Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Conway, South Carolina
80.2% Acceptance Rate
Coastal Carolina University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
80.2%Acceptance Rate
3.72Avg GPA
1128Avg SAT
23Avg ACT
$26,050Annual Cost
$47,258Grad Salary
26.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
80.2%
Avg GPA
3.72
Avg SAT
1128
Avg ACT
23
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1050–1210
ACT Middle 50%
20–26
Avg Net Price
$13,742
Need-Based Aid
26.8% receive Pell
Coastal Carolina University is a public institution in South Carolina known for its commitment to academic excellence, student success, and regional impact. Offering a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, the university provides a dynamic campus environment that encourages critical inquiry, research, and leadership development. Its focus on providing an accessible, high-value, and career-relevant education makes it a reliable and effective choice for students aiming to reach their academic and career potential.
Coastal Carolina University Acceptance Rate
Coastal Carolina University runs an open-access admission policy. With a 80.2% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 80.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.72 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.52 – 3.71
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.27
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Coastal Carolina University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Coastal Carolina University is 3.72. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.42 and 3.72? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.92–4.12.Coastal Carolina University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.72 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.52 – 3.71
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.32 – 3.51
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.31
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- General first-year admission requires no personal essay or letters of recommendation and is test-optional; required essay is only 250 words ("why CCU"), with an optional 250-word activity essay
- Honors College requires a separate 300-word essay (different prompt, broader scope) submitted as part of the same application; priority given to Early Decision (Oct. 15) and Early Action (Nov. 15) applicants due to limited Honors cohort size; transfer Honors applicants need at least a 3.5 GPA at their prior institution
- Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies provides access to Waties Island, a 1,105-acre undeveloped barrier island serving as a dedicated marine/wetlands research site
- Transfer admission with 24+ transferable credits requires only a 2.0 GPA and good standing - no test score requirement at that credit level; students with fewer than 24 credits must also meet freshman admission criteria (20 core courses, SAT/ACT unless 22+ years old)
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Coastal Carolina University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Coastal Carolina University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Coastal Carolina University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Coastal Carolina University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Coastal Carolina University Without SAT or ACT?
Coastal Carolina University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Coastal Carolina University Average SAT Score: 1128
The average SAT score of admitted students at Coastal Carolina University is 1128 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1128 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1210 SAT or 26 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Coastal Carolina University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1050, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Coastal Carolina University. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 560 | 520 | 600 |
| SAT Reading | 570 | 530 | 610 |
| SAT Composite | 1128 | 1050 | 1210 |
Below 1050, you're behind most admitted students; at 1210 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Coastal Carolina University with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of Coastal Carolina University's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Coastal Carolina University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Coastal Carolina University is 23.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 23 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 18 | 25 |
| ACT English | 22 | 19 | 24 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 20 | 26 |
Can I get into Coastal Carolina University with a 26 ACT?
A 26 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Coastal Carolina University's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Coastal Carolina University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Coastal Carolina University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Coastal Carolina University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Indicate Honors interest directly on the general application - there's no separate portal, but the essay requirement is real
Coastal Carolina's Honors College application isn't a separate system; a student indicates interest on the regular CCU application and is then prompted to complete a distinct 300-word Honors essay ("write a 300 word essay that gives us a holistic overview of who you are... and why you would be an ideal member of the HTC Honors College") on top of the general application's required 250-word "why CCU" essay and optional 250-word activity essay. A student who already submitted the general application without indicating Honors interest should contact the Honors office (honors@coastal.edu) directly to submit the Honors essay as a supplement, since this path exists but isn't automatic.
Apply Early Decision or Early Action specifically if Honors admission is the goal - Honors cohort size is capped and priority follows those earlier deadlines
CCU's Honors College gives explicit priority consideration to students applying Early Decision (Oct. 15) or Early Action (Nov. 15), since the entering Honors class size is limited - applying under CCU's later Regular Decision deadline puts a student at a structural disadvantage for Honors specifically, even though general CCU admission itself uses rolling review with no hard final cutoff. A student targeting Honors should treat Oct. 15/Nov. 15 as their real deadline, distinct from CCU's more flexible general admission timeline.
For marine science or wetlands-biology-interested students, ask about access to Waties Island as a concrete differentiator
CCU's Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies gives students access to Waties Island, a 1,105-acre undeveloped Atlantic coast barrier island serving as a natural research laboratory - a genuinely distinctive, named field-research site rather than a generic "strong marine science program" claim. A student interested in marine or coastal science should ask specifically about undergraduate research opportunities or coursework tied to Waties Island access, since this is concrete infrastructure most coastal-adjacent programs don't have.
For transfer applicants with 24+ credits, know test scores aren't required at all - but the 2.0 GPA floor is a hard, non-negotiable cutoff
CCU transfer admission requires only a 2.0 GPA (4.0 scale) and good academic standing at the most recent institution for students with 24+ transferable credits, with no test-score requirement at that credit level at all; students with fewer than 24 transferable credits must additionally meet freshman admission requirements. A transfer student close to the 2.0 floor should confirm their exact transferable-credit count and GPA calculation with CCU's admissions office before applying, since there's no test-score buffer available to offset a GPA shortfall at this stage.
Expert Insight:
CCU's acceptance rate (cited in the mid-70s) and no-required-essay general policy can lead families to underinvest in the application, but Honors College admission functions as a meaningfully more selective, essay-driven, deadline-sensitive process layered on top - and because the Honors essay prompt is broad and open-ended (asking for a "holistic overview" of identity and contribution), a generic "why CCU" response repurposed from the main application is unlikely to satisfy what Honors reviewers are specifically looking for.
Coastal Carolina University Profile
Full Name
Coastal Carolina University
City
Conway
State
South Carolina
ZIP Code
29526
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Coastal Carolina University Degree Worth It?
Whether Coastal Carolina University is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $64,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.07%.
How much does a degree from Coastal Carolina University Cost?
The sticker price is $26,050/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $13,742.
26.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 57.4% take federal loans at Coastal Carolina University. File your FAFSA early and list Coastal Carolina University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Coastal Carolina University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $47,258. That's about 16% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Coastal Carolina University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
| Central Connecticut State University | New Britain, CT | 1091 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Coastal Carolina University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Coastal Carolina University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Coastal Carolina University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Coastal Carolina University Admissions
Median earnings for Coastal Carolina University graduates sit around $47,258 a year.
At about $26,050 a year, Coastal Carolina University is on the more affordable end.
About 26.8% receive a Pell Grant at Coastal Carolina University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 80.2%, Coastal Carolina University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Coastal Carolina University average a 3.72 GPA.
Coastal Carolina University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.42 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.32, Coastal Carolina University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Coastal Carolina University — aim above 1128, ideally within the 1050–1210 range admitted students typically fall in.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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