Campus & Student Life at Charleston Southern University

Home to about 2,720 undergraduates in 2020, Charleston Southern University is a small, private university located in Charleston, South Carolina. This urban setting might be best suited for students who like the fast-paced city life. Should you tire of the campus however, Charleston Southern University offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Charleston Southern University can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Charleston Southern University Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Charleston Southern University is Affiliated With the Baptist Faith.

Some, but not all, schools with a religious affiliation may require a statement of faith or religious studies component. Contact the school to see what their requirements are. If an affinity with the Baptist faith interests you, check out our ranking of The Best Baptist Colleges and Universities.

Charleston Southern University Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 5.0% of the student population at Charleston Southern University. For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Charleston Southern University Disability Services.

Charleston Southern University for the Military

While not a "service academy", Charleston Southern University does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit Charleston Southern University Veteran Services . For more information, check out our Charleston Southern University for Veterans Guide.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern University offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern University has a comparatively small, student body. There were 2,720 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 2,491 (91.6%). Part-time attendance was 229 (8.4%).

Charleston Southern University is Ranked #1,437 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Charleston Southern University is about average in terms of overall diversity. We rank Charleston Southern University #1437 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Charleston Southern University by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Charleston Southern University Diversity Guide.

Charleston Southern University Competes in the NCAA

Charleston Southern University has a total of 372 student athletes, 227 men and 145 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Charleston Southern University Athletics