College of Charleston (CofC) vs Grand Valley State
College of Charleston and Grand Valley State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. College of Charleston, nestled in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, boasts a selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 63%, while Grand Valley State University, located in the vibrant city of Allendale, Michigan, welcomes a broader range of students with an acceptance rate of 84%. While both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs, College of Charleston is renowned for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, while Grand Valley State University excels in business, engineering, and health professions. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further distinctions between these two exceptional universities, considering factors such as student body demographics, graduation rates, and popular majors, to determine the institution that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
  | 
       | 
          
        
          
             
          
          College of Charleston | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Grand Valley State University | 
      
|---|---|---|
    Overview | 
||
| Location | Charleston, South Carolina | Allendale, Michigan | 
| Campus setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large | 
| College type | 4 year | 4 year | 
| Control/business model | Public | Public | 
| Calendar system | Semester | Semester | 
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate | 
| Students retention rate | 83.0% | 83.0% | 
    
       
      Common app member
    
   | 
      Yes | Yes | 
| Religious affiliation | ||
| 
       | 
  ||
    Admission | 
||
| Acceptance rate | 76.1% | 91.7% | 
| Application fees | 
                         
            Undergraduate:
            $60
           
          
            Graduate:
            $60
           
                   | 
      
                         
            Undergraduate:
            $30
           
          
            Graduate:
            $30
           
                   | 
  
| SAT range | 1090 - 1280 | N/A | 
| ACT range | 23 - 29 | N/A | 
| Students submitting SAT score | 24.0% | |
| Students submitting ACT score | 16.0% | |
| Total number of applicants | 20,484 | 17,163 | 
| Total number of admissions given out | 15,590 | 15,730 | 
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,473 | 3,807 | 
| Yield rate | 15.9% | 24.2% | 
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A | 
| High school GPA | Required | Required | 
| Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required | 
| High school transcript | Required | Not required | 
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Tuition and Fees | 
||
| Sticker price | 
                         
            In state:
            $30,535
           
          
            Out of state:
            $51,995
           
                   | 
      
                         
            In state:
            $23,604
           
          
            Out of state:
            $29,340
           
                   | 
  
| Average net price | $20,255 | $16,947 | 
| Tuition | 
                         
            In state:
            $12,518
           
          
            Out of state:
            $33,978
           
                   | 
      
                         
            In state:
            $13,560
           
          
            Out of state:
            $19,296
           
                   | 
  
| Room & board | 
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $8,409
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $4,550
           
                   | 
      
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $6,380
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $3,500
           
                   | 
  
| Available payment plans | 
                        
  | 
      
                        
  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Financial Aid | 
||
| 
    Students receiving financial aid
     (Grants & scholarships)  | 
      
              
          98.0%
        
         Average amount $9,850  | 
      
              
          80.0%
        
         Average amount $8,376  | 
  
| Students receiving federal student loan | 
              
          41.0%
        
         Average amount $5,362  | 
      
              
          50.0%
        
         Average amount $5,161  | 
  
| Students taking out private loans | 
              
          9.0%
        
         Average amount $22,293  | 
      
              
          6.0%
        
         Average amount $13,024  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Students and Campus | 
||
| Undergraduate students | 
              
          9,967
        
        
           Men 33.6% Women 66.4%  | 
      
              
          19,379
        
        
           Men 38.9% Women 61.1%  | 
  
| Graduate students | 
              
          974
        
        
           Men 22.6% Women 77.4%  | 
      
              
          3,027
        
        
           Men 28.0% Women 72.0%  | 
  
| Racial/ethnic diversity | 
              
           Low 
    
       | 
      
              
           Very Low 
       | 
  
| Out-of-state students | 53.1% | 10.6% | 
| International students | 1.2% | 1.8% | 
| Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large | 
| Dormitory capacity | 3,338 | 6,012 | 
| First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No | 
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Carolina New Jersey Pennsylvania Virginia Maryland | Michigan Illinois Indiana Ohio Texas | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Academics | 
||
| Popular study areas | 
              
  | 
      
              
  | 
  
| Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | 
| Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Outcome | 
||
| Graduation rate | 67.0% | 67.1% | 
| Dropout rate | 6.0% | 15.6% | 
| Transferred out | 26.3% | 15.4% | 
| Alumni salary by major (Top 10) | 
               
              
                
                  Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Hospitality Administration/Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
      
               
              
                
                  Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
  
    
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      Common app member