How many students does the College of Charleston have?
The College of Charleston undergraduate enrollment is 9,878 and the graduate student enrollment is 1,454. In addition, the College of Charleston has over 200 international students from 72 foreign countries.

When may I visit?
The Office of Admissions offers campus tours M-F while school is in session. Saturday tours are offered on select dates. Please see our Visiting Campus page for Open House dates and scheduling a campus tour.

What is the average SAT/ACT scores?
The College accepts the SAT and/or the ACT; please visit the student profile to see average scores.

How safe is the campus?
The College of Charleston is located in an urban setting. Our campus is historically significant and host to numerous visitors who come to enjoy the beauty and architecture. We encourage all members of the campus community to use common sense and practice personal safety at all times. A campus safety escort service is available as well as emergency call boxes, which are strategically places in forty-three locations across campus. Copies of the annual security report containing campus security policies and procedures as well as crime statistics are available at both Student Affairs and Public Safety.

What do I do about parking?
Because campus is situated in the middle of an urban area, it is difficult and expensive to park. Fortunately, because of the location, it is not necessary to have a car. Freshmen who have less than 30 semester hours of college work are not eligible for campus parking. The Auxiliary Services Office (843) 953-7834 does provide listings of off-campus parking spaces available to students.

How many of my transfer credits will you accept?
The maximum number of transfer credits acceptable toward a College of Charleston degree is 92 semester hours from a four-year institution. Normally, 60 semester hours are the maximum from a two-year institution. Should a student exceed 60 semester hours at a two-year institution a petition in writing should be submitted to the Director of Transfer Admissions.

What do I do about parking?
Because the campus is situated in the middle of an urban area, it is difficult and expensive to park. Fortunately, because of the location it is not necessary to have a car. Only students with 30 or more hours are eligible to apply for campus parking. Contact Parking Services to apply for a permit. The Parking Services Office (843) 953-7834 does provide listings of off-campus parking spaces available to students.

When and how do I register for classes?
New students are advised and register for classes during orientation. Returning students register on-line during the assigned pre-registration period.

Do I need to have 30 hours earned before I can transfer? I will have 30 hours or more at the end of my currently enrolled semester.
No, a transfer student may apply at any time. If you do not have 30 earned hours at time of application, then we will ask for you to submit your high school transcripts and SAT or ACT test scores for review. A student with 30 earned hours or more will be reviewed solely on their college performance. If you are enrolled in a 2 year Associate Degree program, the program does not have to be completed before you can be considered for transfer.

Are there any courses I am required to have already taken before I apply as a transfer student?
There are no identified courses that must be taken. If your intention is to transfer to CofC, you may request for some pre-transfer advising to ensure you are enrolled in or planning to enroll in courses that will transfer and be relevant to your intended major. College level academic coursework is expected at a two or four-year college/university.

Do high school AP/IB credits count towards my 30 hours?
Although these earned hours will be considered transfer credit, it is college credits earned in the classroom that is ultimately what we’re looking for. You will need to have your scores from these exams forwarded to be awarded any applicable transfer credit.

Do you accept transfer credit from military and/or life experience?
The College of Charleston does not issue credit for military work converted to college credits or credit for life experience.

Do courses that will not transfer to CofC still count toward my attempted hours of transfer coursework? Yes. In evaluating your application, the Admissions Committee is looking for attempted college level course work. Remedial and applied coursework taken will be considered; yet our focus will be on transferable academic courses.

It’s been over 10 years since I last attended college, will these courses still be considered for transfer credit?
Yes, yet the coursework must be evaluated and revalidated by the appropriate department to be applicable for credit toward a CofC undergraduate degree.

I attended college years ago and do not want to submit that particular transcript to be looked at by the Admissions Committee. Is this possible?
Students do have to list every college at which you enrolled, regardless of dates of attendance or academic performance. Failure to identify all institutions is cause for denial or dismissal.

I’ve attended more than one college and have transferred before. My credits from all the other colleges are posted on my current college transcript. Do I have to have them all resent to you again?
Yes, students are responsible for requesting that all official transcripts from each college attended be sent to the CofC, ATTN: Office of Admissions, Charleston SC 29424. If you are returning to CofC as a transfer student and coursework has already been evaluated and posted from a previous academic institution, you may not be required to re-submit those transcripts.

How will I know which credits I’ve taken will transfer?
All transfer students who are offered admissions will have an official transcript evaluation completed after an offer is made. If courses taken have never been evaluated before, we will have the Academic Department determine its content for transfer credit. If needed, you may be asked to supply a course catalog or syllabus. The transfer admission counselors may be able to give you an unofficial transfer analysis to assist you in pre-transfer course selections.

What’s the maximum number of hours I can transfer in?
We will accept up to 60 hours of transfer credit taken at a 2-year school. We will accept up to 92 hours taken at another 4-year school or combination of 2 and 4-year colleges attended. Transferable credits in excess of these limits will be placed in the student’s reserve transfer credit listing.

Is there a minimum number of classes I must take at CofC in order to earn a degree there?
Yes. Students need a minimum of 122 credit hours to graduate. If you did have 92 hours transfer in towards your degree requirements, you must take at least 30 hours, or your senior year, in residency at CofC.

I put my intended major on my application, why does it show me as “undecided” when I check Cougar Trail?
All new students enter CofC as an undecided major. Once you have attended an Orientation and registered for your classes, you may officially declare your major through the appropriate academic department at that time.

I’ve been to college before, do I have to attend an Orientation?
Yes. All new students need to attend an Orientation. We want you to be aware of all the academic opportunities, policies and services available to you on our campus. If you are 23 years of age or older, you may request for an express schedule when you confirm your attendance in New Student Programs.

Readmit to CofC Students

What should I do to be readmitted?
All candidates for readmission to the College of Charleston are required to submit an application for admission in addition to a personal letter to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Services explaining how they have used their time while out of school and giving their reasons for believing they will now be successful at the College of Charleston. Students who have done work at other colleges since last attending the College of Charleston must have their transcripts sent to the Office of Admissions. The College of Charleston does not admit students who are ineligible to return to the last college or university attended.

How long will it take to complete my degree?
To graduate from the College of Charleston, students must complete the general education requirements, the requirements for a major, and electives to total 122 semester hours with a grade point average of at least a 2.0 overall and in their major. Degree requirement worksheets outline the specific courses required for each degree program.

How are my previous credits evaluated?
The College of Charleston will consider granting transfer credit for academic study completed at recognized foreign post-secondary institutions. If you wish to have previous university-level course work evaluated for transfer credit, please be aware that you must have a course-by-course evaluation report completed by one of the following credential evaluation services. Once you have been accepted for admission and this evaluation report is submitted to the Office of Admissions, your transfer credit to the College of Charleston will be determined and you can check your Transfer Credit Evaluation on CougarTrail. English translations of course descriptions are also required to properly award transfer credits for corresponding College of Charleston coursework.The following credential evaluation services perform course-by-course evaluations.

Are transcripts required to enroll as a non-degree student?
While not required, transcripts of previous college and/or high school courses will allow your academic advisor to assist you in planning the best route towards your academic goals. Even student copies or other unofficial records can be helpful at this planning stage. Some courses require written evidence of pre-requisite course completion.