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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.
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Charleston, SC and set in a suburban environment. This school uses 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%.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Quick Facts
2,737
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Check out some vital facts about admission policy and requirements at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
According to the newest data, this institution 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 students 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 enrolled 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% between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students 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 ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 25 while 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 SAT Critical Reading average score was 598 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 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. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina was 86%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 3,793 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 32.8. There was a total of 2,737 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 18 international students. The school admitted a total of 95 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,304 male and 441 female full-time students in 2025. 89 full-time graduate men and 94 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. 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, and the number of African American students was 153. 197 undergraduates 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 think about 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
Wondering about tuition at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees for area resident were $13,140, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $40,407 for students coming from a different state. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $40,407, as well. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,250.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $40,407 | $1,250 | $41,657 |
| In-State | $13,140 | $1,250 | $14,390 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to give about $9,300 for books and supplies during their time at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
At The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $10,899.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 13,140 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,899 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 9,300 |
| Total Expense | $ 33,339 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial help for students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 376 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $23,780 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
1,058 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,134. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $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. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
245 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. 59 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. 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 non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants 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
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 310 teachers at this school. This number included 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 details about campus life at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Its campus is 300 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 100. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students 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.
If you are interested in music, you can join the The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina band or chorus. You have a talent for 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 required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There is a security patrol available 24/7. This school has 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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this school 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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According to the latest information, the 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.