Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at CSU

6.15%

Applicants - since 2015

36.25%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at CSU over the past 10 years is 64.89%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 96.46%. Compared to the previous year, it became much easier to gain admission to CSU in 2025.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 23.35%, and the 2025 yield is 17.69%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 38.09% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of CSU applicants decreased by 23.25% (1,412 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 6.15% overall.

Key Takeaways: CSU Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 96.46%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that CSU is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 17.69%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at CSU. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, CSU received approximately 4,660 applications, admitted 4,495 students, and enrolled 795 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that CSU is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

CSU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at CSU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 64.89%, while the most recent rate stands at 96.46%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 96.46%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 65.14% and for women is 64.82%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at CSU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 60.21% 60.20% 60.21%
2016-17 60.60%
0.40%
60.80%
0.61%
60.50%
0.29%
2017-18 56.32%
-4.29%
57.04%
-3.77%
55.92%
-4.58%
2018-19 52.05%
-4.26%
53.32%
-3.72%
51.40%
-4.52%
2019-20 49.65%
-2.41%
50.64%
-2.68%
49.15%
-2.25%
2020-21 53.79%
4.14%
55.19%
4.55%
53.15%
4.00%
2021-22 57.01%
3.22%
56.02%
0.83%
58.01%
4.86%
2022-23 86.75%
29.75%
86.16%
30.14%
87.07%
29.05%
2023-24 76.09%
-10.67%
75.78%
-10.38%
76.24%
-10.82%
2024-25 96.46%
20.37%
96.23%
20.45%
96.58%
20.33%
Average 64.89% 65.14% 64.82%
Charleston Southern University Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

CSU has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 28.57% in 2015 to 17.69% in 2025, representing a 38.09% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 23.35%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at CSU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 38.09% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 28.57% 30.95% 27.28%
2016-17 27.12%
-1.45%
30.84%
-0.11%
25.10%
-2.18%
2017-18 27.12%
0.00%
30.18%
-0.66%
25.40%
0.30%
2018-19 25.23%
-1.89%
28.48%
-1.70%
23.47%
-1.93%
2019-20 21.60%
-3.62%
24.02%
-4.47%
20.35%
-3.12%
2020-21 22.67%
1.07%
24.83%
0.81%
21.58%
1.23%
2021-22 30.99%
8.32%
32.95%
8.12%
29.99%
8.41%
2022-23 16.87%
-14.12%
17.54%
-15.40%
16.52%
-13.47%
2023-24 15.69%
-1.18%
17.30%
-0.24%
14.88%
-1.64%
2024-25 17.69%
1.99%
18.67%
1.37%
17.19%
2.31%
Average 23.35% 25.58% 22.18%
Charleston Southern University enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 4,736, the average number of admitted is 3,097, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 682.

The number of CSU applicants decreased by 23.25% (1,412 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 6.15% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Charleston Southern University from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 4,390 2,643 755
2016-17 4,399
0.21%
2,666
0.87%
723
-4.24%
2017-18 4,125
-6.23%
2,323
-12.87%
630
-12.86%
2018-19 4,455
8.00%
2,319
-0.17%
585
-7.14%
2019-20 5,398
21.17%
2,680
15.57%
579
-1.03%
2020-21 4,953
-8.24%
2,664
-0.60%
604
4.32%
2021-22 3,940
-20.45%
2,246
-15.69%
696
15.23%
2022-23 4,967
26.07%
4,309
91.85%
727
4.45%
2023-24 6,072
22.25%
4,620
7.22%
725
-0.28%
2024-25 4,660
-23.25%
4,495
-2.71%
795
9.66%
Average 4,736 3,097 682
Charleston Southern University - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Charleston Southern University' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Charleston Southern University76.09%96.46%26.77%
Gardner-Webb University77.21%87.02%-11.27%
Radford University89.53%90.64%-1.22%
High Point University75.31%76.83%-1.98%
Presbyterian College68.37%72.34%-5.49%
Winthrop University79.25%75.06%5.58%

Ratings & Review

Share your experiences and thoughts about Charleston Southern University. It will be a great help to applicants and prospective students!