Admissions at College of Charleston are handled with a holistic approach, wherein factors additional to the academic test scores are also considered which includes overall scholastic readiness, special talents and quality of leadership and extracurricular accomplishments, among others. College of Charleston opens applications for undergraduate students in fall and spring and for graduate students in fall, spring and summer. Academic record with consistent average grade within A or B must be provided at the time of admission.
The minimum SAT and ACT score to ensure high chances of acceptability at the institute must fall between the range of 1100 to 1250. Graduate candidates must submit their GMAT/GRE scores when looking for enrollment in the organization. An average GRE score of 310 or above is considered as a good enough score by the college. International students do not require any separate application to apply for scholarships. Scholarships awarded by the institute are renewable up to 4 years subject to fulfillment of academic requirements.
Highlights
| Application portal | Online Portal or Common Application |
| Application Fee | 50 USD |
| Academic Calendar | Semester based |
| Acceptance Rate | 72.4% |
| Student-faculty ratio | 14.5:1 |
| Average ACT Score | 22-28 |
| Average SAT Score | 1090-1250 |
| English proficiency test | IELTS/ TOEFL/ Duolingo |
| Intake season | Fall and Spring |
| Financial aid | Merit-based Scholarships |
| Official website | cofc.edu |
College of Charleston Admission Deadlines
The college provides a plethora of courses at undergraduate and graduate level, admissions to which are available in the intakes of fall and spring semesters. The classes for fall semester begin in August while classes for spring semester begin in January.
For the fall semester there is an early decision deadline and an early action deadline. Only students whose first priority is Charleston and who do not wish to apply for scholarships must select the early decision deadline. The deadlines for enrolling to various semesters are in the table below:
| Semester | Deadline | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Early Decision | 15 October | 1 December |
| Honors College Early Action | 1 November | 15 December |
| Regular Decision | 15 January | 1 March |
| Spring Semester | 1 December | Within 6-8 weeks |
College of Charleston International Admission
The college welcomes international student applications given they have completed high school in the case of undergraduate students and college for graduate students. There are almost 31.4% of international students from 61 foreign countries studying at the college.
Application requirements for international students might differ from domestic students. It is important for applicants to carefully check all requirements and fulfill them within the deadline.
How to apply?
Application Portal: Undergraduate applicants can apply by completing the common application or the COFC application while graduate applicants can complete the online application.
Application Fee: 50 USD
Basic Admission Requirements: International applicants must ensure the submission of required documents by the application deadlines. These documents include:
- Completed application form
- Official copies of high school transcript for undergraduate applicants and college transcripts for graduate applicants. All undergraduate transcripts must be evaluated by an approved credential evaluation agency.
- Transcripts in any language other than English must be submitted along with a word-by-word certified translation in English.
- Copy of ID page of current passport.
- Proof of English language proficiency such as scores of TOEFL/ IELTS are accepted.
- Standard test scores of SAT/ ACT/ GRE/ GMAT based on the level of study.
- Certificate of Finance for the visa process.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
The international students must demonstrate a minimum level of English proficiency by submitting test scores as specified below:
| Test Name | Minimum Score Required |
|---|---|
| TOEFL ( IBT ) | 80 |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 |
| iTep Academic Plus | 3.8 |
| SAT (Evidence-Based reading and writing) | 500 |
| ACT (Reading score) | 18 |
| ACT (English score) | 20 |
| IELTS | 6.5 |
Visa Process for International Students
Students who have been accepted to College of Charleston will be issued an I-20 from the Center for International Education. International students who require an F-1 student visa to study in the USA must have an I-20 before starting the visa process.
Documents necessary for applying for a F-1 student visa are listed below:
- Certificate of Finance (to be filled by the sponsor)
- Copy of the ID page of passport
- Bank statement showing sufficient funds to support the expenses of studying at College of Charleston. It must contain the signature and seal of the bank or government official
College of Charleston Undergraduate Admission
The basic requirements for undergraduate applicants are to submit official high school transcripts with certified English translation. It is advisable that applicants select deadlines wisely such that they are able to gather all necessary materials with the application.
Where to Apply: CofC application or The Common Application
Application Fee: 50 USD
Admission Requirements: Applicants for undergraduate programs must submit the following documents with the application:
- Completed application form
- Official high school transcripts
- Transcripts must be submitted with certified translations
- Standardized test scores like SAT/ACT or equivalent
- Copy of picture/ data page of passport
College of Charleston Graduate Admission
College of Charleston master’s programs are offered in 22 subjects and 10 graduate certificate programs through its graduate school for applicants across the globe looking to study in the USA. Application and supporting documents for graduate admissions need to be submitted via the online portal so that they directly reach the graduate school.
A bachelor’s degree in a related field with a competitive GPA on 4.0 is required for applying. Transcripts from all institutions attended outside the U.S. must be submitted along with evaluation from credential service agencies.
Specific requirements for graduate programs offered by the institute can be found in the table below:
The course-specific admission requirements for top masters degree programs are tabulated below:
| Requirements | Masters of Business Administration | Master of Science in Accountancy | Master of Arts in English | Master of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies | Master of Education in Science and Math for Teachers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Deadline | April 1 | Fall deadline: July 1 Summer deadline: March 1 | Fall deadline: July 1 Spring deadline: November 1 Summer deadline: March 1 | Fall deadline: July 1 Spring deadline: November 1 Summer deadline: March 1 | Fall deadline: July 1 Spring deadline: November 1 Summer deadline: March 1 |
| Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| GMAT/ GRE | Required | Required, GMAT score of 530 or above | Required, GRE composite score 300 and 4.0 in writing, MAT score of 45 | Required, GRE composite scores 305, writing score 4.0 | Required, GRE or PRAXIS scores |
| Goal Statement | Required | Not Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Work experience | Not required | Not Required | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Resume | Required | Not Required | Not required | Not required | Not Required |
| Recommendation letter | Required, 2 letters | Required, 2 letters | Required, 2 letters | Required, 3 letters | Required, 2 letters |
| Admission Interview | Required (in person or virtual) | Not Required | Not required | Not required | Not required |
Note:
- Applicants for Master of Arts in English must include a writing sample.
- For pursuing environmental and sustainability studies at the institute, students must have previous coursework in biology, chemistry, statistics and the American government.
- Applicants for Master of Education must hold a valid teaching certificate or rationale intent for informal education.
The institute recommends taking both SAT and ACT as the higher score would be accepted. The standardized tests should be taken at the earliest; this gives students an opportunity to test again in case of low scores. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, tests are also being offered online and are highly recommended to be taken. Resume, Letters of Recommendation are optional but if attached, show the earnestness of the student.
College of Charleston usually takes admission decisions approximately within 6-8 weeks after the application deadline has passed. Following the confirmation of admission, the college will issue I-20 form so that students can start the visa procedure. Every admitted student must take part in the 2-day advising and registration process organized by the Academic Advising and Planning Center as part of campus orientation.
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