College of Charleston Class of 2028 First-Year Student Profile

The start of a new academic year at the College of Charleston brings with it the next generation of students to join the Cougars’ ranks. Drawn from a record number of applications, the members of the Class of 2028 come from across the country and around the globe, bringing with them fresh viewpoints and ideas that are sure to add to the richness of the campus community.

Get to know the Class of 2028 with these facts and figures:

Class of 2028: By the Numbers*

• Number of first-year students (*as of Aug. 27): 2,301
• Number of states: 46, along with D.C. and overseas military bases
• Number of countries represented (excluding U.S.): 14
• Number of students from one state other than S.C.: 140, New York
• Farthest number of miles traveled to attend the College of Charleston by a student: 7,055 (Japan)
• Highest ACT Score: 35
• Highest SAT Score: 1550
• Highest GPA: 5.545
• Number of high schools represented: 1,141

Class of 2028: A Closer Look

• Most common predominantly female students’ names: Ella, Emma, Grace, Ava, Olivia
• Most common predominantly male students’ names: Jack, Noah, Ryan, Luke, Jackson
• Top names that males and females share: Alex, Riley, Taylor, Peyton, Bailey
• Most popular birth month: March (217 students)
• Most popular birthdate: 5/11/2006 (17 students)
• 8 sets of twins
• Largest South Carolina feeder high schools: Wando High School (36), James Island Charter High School (33), Lucy Garrett Beckham High School (23), Mauldin High School (20), Ashley Ridge High School (19)
• Largest out-of-state feeder high schools: Harriton High School, Pennsylvania (7); Bishop Shanahan High School (7); Saint Anthony’s High School, New York (9); Seton Hall Preparatory High School, New Jersey (6); Severn School, Maryland (6)
• Most popular South Carolina hometowns: Charleston (91), Summerville (76), Mount Pleasant (73), Fort Mill (53), Columbia (44)
• Most popular out-of-state hometowns: Atlanta, Georgia (14); Charlotte, North Carolina (14); Annapolis, Maryland (11); Washington, D.C. (10); West Chester, Pennsylvania (9)
• Countries represented: Bahamas, Canada, Sweden, United Kingdom, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, Romania
• Most popular intended majors among S.C. residents: biology (147), psychology (97), business administration (81), marine biology (53), exercise science (48), undecided (48)
• Most popular intended majors among non-residents: business administration (193), psychology (143), undecided (128), marketing (100), biology (86)

Class of 2028: Academic Profile*

• 5 in-state valedictorians and 2 in-state salutatorians
• 2 out-of-state valedictorians and 1 out-of-state salutatorians
• Palmetto Fellows: 114
• First-year students enrolled for fall 2024 had a median SAT score of 1210 (in state) and 1260 (out of state), a median ACT score of 26 (in state) and 27.5 (out of state), and a median GPA of 4.328 (S.C. Uniform Grading Scale) and 3.769 (weighted).

Honors College Class of 2028: Academic Profile

• Total number of students: 253
• Average GPA – S.C. residents: 4.97
• Average GPA – non-residents: 4.31
• Number of S.C. residents: 111 (44%)
• Number of non-residents: 142 (56%)

Honors College Class of 2028: A Closer Look

• 30 states are represented
• 202 high schools are represented
• 19 students are the first in their family to attend college
• 47 different majors are anticipated
• Most popular majors: biology, psychology, business administration, marine biology, marketing, exercise science

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