


The Citadel is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, commonly called SACSCOC. Institutional accreditation evaluates the college as a whole; it is distinct from any specialized review of an individual degree program.
Specialized accreditation matters most when a career has program-specific educational or licensing requirements. For example, applicants to engineering, business, teacher-preparation or nursing programs should verify the current accreditation or approval of the particular program they intend to enter. An institution's SACSCOC status alone does not establish that every program meets every professional board's rules.
Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid. It can also matter when applying to graduate school or seeking transfer credit, although another institution decides which credits it will accept. Students considering a licensed profession should check both The Citadel's program information and the requirements of the state where they expect to practice.
First-year applicants to The Citadel generally submit an application and secondary-school academic records. Admission to the residential Corps of Cadets also involves determining whether an applicant can meet the program's health, physical and conduct requirements. Graduate and other non-cadet applicants follow different admissions processes.
Reported first-year admissions criteria include a high school record, GPA and completion of a college-preparatory program. Class rank and recommendations may be considered but are not listed as required. SAT and ACT scores are reported as considered rather than required; applicants should confirm the policy for their intended entry term before deciding whether to send scores. Applicants educated outside the United States may need to document English proficiency, with requirements determined by their applicant category.
The reported first-year admission figures show approximately 3,252 applicants and 739 admits, or an acceptance rate of about 23%. Because that rate differs sharply from rates reported in several preceding years, it should not be treated as a stable prediction of an individual applicant's chances. Academic preparation, the applicant pool and cadet-specific eligibility all warrant attention. Applicants should also verify current deadlines and required forms with admissions; an application deadline is not necessarily the deadline for scholarships or financial aid.
The reported undergraduate application fee is $40. An application fee pays for application processing; it is separate from any enrollment deposit, tuition or orientation charge. Fees can differ by applicant type or application route, so the amount displayed during the current application process should govern a prospective student's submission.
Applicants for whom the fee is a barrier should ask admissions about an available fee waiver before submitting payment. They should establish which documentation or approved waiver method applies to their application. A waiver of the application fee does not automatically waive later enrollment or attendance costs.
The Citadel has on-campus Army, Air Force and Navy ROTC opportunities. The Navy ROTC pathway can also be relevant to students pursuing a Marine Corps commission. These units are a substantial difference from colleges where students must travel to another institution for ROTC instruction.
Cadets should distinguish taking ROTC-related instruction from earning a commission. Commissioning paths involve branch-specific selection, academic and physical standards, medical qualification and, when applicable, a service commitment. ROTC scholarships have separate application and eligibility rules; an admission offer from The Citadel is not an ROTC scholarship offer.
Students interested in military service should speak with the relevant ROTC unit about its current commissioning route and timing. Those who do not intend to commission should confirm which ROTC courses are part of their cadet curriculum without assuming that participation alone obligates them to serve.
The Citadel considers transfer applicants and generally accepts eligible credit from accredited colleges, but admission and credit acceptance are separate decisions. Reported transfer entry terms include fall, spring and summer; a particular academic program or cadet pathway may have a narrower practical starting schedule.
Transfer applicants should expect to provide official college transcripts and any additional academic records required for their circumstances. The college evaluates prior coursework for applicability to its degree requirements, not just for the number of credits completed. Reported credit pathways also include certain CLEP, DSST/DANTES and ACE-recommended learning, subject to institutional evaluation.
A transfer student considering the Corps should ask specifically how prior credits affect academic standing, time to degree and cadet progression. Before making an enrollment decision, request an official evaluation showing which courses satisfy the intended major, general education requirements and any minimum amount of coursework that must be completed at The Citadel.
The Citadel offers international study opportunities, including programs that can differ in length, destination and academic sponsorship. Students may encounter faculty-led or other approved study-abroad options rather than a single exchange arrangement that suits every major.
The important planning questions are whether a proposed course will count toward the student's degree and whether the timing is compatible with cadet obligations. Students should obtain academic approval before committing to a program, especially if a required course is offered only in a particular term. They should also establish how program charges, travel, scholarships and existing financial aid would apply; domestic aid does not necessarily cover every expense abroad.
91% of admitted students enrolled (672 of 739)
Application fee
$40Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoPercent of students submitting ACT scores
15%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
29%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.