
Charleston Southern University (CSU), a private Christian university in South Carolina, has seen record enrollment in its 60-year history. The university welcomed its largest-ever freshman class in Fall 2024, with over 1,000 new undergraduate students and a total enrollment of 3,537. CSU's student population has been growing, along with its degree programs, which include graduate and online courses. The university's mission, Promoting Academic Excellence in a Christian Environment, is reflected in its diverse student body and comprehensive liberal arts foundation across degree programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of institution | Private university |
| Location | North Charleston, South Carolina, United States |
| Year founded | 1964 |
| Campus size | 300 acres |
| Total enrollment | 3,537 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,914-3,169 |
| Graduate enrollment | 705 |
| Online programs enrollment | Not specified |
| Diversity | 38% ethnically diverse |
| Student demographics | 22% Black/African American, 59%-65% White/Caucasian, 7%-10% Hispanic, 1% Asian, <1% Native Hawaiian, >1% American Indian or Alaskan, 5% two or more races |
| Student life | Competitive sports, academic clubs, service organizations, intramural athletics, campus ministries, Greek life |
| Dining options | At least four dining facilities, including a dining hall, Java City, Chick-fil-A, and The Buc Stop |
| Housing | On-campus housing available for single students under 21 years old; over 1,400 residential students |
| Academics | Over 50 undergraduate majors and graduate programs; semester-based academic calendar |
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees |
| Rankings | Ranked #65 in Regional Universities South for 2025; ranked among the top safest college campuses in South Carolina |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn

Charleston Southern University has a total of 3,537 students
Charleston Southern University (CSU) is a private, Christian university in North Charleston, South Carolina. It was founded in 1964 as the Baptist College at Charleston and changed its name to Charleston Southern University in 1990. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees.
CSU has seen record enrollment in its 60-year history, with a total of 3,537 students in its undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. The campus has also seen a dramatic increase in residential students, with more than 1,400 living on campus. CSU's campus size is 300 acres, and it offers a wide range of campus activities, including academic clubs, service organizations, intramural athletics, and campus ministries. The university's sports teams are known as the BUCS.
CSU's student body is ethnically diverse, with 22% identifying as Black/African American, 59%- 65% as White/Caucasian, 7%- 10% as Hispanic, 1% as Asian, <1% as Native Hawaiian, and >1% as American Indian or Alaskan. Nearly a third of CSU students are first-generation college students, and the university offers a tuition promise program called Buc Promise for Pell-eligible South Carolina residents with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA.
CSU offers a comprehensive liberal arts foundation for its undergraduate degree programs, which develops and strengthens students' critical thinking and reasoning skills. The university also offers master's programs that expose students to significant research and current trends in their chosen fields. Overall, CSU students can choose from more than 50 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, including business, education, criminal justice, computer science, cyber security, Christian studies, graphic design, nursing, physical therapy, and physician assistant programs.
Illinois State Students: Get Your Basketball Tickets Now!
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The university's undergraduate enrollment is 2,914
Charleston Southern University (CSU) is a private, Christian university in North Charleston, South Carolina. It was founded in 1964 as the Baptist College at Charleston and changed its name to Charleston Southern University in 1990. The university is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
CSU has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,914 students (as of fall 2023). The campus size spans 300 acres. The university welcomed its largest incoming freshman class in its 60-year history in fall 2024, with more than 1,000 new traditional undergraduate students. Overall, CSU's total enrollment increased to 3,537 students in its undergraduate, graduate, and online programs.
CSU offers a comprehensive liberal arts education grounded in the Christian faith. Each undergraduate degree program builds upon this foundation, fostering critical thinking and reasoning skills. The university's mission is "Promoting Academic Excellence in a Christian Environment." The curriculum prepares students for their chosen professions or graduate studies. Additionally, CSU offers master's programs that expose students to significant research and current trends in their fields.
The university community is diverse, with 38% of the incoming class representing various ethnicities. CSU is committed to accommodating its growing residential student population, consistently exceeding housing goals. The campus offers various activities, including academic clubs, service organizations, intramural athletics, and campus ministries. Students also have access to several dining options and nearby off-campus amenities.
Boston University: On-Campus Living Requirements for Students
You may want to see also
Explore related products

38% of students are ethnically diverse
Charleston Southern University (CSU) is an independent, private, Christian liberal arts university in South Carolina. It was founded in 1964 as the Baptist College at Charleston and changed its name to Charleston Southern University in 1990. The university has experienced record enrolment in its 60-year history, with a total student population of approximately 3,350 to 3,874. Of these, 38% are ethnically diverse, continuing a long history of Charleston Southern serving as the most diverse university campus in the greater Charleston region and one of the most diverse in South Carolina.
CSU defines diversity as people groups varying in ethnic makeup, cultural background, age, language, educational and professional experience, veteran and socioeconomic status. The university is committed to promoting a positive and supportive campus climate for all faculty, staff and students, with the understanding that all people are made in God’s divine image and are worthy of respect. This commitment to diversity is biblically informed, with the belief that Jesus’ command to love others as ourselves extends to all people. CSU's diverse community is composed of individuals from multiple regions in the United States and a variety of nations, enriching education and personal development in the classroom, residence halls, student organizations and the campus community.
CSU's dedication to diversity is reflected in its Cultural Diversity Committee, which implements programs that highlight minority cultures on campus. The university seeks to ensure an academic environment that welcomes, recognizes, respects and celebrates the heritage and culture of all students. This aligns with CSU's understanding that diversity is a core element of academic excellence and a reflection of a caring Christian community. The university's definition of inclusion entails embracing individuals or groups as full members of the institution, regardless of their background or identity.
CSU's diverse student body consists of 22% Black/African American, 65% White/Caucasian, 10% Hispanic, 5% two or more races, 1% Asian, and over 1% American Indian or Alaskan. The university also has a significant population of residential students, with more than 1,400 living on campus. This diversity extends to age, with 57.88% of students falling within the traditional college student age range of 18-21, compared to a national average of 60%.
Exploring Towson University's Student Population
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The university has a Christian focus
Charleston Southern University is an independent, Christian liberal arts university in South Carolina. It was founded in 1964 as the Baptist College at Charleston, changing its name to Charleston Southern University in 1990 to reflect its expanded offering of graduate programs. The university's mission is "Promoting Academic Excellence in a Christian Environment".
Charleston Southern University's vision is to be a "Christian university nationally recognized for integrating faith in learning, leading and serving". The university's learning community is dynamic, with students coming from all over the country and a variety of faith backgrounds. The university is committed to helping students achieve their personal and career goals. Charleston Southern is the only Christian university in the Lowcountry.
The College of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University exists to equip students to think and live as Christian disciples in their unique callings. This includes encouraging students to immerse themselves in Scripture, reflect deeply on personal existence and vocation, and integrate their faith into every area of life and culture. The College of Christian Studies also houses the Center for Church Renewal, which promotes the spiritual renewal of the church through an annual conference, quarterly Bible training, and preaching and teaching from the College's faculty.
Charleston Southern University offers a range of Christian ministry degrees, including a BA in Chaplaincy Ministry, Christian Studies, Family & Children's Ministry, and Student Ministry. The university provides a Call to Ministry Scholarship of $17,000 annually to select incoming students majoring in Christian ministry, renewable for a total of nearly $70,000 in financial aid. Charleston Southern University also has agreements with seminaries across the nation, allowing students to complete both bachelor's and master's degrees in under six years.
IGCSE Students: University Application Options
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$18.79 $20.99

It is the only private university in South Carolina to offer a tuition guarantee
Charleston Southern University is an independent, Christian liberal arts university in South Carolina. It was founded in 1964 as the Baptist College at Charleston and changed its name to Charleston Southern University in 1990. The university is grounded in the Christian faith and its mission is "Promoting Academic Excellence in a Christian Environment". Charleston Southern University is the only private university in South Carolina to offer a tuition guarantee.
The tuition guarantee is part of the university's tuition promise program, called the Buc Promise. The program was launched in 2024 for the incoming fall class. It is a renewable scholarship for Pell-eligible South Carolina residents with a minimum high school GPA of 3.5. The university's dedication to first-generation college students inspired the program, as nearly a third of CSU students are first-generation.
CSU understands that funding a college education is a major investment and strives to offer a quality education at the lowest possible cost. Financial aid is available to students through grants, work-study, scholarships, and loans. Federal financial aid is awarded based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The "Cost of Attendance" is the total amount of money the average student has to pay without any financial aid. This includes tuition and fees, room and board, textbooks, and personal expenses. Most students do not end up paying the full price to attend CSU, as financial aid helps make up the difference between the cost of attendance and what families can afford.
CSU has seen record enrollment in its 60-year history, with a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,914 students in the fall of 2023. The university also welcomed its largest incoming freshman class ever in the fall of 2024. The campus size is 300 acres, and the student body is ethnically diverse, with 22% Black/African American, 65% White/Caucasian, 10% Hispanic, 5% two or more races, 1% Asian, and >1% American Indian or Alaskan.
University at Buffalo: Student Population Insights
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Charleston Southern University had a total enrollment of 3,537 students in its undergraduate, graduate, and online programs in 2023. The undergraduate enrollment was 2,914 in fall 2023.
Charleston Southern University had 705 graduate students enrolled in 2021.
Charleston Southern University welcomed its largest incoming freshman class in 2023, with over 1,000 new students.
More than 1,400 students lived on campus in 2024, making it the fourth consecutive year that CSU exceeded its housing goals.







































