Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university. Students state the school is the perfect place to call home thanks to excellent weather, great food, and wonderful people. As a visitor, it's easy to fall in love with this elegant coastal town oozing with Southern hospitality, history, incredible antebellum architecture, and creative cuisine.
Visitor Information: Campus tours start at Admissions in Craig Hall, 65 George Street. Tour College of Charleston
Transportation: Most people chose to fly into the Charleston International Airport, taxis are readily available to take you to campus or your hotel.
Stay: Conveniently located; The Francis Marion Hotel is the closest to campus, just a quick five-minute walk. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Charleston, The Renaissance, and the Embassy Suites Charleston are also well situated for touring, all approximately 2 miles away. Why not make the trip a mini-vacation? Charleston has some wonderful properties such as Hotel Bennett, The Belmond Charleston Place, Zero George Street, The Dewberry, and The Vendue, voted the No.1 hotel in Charleston by readers of Travel and Leisure Magazine this year.
Campus Dining: Want to grab a quick bite and get a feel for student life click here for a list of places to eat on campus.
Coffee: Join the students on their way to class at Tricera Coffee right on George Street, a 2-minute walk to the Admissions Office. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, don’t miss a stop at Second State Coffee, known for their cold-brewed iced coffees and creative lattes, a short 6-minute walk.
Breakfast: Right on George Street across from the Cistern, Caviar and Bananas is a gourmet marketplace and café, good at any time of the day. Not far from the Citadel and Hampton Park many locals will tell you that Park Café is their favorite morning spot. It’s worth the short drive to The Daily, a neighborhood spot from the team behind popular Butcher & Bee.
Lunch: The gourmet-grilled cheese paninis are topnotch at Persimmon. Little Jack’s Tavern might be known for their excellent beef burgers, but one student told us the shrimp burger is the way to go. It's worth standing in line to taste what some say is the best brisket in the south at Lewis BBQ or the rib eye sandwich at Rodney Scott's BBQ, from the legendary pitmaster famous for whole hog BBQ. Just down the block from Lewis save room for smoked wings at Home Team BBQ.
Dinner
Casual: Everyone in town’s talking about Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop's chargrilled oysters, Siam Salad, and fried chicken. Order the signature seafood pilau, Lowcountry’s version of paella--a glorious mix of Charleston Gold rice, field peas, clams shrimp and fried fish at The Grocery. For shrimp and grits, Poogan's Porch is your place, specializing in Southern cuisine served in a Victorian townhouse. Butcher & Bee is where Low-country meets Israeli inspired dishes served in a cool industrial space. (an excellent choice for breakfast and lunch as well. ) If you need a break from Southern food, family style Asian Xiao Bao Biscuit is your perfect timeout, housed in a former gas station.
A Step Up: If you have only one night in Charleston book well in advance to eat at Mike Lata’s seasonal Fig, hands down one of the best restaurants in the country. Chef Lata’s other restaurant, The Ordinary is a seafood lovers dream, known for having the best raw bar in town. Husk put Charleston on the culinary map thanks to founding chef Sean Brock’s delicious interpretation of high-end Southern cuisine. (Husk is also one of the city’s top brunch spots.) Some say that the soul of the South lives in Magnolia's, a Charleston institution. Carnivores should not miss a steak dinner at elegant Hall's Chophouse.
Student Spotting: Snap a photo at The Cistern, a large, grassy area adjacent to Randolph Hall (Randolph Hall is one of the oldest college buildings still in use in the U.S., built in 1828.) “For more than 200 years, life at the College has been centered at its Cistern Yard. This is where generations of students have come to sit, paint, converse and study. This is where countless visitors have snapped pictures and thousands of graduates have skipped over a stage, donned in white dresses and white dinner jackets, their hands eagerly outstretched to accept hard-earned degrees.”
Local Attractions: First time in town? Play tourist with a Palmetto Carriage Rides, a good introduction to the historic downtown. Afterwards, visit the Charleston City Market for a little shopping. Head south of Broad Street to see the postcard Charleston of stately homes, lush walled gardens,and cobblestoned streets. Explore the French Quarter, named after the Huguenots who settled here, now home to many art galleries. While in the Quarter stop by the Gibbes Museum of Art. Charleston is an ideal walking city - why not learn as you stroll! Take a tour with Walks of Charleston. Options include Slavery and Freedom, Civil War Walk or Ghosts and Legends. Visit the historic plantation, Middleton Place, with the oldest landscaped gardens in America. (Approximately a 30 min. drive from downtown.) They have a lovely restaurant there with solid fried chicken and shrimp and grits.
See For Yourself
— Quotes From Campus —
“Charleston is the greatest city I’ve ever been in. Shops and eateries are usually very welcoming of the student population, and some places even offer discounts. As far as actual activities go, there is not a whole lot to do downtown. To go to a mall, a movie theater, or the beach, you need to have access to transportation. The good news is the local bus is free for students.”
“With the largest classes being just about 50 students, it is very easy to find time to get assistance from any teacher.”
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FAST FACTS
Established
1770
Mascot
Clyde the Cougar
School Colors
Maroon & White
Acceptance Rate
84%
Common Application
No
Supplement Essays
N/A
Early Action/Decision
Early Action
SAT
Average - 1200
ACT
Average - 25
Type
Public
Size
Medium - 9,500 Undergraduates
Website
Region
Admissions Office
66 George Street
Charleston,SC 29424-0001
(p) (843) 953-5670
admissions@cofc.edu
Sports Divisions
NCAA Division I
Greek Life
Yes
Noteworthy Alumni
Orlando Jones
Erick Avari
SHOP
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
Just toured the College of Charleston Campus? Are you a College of Charleston student, parent or Alumni? Fill out this 2 minute survey to supplement our Daytripper University Guide for College of Charleston!