Lieutenant General Colby M. Broadwater, III President | American College of the Building Arts
Lieutenant General Colby M. Broadwater, III President | American College of the Building Arts
Data shows that students paid $16,968 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $351 more than the previous school year.
Among the 10 institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Charleston Southern University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $29,990. The College of Charleston followed with an average of $25,552 per year. Miller-Motte College-Charleston students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,000.
At the time, at least $55.2 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Charleston County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $20.1 million.
Currently there are 11 higher education institutions in Charleston County, including American College of the Building Arts, Charleston Southern University, and Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Of the 11 institutions in Charleston County, Medical University of South Carolina did not provide detailed data on tuition fees.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Charleston | 1,788 | $17,542,632 | $9,811 | 1,078 | $10,857,355 | $10,072 |
| American College of the Building Arts | 10 | $101,855 | $10,186 | 6 | $29,937 | $4,990 |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 569 | $8,589,237 | $15,095 | 326 | $4,249,739 | $13,036 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston | 34 | $154,936 | $4,557 | 39 | $244,875 | $6,279 |
| Charleston Southern University | 709 | $15,889,387 | $22,411 | 433 | $3,153,371 | $7,283 |
| Trident Technical College | 1,019 | $12,325,566 | $12,096 | 175 | $588,063 | $3,360 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Southeastern College-Charleston | 44 | $250,159 | $5,685 | 44 | $599,752 | $13,631 |
| Top of the Line Barber College | 11 | $73,405 | $6,673 | 12 | $91,250 | $7,604 |
| Miller-Motte College-Charleston | 34 | $189,597 | $5,576 | 14 | $105,798 | $7,557 |
| Vski Cosmetology School | 13 | $72,899 | $5,608 | 24 | $172,956 | $7,207 |
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