College of Charleston

What College of Charleston does

The College of Charleston is a public, state-supported liberal arts and sciences university founded in 1770 in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, and the oldest educational institution south of Virginia. It enrolls approximately 11,000 students (over 10,000 undergraduates and 500-1,000 graduate students) supported by more than 500 teacher-scholars, organized into ten academic schools (Business, Education, Engineering/Computing/Mathematics, Health Sciences, the Arts, Honors College, and others) offering roughly 150 undergraduate majors and minors, 22 master's degree programs, and 9 graduate-level certificate programs, including a recently launched Doctor of Education in Learning and Inquiry in Practice and a newly named Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The College's product platform spans residential undergraduate education, specialized programs (CharlestonLIFE for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Upward Bound, CREW for female entrepreneurs in biomedical sciences, study abroad), online degree pathways, and NCAA athletics, with research infrastructure including the Grice Marine Lab and active collaboration with the neighboring Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Its enterprise technology stack combines a modern Snowflake, Azure, and Microsoft Purview data lake with operational systems such as Salesforce (CharlestonLIFE), PowerSchool/PeopleAdmin (employment), and SharePoint-based intranet (The Hub).

The College's revenue model is multi-stream and mission-driven rather than commercial. Primary recurring revenue is tuition and mandatory fees (undergraduate and graduate priced separately and publicly disclosed), supplemented by auxiliary services (housing, dining, the Barnes & Noble-operated bookstore, parking). Philanthropy is a meaningful and growing lever, with a dedicated Division of Institutional Advancement, a Director of Parent and Family Giving pipeline, a Parent Leadership Society, and major-gift targets of at least $2.5M annually per Director of Development. Federal and state research and program grants (NIGMS, NSF, U.S. Department of Education TRIO/Upward Bound, Federal Pell and Work Study) provide project-based funding. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the charleston.edu admissions portal, supplemented by event-driven recruitment (campus visits, orientation, Honors events), community-led pipelines (Upward Bound, Charleston Fellows), and consultative admissions for specialized programs (CharlestonLIFE). Distribution is single-country, conducted primarily through in-person instruction on the Charleston peninsula campus and remote facilities (Grice Marine Lab, Stono Preserve, Patriot Point), plus online degree delivery, with no resellers or franchise channels.

Name

College of Charleston

Legal name

College of Charleston

Website

https://cofc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1770

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The College of Charleston is a public liberal arts and sciences university founded in 1770 in downtown Charleston, SC, serving approximately 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students through ten academic schools, ~150 undergraduate majors, 22 master's programs, and specialized research and access programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Liberal arts university
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Hospitality management education

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Recurring tuition and mandatory fees charged to students each semester; undergraduate and graduate programs are priced separately with published Tuition & Fees pages on the College's website.
2. Major Gifts and Philanthropy: Major gift fundraising conducted by the Division of Institutional Advancement, including Director of Development roles with annual targets of at least $2,500,000 in new commitments per gift officer, plus named school gifts (e.g., the Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management).
3. Annual Giving and Parent Leadership Society: Annual fund giving, including parent/family leadership gifts (Parent Leadership Society) and parent prospects with capacity to make minimum $5,000 annual commitments.
4. Federal and State Research Grants: Grant funding from entities such as the National Institute of General Medical Sciences ($2.4M joint with MUSC for the CREW program), NSF REACH-SC initiative, Upward Bound (TRIO) federal grants, and Federal Pell/Federal Work Study programs.
5. Auxiliary Services (Housing, Dining, Bookstore): Revenue from on-campus Housing & Dining, the College Bookstore (operated through Barnes & Noble), parking services, and related campus services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The College of Charleston is a state-supported public liberal arts and sciences university that delivers higher education instruction and credentials. It offers approximately 150 undergraduate majors and minors, 22 master's degree programs, and 9 graduate-level certificate programs across ten academic schools, supported by on-campus housing, dining, athletics, study abroad, online degree pathways, and grant-funded programs such as Upward Bound and CharlestonLIFE. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, with auxiliary services, philanthropic gifts, and federal and state research grants providing additional funding.

Product overview

College of Charleston operates as a comprehensive public liberal arts and sciences university platform rather than a single unified product. The academic portfolio is organized into ten schools — including the newly named Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (within the School of Business), the School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics (SECM, which houses the Department of Engineering offering BS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Systems Engineering), the School of Health Sciences (Department of Public Health Sciences and Administration), the School of Education (which recently launched the EdD in Learning and Inquiry in Practice), and the School of the Arts — supported by an Honors College and specialized support programs such as CharlestonLIFE, Upward Bound, and the CREW program. The platform is anchored by approximately 150 undergraduate majors and minors, 22 master's degree programs, and 9 graduate-level certificate programs, plus research infrastructure including Grice Marine Lab, study abroad, and online degree pathways. Operational services include the PowerSchool/PeopleAdmin-powered employment site (jobs.cofc.edu), student-facing MyPortal and SharePoint-based The Hub, athletics portal at cofcsports.com, and central administrative systems (Procurement, HR, Public Safety) that support the academic mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management: The university's first named school, housed within the College's School of Business, established in January 2026 through a major gift from Michael and Amy Bennett.

Products and services

• Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management The university's first named school, housed within the School of Business, established in January 2026 with a major gift from Michael and Amy Bennett. Designed to create a premier hospitality leadership pipeline through increased executive engagement, faculty recruitment, and student resources.
• School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics (SECM) Academic school offering undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, computing, and mathematics. Includes the Department of Engineering (Electrical Engineering BS, Systems Engineering BS), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Department of Computer Science, and other STEM programs. Offers an interdisciplinary BS in Integrated Engineering and Business (in development) and Biomedical Engineering (early planning).
• School of Health Sciences Academic school housing the Department of Public Health Sciences and Administration, which offers undergraduate degrees in public health (B.S. and B.A.) and health services administration and management (B.S.). Has 10 full-time teacher-scholars serving approximately 400 undergraduate majors.
• School of Business Academic school offering undergraduate and graduate business programs including the MBA. Houses the Supply Chain and Information Management department and the newly named Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
• School of Education (Doctor of Education / EdD program) Academic school housing the Department of Teacher Education, which launched a Doctor of Education (EdD) program in Learning and Inquiry in Practice built around the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) philosophy, with online 4- and 8-week express course delivery, plus other teacher education and educational leadership programs.
• School of the Arts Academic school encompassing five departments/programs including Studio Art (drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture) and Theatre & Dance. Supports approximately 8 main productions per year through its Costume Shop.
• Honors College Selective program offering the General Honors College pathway for high-achieving undergraduates, featuring individualized academic advising, the Charleston Fellows top-scholars program, and dedicated admissions events.
• CharlestonLIFE Program
• CREW Program (STEM-Coaching and Resources for Entrepreneurial Women) Co-led with the Medical University of South Carolina and funded by a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the program aims to increase female entrepreneurship in biomedical sciences through mentorship, coaching, and training, initially focusing on South Carolina.
• Upward Bound Program
• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Online Degree Programs
• Study Abroad & International Education
• Research Opportunities
• Grice Marine Lab
• CofC Athletics (Cougars)

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranks #4 top public university in the south (U.S. News & World Report 2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• South Carolina Department of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2025Co-organizer (alongside South Carolina colleges and universities including the College of Charleston) of the Palmetto Pitch competition for student startups, held at Clemson University on November 13, 2025. Eight teams were selected from 155 entries to compete for over $15,000 in prizes and mentorship opportunities.
• University of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Partnered with the College of Charleston, Clemson University, and Claflin University to host the inaugural South Carolina Research Administration Conference (SCRAC2025) on September 25-26, 2025. USC hosted the event as part of its STRIVE Program and the NSF-funded REACH-SC initiative to expand South Carolina's research capacity. The conference attracted more than 180 guests from higher education institutions across the state.
• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Co-partner with the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina on the inaugural South Carolina Research Administration Conference (SCRAC2025). Also hosted the Palmetto Pitch student startup competition on November 13, 2025, organized by a collaboration of South Carolina colleges and universities including the College of Charleston, with 8 teams selected from 155 entries competing for over $15,000 in prizes and mentorship.
• Claflin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Co-partner with the College of Charleston, University of South Carolina, and Clemson University on the inaugural South Carolina Research Administration Conference (SCRAC2025), the first such conference in the state of South Carolina.
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2022MUSC and the College of Charleston jointly received a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to fund the STEM-Coaching and Resources for Entrepreneurial Women (CREW) program. The program increases female entrepreneurship in biomedical sciences through mentorship, coaching, and training, initially focused on South Carolina. MUSC is also located just a few blocks from the main College campus, enabling ongoing research and educational collaboration referenced in Psychology and Engineering job postings.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The College of William & Mary: Virginia's premier public liberal arts university, founded 1693, with ~6,500 undergraduates and strong U.S. News regional rankings. Direct comparable as a public liberal arts and sciences institution with deep historical heritage, similar program mix, and overlapping applicant pool in the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast.
• James Madison University: Virginia public university of ~20,000 undergraduates, ranked highly by U.S. News for undergraduate teaching and as a top public regional. Directly comparable in scale, public liberal arts positioning, regional-recruitment model, and similar program mix including business, health sciences, and engineering.
• University of North Carolina Wilmington: Coastal public university with ~18,000 students, strong focus on marine sciences (matching CofC's Grice Marine Lab), and similar Carnegie classification. Directly comparable in coastal-region public university profile, marine science emphasis, and mid-sized enrollment.
• Coastal Carolina University: South Carolina public university of ~10,000 students located in Conway, SC. Direct comparable in scale, South Carolina public university market, similar undergraduate program mix, and overlapping applicant pool within the state.
• Furman University: Private liberal arts university in Greenville, SC with ~2,500 undergraduates. Directly comparable in liberal arts and sciences mission, Upstate SC geography, and high academic reputation; differs in private (vs. public) funding model and smaller scale.
• Elon University: North Carolina private university of ~7,000 undergraduates with strong business and communications programs. Comparable in mid-sized regional university profile, strong undergraduate teaching emphasis, and similar U.S. News regional rankings positioning.
• Rollins College: Florida private liberal arts college with ~3,000 students. Comparable in liberal arts mission, small-campus profile, and historic coastal-city setting (Winter Park/Orlando) — analogous to College of Charleston's historic Charleston positioning.

Regional players

• University of South Carolina: Flagship public R1 research university in South Carolina with ~35,000 students. Regional peer and in-state competitor for high-achieving South Carolina applicants, with overlapping programs in business, marine sciences, and research; competes for the same state appropriations and donor base.
• Clemson University: Major South Carolina public R1 university with ~27,000 students. Regional in-state competitor and Palmetto Pitch co-organizer; comparable in undergraduate teaching reputation and research ambition, with substantially greater resources and engineering capacity.

Others

• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC): Public academic health science center located blocks from the College's campus. Strategic partner (joint NIGMS CREW grant) and direct feeder for biomedical research collaboration, but operates in a distinct health-sciences niche rather than competing for general undergraduate enrollment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CofC
• Facebookfacebook.com/10239169901
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/college-of-charleston

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about College of Charleston