college tour college of charleston

The official news site of the College of Charleston.

Tour the college of charleston campus from your couch.

For those wanting to visit the College of Charleston campus without booking a flight, now you can log online and take a virtual tour with YouVisit.

The interactive platform merges photography, video and 360-degree views to bring the campus to life. Travel through Cistern Yard, peruse the interiors of Randolph Hall, stroll through Cougar Mall, check out Addlestone Library and much more all with a personal tour guide.

“The new virtual tour experience gives prospective students the ability to explore our historic campus from anywhere in the world,” says Will Chase, assistant director of visitor services for the Office of Admissions . “Whether you’re walking under the oaks in the Cistern Yard, standing mid-court in TD Arena or viewing a class that’s in session; you’ll be fully immersed in all that CofC has to offer.”

The benefits of the virtual tour are many. Prospective students who live far away or cannot easily make their way to campus can still get an authentic look around. And, says Chase, it’s a good place to start for those prospective students and parents who are just beginning to consider life after high school.

“It’s an incredible technology that has given the College even more of a global reach with virtual visits from all 50 states and over 70 countries since it was recently launched,” says Chase. “While it is no replacement to actually stepping foot on the herringbone bricks of our campus sidewalks, it is a great introduction to College of Charleston’s beauty and academic opportunities.”

Check out the new tour here .

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College of Charleston

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Plan Your Visit

As you begin to plan your visit to Family Weekend at the College of Charleston, here are a few resources to help you make your trip as seamless and enjoyable as possible.  Please contact us if you have additional questions.

Driving Directions - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/drivingdirections.php

Campus Maps - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/campusmaps.php

Campus Tours - http://admissions.cofc.edu/explorethecollege/campusvisits/index.php

Places of Interest - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/placesofinterest.php

Public Parking - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/publicparking.php

Pets - http://policy.cofc.edu/documents/6.1.3.pdf

Places to Stay - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/placestostay.php

Places to Eat - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/placestoeat.php

Places to Shop - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/placestoshop.php

Charleston Visitors Bureau - http://www.charlestoncvb.com/

Public Transportation - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/publictransportation.php

Weather - http://www.cofc.edu/visit/weather.php

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College of Charleston

4 year • Charleston, SC

College of Charleston is a public institution that was founded in 1770. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,972 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 95 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. College of Charleston's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities South, #9. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,978; out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,858.

The College of Charleston’s location in South Carolina positions students for both downtown and beach living. No student is required to live on campus; freshmen may apply to live either in a residence hall or in a university-owned historic home in downtown Charleston, though the latter is typically reserved for upperclassmen. The area is a scenic place to live, as the campus has made appearances in feature films including "The Notebook," "Dear John" and "The Patriot."

The College of Charleston’s sports teams, known as the Cougars, compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association and have been traditionally dominant in baseball, women’s volleyball and sailing. The school does not have a football team. The student body is more than 60 percent female, and about 20 percent of students are active in Greek life. The College of Charleston offers more than 30 graduate degree and certificate programs through The Graduate School of the University of Charleston, South Carolina. Notable alumni of the College of Charleston include actor Matt Czuchry, who has played lead roles on the television shows "Gilmore Girls" and "The Good Wife," and novelist Padgett Powell, author of "Edisto."

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At-a-Glance

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From the School

Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities , cutting-edge programs and accessible faculty attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world.

Nearly 10,000 undergraduates and approximately 1,000 graduate students at the College enjoy a small-college feel blended with the advantages and diversity of a mid-sized, urban university. They work closely with a committed faculty, made up of more than 800 distinguished teacher-scholars. And the city of Charleston – world-renowned for its history, architecture, culture and coastal environment – serves as a living and learning laboratory for experiences in business, science, technology, teaching, the humanities, languages, and the arts.

A College of Charleston education is a personalized education. We offer 67 majors and 81 minors. In addition, you can pursue undergraduate certificates in three areas of specialty, including project management. At the College, you'll have the freedom to mix and match your academic interests to create a unique, intellectually stimulating course of study.

We've given you a head start with our 25 interdisciplinary minors such as Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Crime, Law and Society and Data Science, the first undergraduate program of its kind in the nation. These programs draw resources from several different schools and departments in order to approach each topic from all academic angles.

No matter which major or minor you choose, you'll be taught by exceptional professors whose top priority is your success.

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2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

• #9 in Regional Universities South  (tie)
• #4 in Top Public Schools
• #41 in Best Value Schools

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* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

Will You Get Into College of Charleston ?

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Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

In-State Tuition & Fees

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$14,032 (2023-24)

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*Average in-state cost after aid

Popular Majors

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Speech Communication and Rhetoric

Psychology, General

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Business Administration and Management, General

Public Health Education and Promotion

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

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Featured User Review

Small class sizes, excellent professors, plenty of clubs and activities, phenomenal basketball team and spirited home games in a fun diverse city with a pleasant climate filled with history, culture and art. Oh and gorgeous beaches 20 mins away.

SofBroadProvidence, RI

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College of Charleston

• grade  B Overall Grade
• Rating 3.71 out of 5   2,320 reviews

Report Card

• Academics grade  B
• Value grade  B minus
• Diversity grade  B+
• Campus grade  A minus
• Athletics grade  B+
• Party Scene grade  A+
• Professors grade  B minus
• Location grade  A
• Dorms grade  C
• Campus Food grade  B minus
• Student Life grade  A
• Safety grade  C+
• Common App Accepted
• Public College
• SAT/ACT Optional
• South Carolina

Located in historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. The beautiful, historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities and cutting-edge programs, attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world. Come see for yourself – schedule a visit today!

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Upcoming Events

Campus tours offered most days.

65 George St, Charleston, SC 29424, United States

Check out our event schedule - campus tours are offered most days! During your campus tour of the most historic college in South Carolina you'll get the chance to see our state of the art facilities, find out when our students wear all white, and discover where to catch a movie crew filming on campus.

College of Charleston Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

• Top Party Schools in America 73 of 1,512
• Best Colleges for Public Health in America 74 of 281
• Best Greek Life Colleges in America 88 of 689
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• Communications 160 Graduates
• Business 159 Graduates
• Psychology 152 Graduates
• Biology 141 Graduates
• Public Health Education 132 Graduates
• Marketing 98 Graduates
• Political Science and Government 92 Graduates
• Finance 72 Graduates
• Information Science 71 Graduates
• Exercise Physiology 65 Graduates

Historic Preservation & Community Planning

This major combines historic preservation, architectural and urban design as a group of related disciplines. The program is grounded in the visually-oriented environment of the Department of Art & Architectural History, while allowing students to explore related areas (e.g. archaeology, geology, history).

• Mix of Online and on Campus 50%
• On Campus 47%
• Friendly for the most part 36%
• In search of something 17%
• Motivated 17%
• Lazy, many aren't willing to work hard 10%
• Friendly and willing to work hard 9%
• not diverse, very priviledged 4%
• Outgoing 3%

Campus Life

• Historic 38%
• Very welcoming and hospitable 23%
• Amazing 18%
• Home away from home 4%
• Dissapointing 3%

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• Rating 5 out of 5   Excellent 545   reviews ( 23 %)
• Rating 4 out of 5   Very Good 808   reviews ( 35 %)
• Rating 3 out of 5   Average 772   reviews ( 33 %)
• Rating 2 out of 5   Poor 135   reviews ( 6 %)
• Rating 1 out of 5   Terrible 60   reviews ( 3 %)
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Recent Stories

105 wentworth street.

Septima Clark's home once stood here

Fort Johnson Monument

One of many monuments glorifying the Confederacy

The Unveiling of “Saint Septima”

African American Icon

Featured Tours

College of charleston's 250th anniversary tour.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the College, we present this tour of the College of Charleston’s historic campus in downtown Charleston. Founded in 1770, this premiere liberal arts institution…

Slavery and its Legacies: Sites of Agency

Included in this tour are sites illustrating the efforts of Black Charlestonians to take control over their lives and their communities. Whether they lived during the era of enslavement, endured the…

Sites of Inspiration: Septima Poinsette Clark & the Civil Rights Movement, Charleston, SC

Many of the greatest achievements of Charleston native, educator, and activist Septima Poinsette Clark (1898-1987) are associated with sites on and near the C of C campus. Each story on this tour…

Maroon Walk for Juneteenth

College of Charleston observes Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, by coming together for the Maroon Walk for Juneteeth. The annual walking tour was…

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Project Meta

This project explores many of the diverse pasts and presences that are part of our storied campus. Just as we embrace inclusivity in our present, this project seeks to share the stories of all people who were part of our past, whose presences linger on the land and in our buildings, and whose contributions and stories enrich the narrative that emerges as the unfolding epic tale of the College of Charleston.

The Black Food Truck Festival Is A Rapidly Rising South Carolina Event, Founded By A Former College Of Charleston Basketball Player

The Black Food Truck Festival in Ladson, South Carolina is gearing up for its fourth annual get-together this weekend.

When Marcus Hammond moved to Charleston to play basketball for the College of Charleston, he fell in love with the city, the Post and Courier reported. After graduation, he stayed in the area and worked in the banking industry as a relationship manager. In 2022, he created the Black Food Truck Festival, which brought out 5,000 guests during its first year.

“We’ve got everything from the diaspora to Gullah Geechee to soul food, seafood, Charleston staples like the chewies, Gullah rice and red rice,” he said.

Due to the festival’s quick rise in popularity, Hammond left his corporate job to focus on the event full-time to ensure that he and his team produced a successful customer-driven occasion.

“Two things that have really guided me, [with] the first one being the customer is not always right, but the customer is always first,” he told Post and Courier. “So, everything we do with the festival, we keep the attendees in mind first.”

He added, “We do our best to make sure everybody is safe, and we do our best to make sure that everybody has a good time. We aim for that perfection knowing that we’ll fall short. But it’s always our aim.”

This year, over 15,000 people are estimated to come out and fill up the Exchange Park Fairgrounds with most attendees expected to come from states nearby like North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Hammond shared some new additions to the festival that include “Rhythms & Booze” (April 26), The Melanin x BFTF AM Workout (April 27) and the “Trappyoke” Afterparty” (April 28).

“Those are tweaks that we have made seeing the data that a lot of people came here from out of town. So, [it’s] what we wanted to do [with] Charleston being No. 1 in tourism hands down throughout the country for more than the last decade. But oftentimes, when we see those tourist attractions, they’re not always guided toward Black-curated events,” Hammond explained. “So, what we wanted to do is change the narrative from people thinking of the deep south, old Charleston, to being able to come to Charleston for a full weekend and experience Black culture and Charleston, curated by Black people.”

For more information about the Black Food Truck Festival, visit the website .

Board of Architectural Review approves demolition of College Lodge

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A former College of Charleston dorm is one step closer to being demolished.

The city’s Board of Architectural Review approved the demolition of the College Lodge with a 2-1 vote during Wednesday night’s meeting.

The College Lodge, located at 159 Calhoun St., is the previous Downtowner Motor Inn. The building has been a housing option for College of Charleston students since the 1960s until it closed last spring.

After a previous deferral , so they could have more time to gather information, the request to approve the demolition of College Lodge went in front of the city of Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday.

Robert Summerfield, the director of planning, preservation and sustainability for the City of Charleston, says this building is one of the last examples of a mid-century modern style downtown.

“Based on our ordinance, from a staff perspective, this is not meeting the test for recommendation for demolition,” Summerfield said.

Summerfield says the architectural, cultural and contextual elements are too positive to warrant the demolition. So, in turn, they could renovate the entire interior instead. However, the College of Charleston tells them it’s not that quick of a decision.

“They are not sure if they can economically make that work for what they need in student housing,” Summerfield said.

Regardless of whether or not it’s demolished, the college plans to keep it as a dorm. According to Wednesday’s presentation, a new building would cost about $31.4 million.

“Finding housing on campus is very difficult,” College of Charleston sophomore, Ryan Ciliento, said. “With the dorms, they get filled up very quickly. And the houses that are here are very expensive.”

The housing crisis has led Ciliento and sophomore Savannah Magee in a different direction.

“They ended up having to lease out a hotel because there wasn’t enough housing,” Magee said. “So, me and about 40 other students are living in there.”

They both say demolishing College Lodge could be a negative.

“It would be cleaner and better, but I think it would take too long that in the meantime it would create a serious problem,” Ciliento said.

The College of Charleston says they remain concerned about the structural integrity of this building but did not want to make any additional comment until the Board of Architectural Review has reviewed the plans.

When it comes to other future housing options, Summerfield says Charleston City Council has already approved replacing the YWCA with a new dorm.

As of now, there’s no timeline for when College Lodge might be gone for good.

Magee wants the Board of Architectural Review and the college to think about them.

“Just consider the students and the priority of housing because it’s a very big necessity right now,” Magee said.

You can watch the Board of Architectural Review’s meeting, here .

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

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