Charleston Southern University
Charleston, South Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 96.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 24/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Charleston Southern University (CSU) is a private Baptist-affiliated institution in Charleston, SC, enrolling about 2,893 students. Sticker tuition of $32,520 and a net price of $21,666 place it solidly in the mid-price private band. Its overall ROI score of 24 - Below Benchmark - reflects a difficult combination: an earnings premium of only 12.6% above non-college workers, a 20.8-year payback period, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82. Fewer than half of students (47.2%) complete within six years, compounding the financial risk. The 34.5% Pell Grant rate and near-universal admission rate (96.5%) reflect CSU's open-access mission and its role serving first-generation, military-affiliated, and faith-motivated students in the Charleston area. Nursing is the standout program, with first-year earnings of $66,310 for 80 graduates. Business administration, with a B grade and $64,920 first-year earnings, rounds out the strongest programs. Most other programs - psychology, kinesiology, social sciences, biology - carry ratios above 0.75 and should be entered with realistic post-graduation plans.
How Charleston Southern University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score24/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.8 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Charleston Southern University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $32,520/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $32,520/yr |
| Average net price | $21,666/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,664 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,898 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,471 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $281 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,893 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $32,520/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,666/year, or roughly $86,664 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $20,145/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,226/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,471, which works out to about $281 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,400) and comes to 0.82, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,145 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,024 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,697 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,648 |
| $110,001+ | $23,226 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (under $30,000) pay $20,145 net. Four-year investment approaches $81,000. With average earnings of $32,400 at six years, the 20.8-year payback is financially precarious. Low-income students at CSU who are not in nursing or business should pressure-test their major choice carefully and maximize Pell, FSEOG, and institutional aid negotiations.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001 - $75,000 band pays $20,697 net - CSU's aid distribution is unusually flat across income brackets, providing minimal differentiation. Middle-income families effectively pay near the same as lower-income families, suggesting the institution's aid packages are not heavily income-targeted. The flat pricing structure means the financial burden at this income tier is disproportionately high.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $23,226 net - only modestly higher than lower brackets. At roughly $93,000 over four years, CSU is an expensive proposition for high-income families given a 24/100 ROI score.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Charleston Southern University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $75,175 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,117 | B |
| Biology | $46,399 | D |
| Psychology | $41,934 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $47,715 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,162 | D |
| Teacher Education | $43,743 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $48,154 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $41,925 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,824 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is CSU's clearest ROI driver - 80 graduates earn $66,310 at one year and $75,175 at four, against $31,000 median debt. The elevated debt ($31,000 versus the $26,000 institutional median) reflects nursing program costs, but the earnings trajectory more than compensates. Charleston's health sector - anchored by MUSC - provides reliable local placement.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (45 graduates) earns $64,920 at one year and $69,117 at four - unusually flat four-year growth suggesting many graduates stay in entry-level business roles. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 and a B grade make this the only non-nursing program with positive ROI at CSU. The Charleston metro's defense contracting, tourism, and logistics sectors provide business graduates with diverse placement options.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Education (20 graduates) earns $40,612 at one year and $48,154 at four, with a 0.67 ratio (C grade). South Carolina teacher salaries are below the southeastern average, limiting earnings growth. At a $27,323 median debt, the payback timeline is workable but relies on income-driven repayment or loan forgiveness programs. TEACH Grant recipients may offset costs if they commit to high-need school placements.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (23 graduates) earns $33,633 at one year and $53,162 at four, with a 0.80 ratio - graded D. The Charleston area's law enforcement and federal agency presence (Coast Guard, Naval Weapons Station) provides placement pathways, but starting salaries keep the ratio elevated at CSU's price point. Students planning law school or federal employment should account for graduate school costs in their ROI projection.
Biology
Biology (32 graduates) earns $29,891 at one year and $46,399 at four - one-year earnings reflecting that many pre-med or health-track students are in graduate programs rather than employment. With a 0.97 ratio and D grade against $28,979 median debt, biology at CSU's price point is only worthwhile for students with clear graduate or professional school acceptance lined up. Without a professional degree, the earnings ceiling at four years is limiting.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 67.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Charleston Southern University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 2,893 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,523 |
CSU admits 96.5% of applicants - effectively open enrollment. SAT mid-range is 450 - 560 (math) and 480 - 600 (reading); ACT composite is 18 - 24. There are no meaningful test score barriers. Students focused on nursing should confirm pre-nursing GPA and science requirements early, as that program has higher internal competitive thresholds than the overall admission rate suggests.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Southern University (this school) | 24 | $21,666 | $45,898 |
| Lee University | 27 | $18,878 | $43,222 |
| Campbellsville University | 25 | $19,341 | $41,583 |
| Missouri Baptist University | 25 | $27,006 | $46,660 |
| North Greenville University | 25 | $21,063 | $43,035 |
| Truett McConnell University | 23 | $22,227 | $46,700 |
Who Thrives Here
CSU fits students seeking a Baptist Christian environment in a major metro area with active military and healthcare sectors. Nursing and business students have direct pipeline access to Charleston's MUSC health system and growing corporate base. Students drawn primarily to the faith community, athletics, or the campus lifestyle should budget carefully, as most non-STEM/non-nursing programs underperform on ROI. The 47% completion rate means the institution's culture of persistence support is a meaningful variable in individual outcomes.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Charleston Southern University scores 24/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $21,666 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $45,898 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 20.8 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 47.2% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 67.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,471 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Charleston Southern University: Common Questions
Is Charleston Southern University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Charleston Southern University scores 24/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $21,666 a year after aid against $45,898 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 20.8 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Charleston Southern University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,666 a year, or roughly $86,664 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Charleston Southern University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $45,898 ten years after enrolling, roughly $4,098 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Charleston Southern University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 20.8 years for Charleston Southern University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Charleston Southern University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,471, against average earnings of $32,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Charleston Southern University?
The six-year graduation rate is 47.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.