Chartered in 1770, the College of Charleston is one of the oldest colleges in the US and today a public liberal arts university. Its campus is part of Charleston's historic downtown, with Randolph Hall and the Cistern Yard at the centre, under live oaks hung with Spanish moss. Students come for business, computer science, marine biology and historic preservation. The coast is a big part of daily life.
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Official website: cofc.edu
1770
Public liberal arts university
Historic downtown Charleston
$33,000 – $36,000
Out-of-state tuition and fees, undergraduate
$15,000 – $19,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on cofc.edu before you apply.
BS Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Marine Biology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Hospitality and Tourism Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Computer and Information Sciences
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
A campus inside one of America's best-preserved historic cities.
Marine biology with a marine lab at Fort Johnson.
Hospitality and tourism in a city that lives on visitors.
Graduates join Charleston employers such as Boeing, Volvo Cars and the tech firms around the city.
Hospitality graduates find work in hotels, restaurants and event companies.
STEM graduates can extend OPT to three years.
Undergrad
Early Jan deadline
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Nov deadline
Postgrad
Selected programmes
King Street runs along the edge of campus, lined with shops and restaurants. The Battery, the harbour and the beaches at Folly and Sullivan's Island are all close.
Summers are hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Rent downtown is high, so many students share older houses or live across the river in Mount Pleasant.
Form I-20 issued by College of Charleston
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
The College of Charleston has an early action deadline in November and a regular deadline in early January for first-year fall entry. Graduate deadlines vary by programme.
Most students start in fall (August), and some undergraduate and transfer students start in spring (January).
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, College of Charleston issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Business administration, computer science, marine biology and hospitality are popular. Admission looks at secondary school grades and English scores of IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80. Graduate programmes need a relevant bachelor's degree.
Merit scholarships for international students are limited but available, and applicants are considered at admission. Awards are partial, so budget for most of the cost.
