CofC Class of 2029 by the Numbers

A brand-new school year means a brand-new class of Cougars! The Class of 2029 has officially arrived at the College of Charleston, and they’re already bringing fresh energy, big dreams and bold ideas to campus. Coming from across the country and around the world, these students are ready to make their mark and add their own unique stories to CofC’s vibrant community.

Here’s a first look at the Class of 2029:

Class of 2029: By the Numbers*

• Number of first-year students (as of Aug. 21): 2,344
• Number of states: 48, along with D.C. and overseas military bases
• Number of countries represented (excluding U.S.): 15
• Number of students from one state other than S.C.: 152, New Jersey
• Farthest number of miles traveled to attend the College of Charleston by a student: 8,173 (South Africa)
• Highest ACT Score: 35
• Highest SAT Score: 1530
• Highest GPA: 5.45
• Number of high schools represented: 1,198

Class of 2029: A Closer Look*

• Most common female students’ names: Ava, Ella, Lily, Emma, Grace
• Most common male students’ names: Jack, Owen, Sam, Ethan, Finn
• Top names that males and females share: Riley, Charlie, Ryan, Sam, Jordan
• Most popular birth month: October (223 students)
• Most popular birthdates: 4/23/07, 5/11/07, 5/17/07 (tied 13 students each)
• 8 sets of twins
• Largest South Carolina feeder high schools: James Island Charter School (32), Wando High School (29), Lucy Garrett Beckham High School (27), West Ashley High School (24), Catawba Ridge High School (20)
• Largest out-of-state feeder high schools: La Salle College High School, Pennsylvania (10); Ridgewood High School, New Jersey (10); St. John’s College High School, Washington, D.C. (10); Southampton High School, New York (6); Walt Whitman High School, Maryland (5); Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia (5); Connelly School of the Holy Child, Maryland (5); Harrington High School, Pennsylvania (5)
• Most popular South Carolina hometowns: Charleston (84), Summerville (67), Fort Mill (65), Mount Pleasant (64), Columbia (38)
• Most popular out-of-state hometowns: Charlotte, North Carolina (22); Arlington, Virginia (11); Raleigh, North Carolina (11); Ridgewood, New Jersey (10); Virginia Beach, Virginia (10); Washington, D.C. (10)
• Countries represented: United Kingdom, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Spain
• Most popular intended majors among S.C. residents: biology (157), psychology (100), business administration (92), marine biology (38), marketing (36)
• Most popular intended majors among non-residents: business administration (202), psychology (152), marketing (130), undecided (123), biology (81)

Class of 2029: Academic Profile*

• 9 in-state valedictorians and 7 in-state salutatorians
• 2 out-of-state salutatorians
• Palmetto Fellows: 93
• First-year students enrolled for fall 2025 had a median SAT score of 1220 (in state) and 1250 (out of state), a median ACT score of 25 (in state) and 28 (out of state), and a median GPA of 4.313 (in state) and 3.665 (out of state)

Honors Scholars Class of 2029: Academic Profile*

• Total number of students: 268
• Number of South Carolina residents: 105 (39%)
• Number of non-residents: 163 (61%)
• Average GPA – South Carolina residents: 4.96
• Average GPA – non-residents: 4.27

ARCH Scholars Class of 2029: Academic Profile*

• Total number of students: 303
• Number of South Carolina residents: 181 (60%)
• Number of non-residents: 122 (40%)
• Average GPA – South Carolina residents: 4.78
• Average GPA – non-residents: 4.24

Honors College (Honors Scholars & ARCH Scholars): A Closer Look*

• 35 U.S. states are represented
• 7 countries are represented
• 385 high schools are represented
• 82 students are the first in their family to attend college
• 58 different majors are anticipated
• Most popular majors: biology, psychology, business administration, marine biology, marketing, finance, political science

* This information is provisional and should not be considered official data.