Coastal Carolina University

Public · Moderately Selective · SC

Photo: MBTeacher716 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationSC · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads10,377

Student:faculty17:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate37.4%

6-yr grad rate48.5%

Drop-out rate22.6%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$12k

Out-of-state tuition$30k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity26.1%

Gender diversity56.1%

International0.9%

Identity—

Overview

Coastal Carolina is a public university in Conway, South Carolina, a short drive inland from Myrtle Beach's coastline and tourism economy. Founded as a two-year extension of the University of South Carolina before becoming independent, it has grown quickly from a small regional college into a mid-sized university with a recognizable teal brand and a beach-adjacent identity that shapes both recruitment and student life. Competing in the Sun Belt Conference, it draws a mix of in-state South Carolinians and out-of-state students, particularly from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, many of whom first discover the school on a family beach vacation before applying.

Academics

Marine science and coastal biology benefit directly from the ocean location, with field-based coursework and research tied to nearby estuaries, salt marshes, and beaches rather than only lab simulation. Hospitality, resort tourism, and recreation management are signature programs shaped directly by the surrounding tourism economy, giving students unusually easy access to internships at nearby resorts, restaurants, and event venues. Business and education are also sizable programs, and the university has expanded its science and engineering offerings as enrollment has grown. Class sizes lean toward a teaching-focused, undergraduate-first culture rather than heavy research emphasis, though research opportunities in the coastal sciences have grown alongside the university's size.

Campus & student life

The campus sits inland from the beach but close enough that Myrtle Beach is a constant presence in student life, drawing many students to live off campus near the coast or to spend weekends there. Athletics have a higher national profile than the university's size would suggest, especially since the baseball program's improbable 2016 College World Series win over historically dominant programs, which remains a defining source of school pride and visibility and is commemorated all over campus. The Chanticleer mascot and the university's teal color scheme are unusually strong unifying symbols for a school that only recently built up a deep athletic tradition, and campus life has a beachy, laid-back social atmosphere distinct from more buttoned-up flagship campuses.

Getting in

Coastal Carolina's admissions process is less selective and less essay-driven than most flagship publics, with academic record carrying the most weight. The university has leaned into out-of-state recruitment, particularly from the Northeast, using the coastal location itself as a draw, and demonstrated interest through campus visits is common given how many applicants first encounter the school on vacation. It functions as a realistic, less competitive option for students who want a beach-adjacent college experience without an Ivy-level application process.

After graduation

Hospitality and resort tourism graduates have a natural local pipeline into the Myrtle Beach area's large tourism and hospitality industry, often starting with internships that convert into full-time jobs. Marine science graduates go on to environmental agencies, conservation work, and graduate programs in coastal and marine sciences. The alumni network is younger and less nationally dense than at older flagships, reflecting the university's relatively recent rise to prominence.

Worth knowing

The tourism-driven local economy means many students work part-time in hospitality and recreation jobs that double as informal internships even outside those specific majors. The location and rapidly growing enrollment have made it a fast-changing campus, so students should expect ongoing construction and expansion rather than a fully settled feel, and services like housing and advising have had to scale quickly. Students drawn mainly by the beach should also weigh that Conway itself, where the main campus sits, is a modest inland town rather than an oceanfront setting.

coastal.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate75.3%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1050–1220 · ACT 21–26

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying