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Citadel Military College of South Carolina

#586 in US ranking Charleston, SC
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Citadel Military College of South Carolina award
Citadel Military College of South Carolina award

Cost

Cost / year
$34,464
Tuition & fees
$14,390
Avg. aid
$14,816
Receiving aid
90%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
23%
SAT range
1085–1285
ACT range
22–27

Outcomes

Graduation rate
75%
Median salary
$52,388
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Citadel Military College of South Carolina?

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.

What are the admission requirements at Citadel Military College of South Carolina?

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.

What are the application fees and waivers at Citadel Military College of South Carolina?

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.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Citadel Military College of South Carolina?

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.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Citadel Military College of South Carolina?

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.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Citadel Military College of South Carolina?

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.

Citadel Military College of South Carolina Admissions Factors

SAT range
1085–1285
4001600
ACT range
22–27
136
Acceptance rate
23%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
23%
South Carolina
74%
US
78%

91% of admitted students enrolled (672 of 739)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Citadel Military College of South Carolina Admissions

Applicants
Total: 3,252
Admission
Total: 739
Enrolled
Total: 672
Women
Men

How to Apply to Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Application fee

$40

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Citadel Military College of South Carolina First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 366
Out-of-state: 299
International: 7

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 672
Transfer: 92

Citadel Military College of South Carolina Admission Requirements

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

15%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

29%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

No

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Considered but not required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Navy

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Citadel Military College of South Carolina Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data 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.

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