$32,362

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$18,960

After Aid

Median Earnings

$58,354

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,960

Peer Midpoint: $20,081

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation

$58,354

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment

$56,416

Peer Midpoint: $53,763

Graduation Rate64.4%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age20.9

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients19.7%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time95.6%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS73.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

60.0%

SAT Avg

1,247

SAT Reading

25th: 59061075th: 670

SAT Math

25th: 55057575th: 640

ACT Composite

25th: 252675th: 30

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$522k

+$56k

+$38k

Median Cost$19k/yr

+$454k

-$13k

-$30k

Full Cost$32k/yr

+$406k

-$61k

-$78k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$19k/yr

Never

-44%

Full Cost$32k/yr

Never

-67%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-27%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-63%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

$25,000

Earnings (4yr)

$85,826

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

+$182k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

BachCIP: 5109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Anthropology

BachCIP: 4502

Median Debt

$22,632

Earnings (4yr)

$53,567

Natl Median: $46,676

Lifetime Value Added

-$69k

Archeology

BachCIP: 4503

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,748

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Area Studies

BachCIP: 0501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,625

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

BachCIP: 5010

Median Debt

$21,500

Earnings (4yr)

$52,674

Natl Median: $48,240

Lifetime Value Added

-$77k

Astronomy and Astrophysics

BachCIP: 4002

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,333

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

BachCIP: 4004

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $60,997

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$23,250

Earnings (4yr)

$55,342

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$55k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$21,798

Earnings (4yr)

$71,360

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

+$72k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (5yr)

$58,303

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

-$40k

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,429

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

$21,500

Earnings (4yr)

$58,371

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

-$30k

Computer and Information Sciences, General

BachCIP: 1101

Median Debt

$23,250

Earnings (4yr)

$98,059

Natl Median: $92,374

Lifetime Value Added

+$276k

Computer Software and Media Applications

BachCIP: 1108

Median Debt

$22,375

Earnings (4yr)

$52,596

Natl Median: $58,894

Lifetime Value Added

-$77k

Dance

BachCIP: 5003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,980

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

$26,746

Earnings (4yr)

$44,991

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

-$141k

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

BachCIP: 2613

Median Debt

$25,000

Earnings (4yr)

$42,466

Natl Median: $48,842

Lifetime Value Added

-$163k

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$54,866

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

-$67k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

$23,250

Earnings (4yr)

$51,705

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

-$85k

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

BachCIP: 0502

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$42,787

Natl Median: $51,710

Lifetime Value Added

-$167k

Finance and Financial Management Services

BachCIP: 5208

Median Debt

$20,500

Earnings (4yr)

$84,187

Natl Median: $83,343

Lifetime Value Added

+$170k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

$19,826

Earnings (4yr)

$38,378

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

-$198k

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

BachCIP: 4006

Median Debt

$22,659

Earnings (4yr)

$63,993

Natl Median: $60,190

Lifetime Value Added

+$15k

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1605

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$33,459

Natl Median: $55,459

Lifetime Value Added

-$229k

Historic Preservation and Conservation

BachCIP: 3012

Median Debt

$21,500

Earnings (4yr)

$57,635

Natl Median: $49,728

Lifetime Value Added

-$36k

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

$25,500

Earnings (4yr)

$47,424

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

-$121k

Hospitality Administration/Management

BachCIP: 5209

Median Debt

$23,323

Earnings (4yr)

$64,154

Natl Median: $56,726

Lifetime Value Added

+$16k

Information Science/Studies

BachCIP: 1104

Median Debt

$22,646

Earnings (4yr)

$93,285

Natl Median: $85,294

Lifetime Value Added

+$239k

International Business

BachCIP: 5211

Median Debt

$19,500

Earnings (4yr)

$76,727

Natl Median: $73,201

Lifetime Value Added

+$113k

International/Globalization Studies

BachCIP: 3020

Median Debt

$16,554

Earnings (4yr)

$60,468

Natl Median: $59,972

Lifetime Value Added

-$13k

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

$19,500

Earnings (4yr)

$68,348

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

+$49k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$54,942

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

-$58k

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

$36,453

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$23,340

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

-$321k

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences

BachCIP: 2609

Median Debt

$23,250

Earnings (4yr)

$58,317

Natl Median: $62,172

Lifetime Value Added

-$30k

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

$24,000

Earnings (4yr)

$58,955

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

-$25k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$23,750

Earnings (4yr)

$47,926

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$116k

Public Health

BachCIP: 5122

Median Debt

$25,146

Earnings (4yr)

$55,660

Natl Median: $58,808

Lifetime Value Added

-$52k

Real Estate

BachCIP: 5215

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $84,821

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$19,455

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

-$357k

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

$22,875

Earnings (4yr)

$56,122

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

-$48k

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

$25,000

Earnings (4yr)

$48,709

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

-$110k

Special Education and Teaching

BachCIP: 1310

Median Debt

$21,067

Earnings (5yr)

$43,953

Natl Median: $50,499

Lifetime Value Added

-$157k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$24,087

Earnings (4yr)

$46,036

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$132k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Urban Studies/Affairs

BachCIP: 4512

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,532

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

MastCIP: 5203

Median Debt

$20,500

Earnings (4yr)

$98,747

Natl Median: $95,833

Lifetime Value Added

+$194k

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

MastCIP: 5010

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,685

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

MastCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$36,116

Earnings (4yr)

$97,539

Natl Median: $103,485

Lifetime Value Added

+$184k

City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning

MastCIP: 0403

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $79,665

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Science

MastCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $145,571

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

MastCIP: 2613

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $82,527

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

MastCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,512

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Historic Preservation and Conservation

MastCIP: 3012

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$71,178

Natl Median: $64,496

Lifetime Value Added

-$47k

History

MastCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,360

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

MastCIP: 1907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$54,411

Natl Median: $58,524

Lifetime Value Added

-$200k

Mathematics

MastCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,654

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

MastCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$79,857

Natl Median: $74,607

Lifetime Value Added

+$29k

Public Administration

MastCIP: 4404

Median Debt

$40,493

Earnings (4yr)

$75,145

Natl Median: $81,408

Lifetime Value Added

-$12k

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

MastCIP: 0909

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $80,125

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

MastCIP: 2313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,035

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Special Education and Teaching

MastCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$37,568

Natl Median: $64,397

Lifetime Value Added

-$348k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$53,477

Natl Median: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

-$208k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Urban Studies/Affairs

MastCIP: 4512

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $79,634

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Visual and Performing Arts, General

MastCIP: 5001

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,460

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.