Coastal Carolina University

What Coastal Carolina University does

Coastal Carolina University is a public, state-supported university in Conway, South Carolina, founded in 1954 as Conway College and operating within the University of South Carolina system since 1975. The university enrolls 11,000+ students across more than 105 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, with an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 180+ student organizations. Its primary service area is South Carolina, with a growing national and international student population drawn to its coastal location near Myrtle Beach.

CCU's core academic portfolio spans traditional undergraduate education, transfer pathways from South Carolina technical colleges, graduate programs, and a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (launched January 2025) plus a Doctor of Physical Therapy (approved December 2025). Distinctive research and infrastructure assets include the ChantSat-1 mission (South Carolina's first space satellite program, launched February 2024), a fleet of eight marine research vessels operating from Waties Island, supercomputing capabilities, and the Center for Applied Intelligence. The university holds Carnegie R1 research designation (2025) and operates specialized centers including the Center for Applied Civic Leadership, the CORE Center for community health, and the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values.

CCU's revenue model combines tuition (in-state rates frozen for seven consecutive years), state appropriations, federal and private grants (NSF, NASA, DOE, SCRA), auxiliary services (housing, dining, athletics), athlete revenue sharing up to $20.5M under NIL, and a recently launched branded consumer product (Teal Coast Coffee, June 2026). Distribution occurs through traditional admissions rounds (Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision), online and hybrid programs, articulation agreements with the South Carolina Technical College System, and a network of community partnerships with Horry County schools and the City of Myrtle Beach. Recent strategic emphasis has been on healthcare workforce development, research commercialization, NCAA Division I athletics, and sustainability (STARS Gold).

Name

Coastal Carolina University

Legal name

Coastal Carolina University

Website

https://coastal.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Coastal Carolina University is a public South Carolina university serving 11,000+ students through 105+ degree programs, featuring marine science research, South Carolina's first space satellite program, NCAA Division I athletics, and newly launched BSN and DPT healthcare programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/College Club Sports Programs (MPAKACAK)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• NCAA athletics
• Marine research

Headquarters

HQ city

Conway

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Tuition revenue from undergraduate and graduate students, with in-state tuition frozen for seven consecutive years and out-of-state tuition providing premium pricing
2. State Appropriations: State funding from South Carolina for public university operations
3. Athlete Revenue Sharing: Revenue sharing with athletes up to $20.5 million as part of NIL payments, funding scrutinized by state lawmakers
4. Grants and Donations: Federal, state, and private grants supporting research and student aid, including NSF, NASA, DOE, and private foundation funding
5. Auxiliary Services: Housing, dining, recreation, bookstore, and athletics programs generating additional revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Coastal Carolina University is a public university that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs (over 105 degree and certificate programs across multiple colleges) to more than 11,000 students. Its core educational offering is supplemented by NCAA Division I athletics, faculty-led research (including the ChantSat-1 space satellite program and an eight-vessel marine research fleet), community health programs (CORE Center), and student services such as housing, dining, the MyCCU portal, CCU Libraries, and the CCU Alert emergency notification system.

Product overview

Coastal Carolina University is a higher education institution offering over 105 degree and certificate programs. The university provides a portfolio of academic programs, student services including the MyCCU portal, research initiatives such as the ChantSat-1 space satellite program and marine research fleet, community health services through the CORE Center, and consumer products like Teal Coast Coffee. The institution operates CCU Libraries, emergency notification systems (CCU Alert), and various research vessels supporting coastal and marine science studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs (105+ degree and certificate programs) Four-year residential undergraduate degree programs across multiple colleges, including in-person, hybrid, and online modalities. Targeted at recent high school graduates and transfer students seeking bachelor's-level degrees.
• Graduate and Professional Programs (Master's, Doctoral, Certificates) Graduate-level degree and certificate programs including various master's degrees, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (newly approved), and certificate programs for working professionals and advanced learners.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Inaugural BSN nursing cohort launched in January 2025 to address healthcare workforce needs in South Carolina.
• Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) Program Flexible bachelor's degree pathway; first graduating class in 2025.
• Online and Hybrid Degree Programs Online and hybrid-format degree and certificate programs offered through the Academic Program Finder for students who need flexible learning formats.
• Transfer Pathway Programs Articulation agreements enabling seamless transfer from Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Central Carolina Technical College, and the SC Technical College System.
• Study Abroad Programs Ranked #35 nationally among master's colleges and universities for study abroad; programs offered through Fulbright, Gilman Scholarship, and international exchange partnerships.
• University Housing and Residence Life On-campus residential housing and meal plan services for students, supporting the residential campus experience.
• CORE Center A center launched in 2026 to advance community health in Horry and Georgetown counties through outreach and health services to the regional community.
• CCU Libraries University library system offering research resources, AI literacy education, and academic support services for students and faculty.
• CCU Alert Emergency Notification System State-of-the-art emergency notification system powered by Omnilert, enabling simultaneous notification to all registered mobile phones, email addresses, and home pages for campus emergencies.
• NCAA Division I Athletics (goccusports.com) NCAA Division I athletics program including baseball, with multiple conference titles, College World Series appearances, and other competitive sports.
• Teal Coast Coffee Ready-to-drink canned latte launched in partnership with Knowledge Perk Coffee Company, branded with university colors and packaged in aluminum bottles to support campus sustainability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enrollment growth: Total enrollment record broken for third consecutive year as of Fall 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Knowledge Perk Coffee CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026CCU partnered with Knowledge Perk to launch Teal Coast Coffee, a ready-to-drink canned latte product branded with university colors, supporting campus sustainability through aluminum bottle packaging
• Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026Monumental first step in expanding transfer opportunities for South Carolina students, creating seamless pathways from associate to bachelor's degrees
• Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026New transfer partnership for business students, expanding educational pathways between the technical college and university
• NASA South Carolina Space Grant ConsortiumcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2026As a member of the NASA South Carolina Space Grant Consortium, CCU supports interdisciplinary initiatives in space sciences, expanding research opportunities and promoting statewide access to NASA programs
• YMCA of Coastal CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Child care services on CCU's campus expand through partnership with YMCA, providing early learning academy for children of students and staff
• Horry County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Teal & Tech Experience bringing middle school students to campus to explore college pathways, fostering early college awareness and STEM engagement
• Horry CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026CCU partners with Horry County to monitor water quality through collaborative research initiatives supporting regional environmental stewardship
• South Carolina Commission on Higher EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Approved CCU's new Doctor of Physical Therapy program to address South Carolina's healthcare workforce needs
• Clemson UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2025Student startups from CCU and other SC colleges/universities compete in Palmetto Pitch at Clemson for over $15,000 in prizes and mentorship
• YMCA of Coastal CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2025Child care services expand on campus through partnership with YMCA Early Learning Academy
• Jackson Family Center for Ethics and ValuesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2025Major gift received to support Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values operations and programming
• Quill Project at OxfordminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025CCU partners with the Quill Project at Oxford, naming first cohort of research fellows for constitutional research collaboration
• South Carolina Arts CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2025Athenaeum Press partners with SC Arts Commission on Edgefield County workshop to collect local stories of farming and agriculture
• South Carolina Technical College SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2024Deepened partnership with SC Technical College System to expand transfer pathways for students across the state
• City of Myrtle BeachminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024CCU and Myrtle Beach broke ground on a new theatre facility, expanding performing arts education and community cultural offerings
• South Carolina Department of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Palmetto Pitch student startup competition and economic development initiatives
• Horry County Schools - Scholars AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity-supported K-12 school ranked #1 in South Carolina, operating as a laboratory school with 100% college-going rate

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• College of Charleston: Public comprehensive university in South Carolina of similar size and four-year residential profile, with overlapping coastal South Carolina student market and NCAA Division I athletics (CAA).
• Winthrop University: South Carolina public university with comparable mid-size enrollment, NCAA Division I athletics (Big South), and a similar mix of undergraduate teaching and graduate programs in the SC market.
• University of North Carolina Wilmington: Coastal public university with similar enrollment scale, NCAA Division I athletics, marine science focus, and a comparable out-of-state tuition premium model anchored in a beach-adjacent market.
• Georgia Southern University: Sun Belt Conference peer with comparable enrollment size, regional public university profile, and similar NCAA Division I athletics investment and brand-building strategy.
• Appalachian State University: Sun Belt Conference peer and fellow public comprehensive university of similar size, with strong athletics brand, growing research profile, and overlapping out-of-state recruitment markets.
• Old Dominion University: Sun Belt Conference peer and mid-size public research university with overlapping online program growth, military-connected student base, and comparable Carnegie classification trajectory.
• Troy University: Sun Belt Conference peer with similar mid-size enrollment, strong military-friendly positioning, and comparable mix of in-person, online, and global program delivery.

Regional players

• University of South Carolina Upstate: In-state public university within the University of South Carolina system serving a similar transfer and commuter-student population in the SC upstate region.
• Francis Marion University: South Carolina regional public university with overlapping service region, transfer pathways, and similar mid-size, teaching-focused operating model.
• Charleston Southern University: South Carolina private university of similar size with comparable NCAA Division I athletics presence and overlapping coastal SC student market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CCUChanticleers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ccuchanticleers
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoastalCarolinaUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastal-carolina-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccuchanticleers/?hl=en

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Coastal Carolina University