The Class of 2017 was selected from a record number of applicants to the College of Charleston. More than 50 students are coming from each of the following states: Conn., Fla., Ga., Md., Mass., N.J., N.Y., Penn., N.C., and Va. #CougarNation welcomes these world competitors, globe trotters, and entrepreneurs!
Class of 2017: By the Numbers *
| 2,127 | Number of freshmen | ||
| 44 | Number of states represented in addition to the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands | ||
| 9 | Number of countries represented | ||
| 13 | Number of students born on February 3, 1995 or October 6, 1994 | ||
| 93 | Number of students from one state other than S.C. (N.J.) | ||
| 4,932 | Number of miles traveled to the College of Charleston by the student who lives farthest away (from St. Petersburg, Russia). | ||
| 35 | Highest ACT score | ||
| 1600 | Highest SAT score | ||
| 5.322 | Highest GPA | ||
| 845 | Number of transfers and readmitted students | ||
| 945 | Number of different high schools attended |
Class of 2017: A Closer Look
- Most common female students’ names: Sarah, Lauren and Emily.
- Most common male students’ names: Matthew, John and William.
- Top names that males and females share: Taylor, Jordan, Austin.
- Most popular birth months: May and September (both with 207 students)
- Largest South Carolina feeder high schools: Wando High School (79), James L. Mann High School (25), Charleston County School of the Arts (22), Hilton Head Island High School (21), James Island Charter High School (21), Bishop England High School (19), Mauldin High School (19), Lexington High School (17), Socastee High School (15), and Hillcrest High School (15).
- Largest out of state feeder high schools: Manasquan High School, N.J. (6), South Mecklenburg High School, N.C. (6), Staples High School, Conn. (6), Myers Park High School, N.C. (5), New Canaan High School, Conn., Westfield High School, N.J. (5).
- Most popular South Carolina hometowns: Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Simpsonville, and Summerville.
- Most popular out of state hometowns: Atlanta, Ga., Charlotte, N.C., New York, N.Y., Raleigh, N.C., and New Canaan, Conn.
- Students are coming from the following countries: UK, France, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, Russia, Mexico, Cyprus, and Germany.
The Class of 2017 includes:
- Nine sets of twins
- Seven Eagle Scouts
- Three students who have already started their own businesses
- Both the valedictorian and salutatorian from R.B. Stall High School in North Charleston, S.C.
- A Junior Olympic sailor
- A student who started a non-profit (Schools Helping Schools)
- An Irish dancing world competitor
- A descendent of one of the first Huguenot families in Charleston
- A student who started a beehive from scratch
- A BMX racer
- A student who has completed 1,000 hours of community service
- A student who earned her associate degree at the same time as her high school diploma
- A competitive figure skater
- A student who rode on her bike from Seattle to San Francisco in four weeks (and got a concussion on the way!)
- A state champion in ice hockey
- A mock trial competitor who was ranked 12th in the world
- Sixteen students who participated in both SPECTRA and are part of the Honors College
- Three Honors College students participated in a gap year; one traveled to Morocco, one to France, and the third ran his family’s business
Class of 2017: Academic Profile *
The middle 50 percent of freshmen accepted for fall 2013:
- Scored between 1080 and 1220 (in-state), and 1090 and 1230 (out-of-state) on the SAT.
- Scored between 22 and 27 (in-state), and 24 and 28 (out-of-state) on the ACT.
- Graduated in the top 20 percent of the class.
- Had consistent academic achievement in the A/B range.
| 20 | Number of valedictorians ** | ||
| 23 | Number of salutatorians ** | ||
| 148 | Number of Palmetto Fellows | ||
| 2 | National Achievement Scholars | ||
| 5 | National Merit Program Scholars |
** 24 of these Valedictorians and Salutatorians are from South Carolina Public Schools; and 41% are students of color.
Honors College: Class of 2017 Academic Profile *
| 172 | Total number of freshman | ||
| 1350 | Average SAT | ||
| 30 | Average ACT | ||
| 4.43 | Average GPA weighted | ||
| 94% | Average percent rank in class | ||
| 95 | Number of in-state students | ||
| 77 | Number of out of state students |
Honors College: William Aiken Fellows Society Profile *
The William Aiken Fellows Society is a group of highly capable students who have the potential to successfully pursue national and international opportunities reserved for top scholars. Throughout their college careers, William Aiken Fellows work closely with the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards and participate in numerous programs designed to create leadership opportunities, enrich their academic experience and prepare them for graduate work and beyond.
| 26 | Total number of students | ||
| 1450 | Average SAT Score | ||
| 32 | Average ACT Score | ||
| 4.46 | Average GPA weighted | ||
| 10 | International Scholars | ||
| 4 | Huge Scholars | ||
| 9 | Swanson Scholars | ||
| 1 | Newell Scholars | ||
| 1 | Pinckney Scholars | ||
| 11 | Number of in-state students | ||
| 15 | Number of out of state students |
Class of 2017: Beloit Mindset
Each August for the past 14 years, Beloit College in Beloit, Wis., has released the Beloit College Mindset List. It provides a look at the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college. See what Beloit says about the Class of 2017.
* This information is preliminary and should not be considered official data.
