Citadel Military College of South Carolina
#3 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in South Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 74% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $72,085 A
- Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $20,723 C-
- 21% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 23% A
- Admits roughly 23% — highly selective
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.7 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in South Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $21.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,717,907.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 77% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Citadel Military College of South Carolina Matters
Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a public university in Charleston, SC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,705
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Criminal Justice, Social Sciences
Why students choose Citadel Military College of South Carolina
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 23% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1085–1285. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,723 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $72,085 ten years after enrolling — 77% above the typical college, against $21,096 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.53 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 23%, Citadel Military College of South Carolina attracts students who are looking for a disciplined environment and a strong emphasis on leadership development. Here, you'll find a focus on programs like Business & Marketing, Engineering, Criminal Justice, Social Sciences, and Biology & Biomedical. This blend of rigorous academics and military structure makes it a good fit for those who thrive in a challenging and highly structured setting.
After graduation, alumni can expect to earn an average of $72,085 within a decade. This figure speaks volumes about the potential return on investment for students. The cost of attendance is manageable, with a net price of $20,723 after aid. While only 20% of students receive Pell Grants, those who do often find that the financial support helps pave the way for upward mobility in their careers.
When it comes to the practical side of things, the median debt for graduates stands at $21,096. This manageable debt load can open doors for many, especially those who are disciplined and focused. Students who tend to thrive here are those who embrace the military college culture, value leadership training, and are committed to making the most of their educational experience.
Rankings
- #3 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in South Carolina
- #9 Best Computer Science Colleges in South Carolina
- #9 Best Data Science Colleges in South Carolina
- #12 Best Bachelor's Programs in South Carolina
- #12 Best Master's Programs in South Carolina
- #15 Best Business Colleges in South Carolina
- #19 Best Biology Colleges in South Carolina
- #22 Best Colleges in South Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Citadel Military College of South Carolina is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Citadel Military College of South Carolina? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Charleston, South Carolina, Citadel Military College of South Carolina sets a competitive bar: about 23% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,208. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- SAT Average
- 1208
- SAT Range
- 1085–1285
- ACT Range
- 22–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 70%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,071
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.45
- First-Gen Students
- 19%
- Applicants
- 2,253
- Admitted
- 2,221
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Citadel Military College of South Carolina? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Citadel Military College of South Carolina is $38,508, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,723. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,430 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,096 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,570
- Out-of-State
- $38,508
- Avg Net Price
- $20,723
- Median Debt
- $21,096
- Pell Grant Rate
- 20%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 36%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,430
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,456
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,140
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,047
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Citadel Military College of South Carolina Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Citadel Military College of South Carolina earn a median of $72,085, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $60,168
- 8 Years
- $67,667
- 10 Years
- $72,085
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.29x
- Earning > $25K
- 75%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (401)
- 65%
- 100% (401)
- 65%
- 100% (401)
- 65%
- 100% (401)
- 65%
How Citadel Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Citadel Military College of South Carolina Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Citadel Military College of South Carolina delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,723/year ($82,892 total). Graduates earn $72,085 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,800,799 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,717,907 (21.7× your investment). The median debt is $21,096, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 74% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $82,892
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,800,799
- Net Return
- $1,717,907
- ROI Multiple
- 21.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,723
- Median Debt
- $21,096
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,715,808
- Investment Income
- $-1,356,287
Top Programs
The fields Citadel Military College of South Carolina awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 26%
- Engineering 23%
- Criminal Justice 8%
- Social Sciences 7%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Psychology 2%
- Health Professions 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Citadel Military College of South Carolina's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Citadel Military College of South Carolina? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Charleston, South Carolina, Citadel Military College of South Carolina sets a competitive bar: about 23% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,208. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Citadel Military College of South Carolina? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Citadel Military College of South Carolina is $38,508, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,723. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,430 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,096 in federal student loans.
Is Citadel Military College of South Carolina Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Citadel Military College of South Carolina earn a median of $72,085, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is Citadel Military College of South Carolina? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Citadel Military College of South Carolina. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Citadel Military College of South Carolina.
- Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, TX · Close peer83% grad $71,668 earn 26% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY · Close peer82% grad $69,363 earn 21% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, VA · Close peer86% grad $76,178 earn 22% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Close peer90% grad $75,525 earn 20% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA · Close peer89% grad $64,027 earn 21% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT · Close peer92% grad $73,897 earn 16% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Citadel Military College of South Carolina? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Citadel Military College of South Carolina. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note