Are private Christian universities affordable?

A college education is a significant and important investment. Even with various financial aid options, you may be considering whether attending a private university is worth the cost. While we believe a Christ-centered education is invaluable, a recent study by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, of which Charleston Southern is a member, confirms that your degree will have a high return on investment. CCCU institutions are responsible for a staggering $60 billion in economic impact each year. Read the full report for additional findings.

When you take advantage of competitive financial aid, attending a private university can actually be more affordable than a public institution. Only 12 percent of freshmen at private institutions pay full price tuition. Use our net price calculator to estimate the cost of financial aid options for full-time first-time freshman students to attend a year at the university.

CSU is committed to offering students a quality education and experience at the lowest possible cost. Our university has been consistently ranked on America’s 100 Best College Buys and Best Christian Colleges lists. More than 95 percent of students at CSU receive financial aid grants, scholarships and loans. CSU awarded more than $77 million total in financial aid, including federal, state, private and institutional aid, during the 2017-2018 academic year. Be sure to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to receive maximum consideration for aid. 

Consider all financial aid options available at CSU:

• All students who have been accepted to CSU are evaluated for institutional merit-based scholarships based on GPA and SAT/ACT scores as well as involvement in athletics, music and extracurricular activities. As a Christian university, we are able to offer unique ministry-related scholarships for those qualified.
• South Carolina State Scholarships, awarded based on academic and financial need, may be available to South Carolina residents who attend college at a South Carolina institution, such as the C. Tuition Grant, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, S.C. LIFE Scholarship and more. If you are a first-time freshman who does not live in South Carolina, we offer an out-of-state grant of $2,000 per year.
• For qualified applicants, federal assistance includes need-based grants, subsidized and unsubsidized loans, parent (PLUS) loans, Perkins loans and federal work-study programs. The private college student loan default rate is much lower (7.4 percent) than the public college rate (11.3 percent), according to Forbes.
• After applying for federal, state and institutional aid, there are numerous opportunities for qualified students to receive scholarships from outside or private entities. Visit our website to see a list of scholarships we recommend checking out.

For more information about financial aid, visit charlestonsouthern.edu/financialaid. And be sure to check out one of the many opportunities to tour our lovely campus, meet professors from various backgrounds and experience student life at CSU. Go to charlestonsouthern.edu/firstlook for more information.

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