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Charleston , SC
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, is a top-ranked public military college located in Charleston, South Carolina. Established in 1842, The Citadel has a rich history and a strong reputation for its rigorous academic programs, leadership development, and commitment to producing principled leaders for the military and civilian sectors. Offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields, The Citadel provides a unique educational experience that combines military discipline and values with a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum.
At The Citadel, the emphasis is on developing leaders both academically and professionally. Students are immersed in a structured military-style environment that fosters discipline, ethical behavior, and teamwork. The college offers fourteen undergraduate majors, ranging from business administration and engineering to criminal justice and intelligence and security studies. In addition to the core curriculum, students participate in Leadership and Ethics programs that promote character development and critical thinking.
Beyond academics, cadets engage in a comprehensive military program that prepares them for potential careers in the military or other professional fields. Under a 24/7 military regimen, cadets learn crucial skills such as physical fitness, discipline, and teamwork through various training exercises and leadership opportunities. The Citadel is also home to the renowned Summerall Guards, an elite precision drill team known for their impressive performances at various events.
With its strong focus on academic excellence, leadership development, and military training, The Citadel provides a well-rounded education that prepares students for a variety of careers. The graduates of The Citadel have a high success rate in the military and civilian sectors, with many alumni holding influential positions in government, business, and academia. The college's historic campus, commitment to service, and supportive community make The Citadel a unique institution that continues to shape leaders of character.
Located in Charleston, SC and set in a suburban environment, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 92%. The freshman retention rate at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina is 86%.
To find out more about what The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
2,737
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Here are the most vital data you have to know about admission policy and requirements at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,046 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 7% and ACT scores 10%. 4% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 44% between 1,200 and 1,399, 44% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 7% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 12, 44 between 24-29, 44 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 25 and the average GPA was 3.79. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 598 and an average SAT Math score of 589.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina was 86% in 2025, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in 2025 was 3,793.
That year, the school had 32.8% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 2,737 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 18 international students. 95 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,304 male and 441 female full-time students in 2025. There were 89 full-time graduate male and 94 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 46, while the number of Black American students was 153. 197 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 91 as multirace. The school also had 7 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 11 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some important facts on The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $13,140. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $40,407. Tuition costs at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina for international students came to $40,407. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $1,250 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $40,407 | $1,250 | $41,657 |
| In-State | $13,140 | $1,250 | $14,390 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial element. Most students have to pay about $9,300 for books and supplies during their time at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina was $10,899 in 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 13,140 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,899 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 9,300 |
| Total Expense | $ 33,339 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid available at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 376 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $23,780 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,058 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,134. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $3,951,901, and state $2,973,559. The students of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $6,414,980, and external in the amount of $7,027,318.
$18,515
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 245 students overall (including freshmen) at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 59 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $3,951,901 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $36,980. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $5,653,183. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $8,624,550 USD.
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 310 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 180 men and 130 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about social life at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
It has a campus size of 300 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 100 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The most popular student organization is Fine Arts, followed by Ducks Unlimited and Honors Program Advisor Council. Other popular organizations among the students at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina are NAVY - Trident Society and The Republican Society.
Those who like music can join the The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina band or chorus. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
All in all, campus life at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Career Counselling
At The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Being aware of the projected salary upon finishing your studies can be important in determining if a specific school is in line with your career ambitions.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 53,466 USD.
$53,466
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina is located in Charleston, SC.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina is 92%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina is 86%.
Contact Information
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
171 Moultrie Street
Charleston , SC
29409
843 225-3294
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
