Coastal Carolina University (CCU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

For students who want to get their feet wet in coastal and marine studies, Coastal Carolina University offers the right programs at the right location.

Founded in 1954 as the Coastal Carolina Junior College it changed to its current name in 1993 . Located in Conway, S.C., near the lovely vacation area of Myrtle Beach, the university has an acclaimed coastal and marine studies program and as a sea grant university owns a portion of Waties Island, a barrier island on the Carolina coast which provides students with many research and learning opportunities.

This comprehensive liberal arts university has 66 bachelor’s degree programs, including recent additions such as biochemistry, economics, information systems, theatre arts, criminology, social justice, musical theatre, graphic design and health and aging. The university also has seven master’s degree programs.

Videos

Information Summary

Ranks 16th in South Carolina and 1016th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	80.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$25,520
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	24 / 1170
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	19 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	69% / 33%
Enrollment Total (all students)	10,641

Academics

Undergraduate

Incoming students will be required to complete the Core Curriculum, which is usually accomplished by the end of the sophomore year. These courses give students a firm liberal arts background, designed to enhance their critical thinking, communication, and inquiry skills. Before graduation, students must pass classes in the natural sciences, math, humanities, global studies, and the fine arts.

The university also developed an undergraduate research program, allowing students to take part in research with faculty to help prepare for graduate studies, if they are heading down that education path.

The university also has a golf course management program, one of just a handful accredited by the PGA of America. Students here have a pretty good opportunity for interaction with faculty. The university has an 18 to 1 student to faculty ratio, and about 36 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students. The faculty is well-seasoned, about four-fifths have a doctorate in their field.

Graduate Studies

The school recently added a doctorate program consisting of a Ph.D in Marine Sciences: Coastal and Marine Systems Science. Also, there are seven masters programs: Business Administration, Accountancy, Science in Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies, Arts in Education, Education in Educational Leadership, Education Learning and Teaching, and Arts in Writing.

Marine Studies

The university consists of 69 buildings on 631 acres, including the Burroughs and Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland studies, which is located off the main campus at the university’s Atlantic Center. The Burroughs and Chapin Center has been around since 1988 and provides marine and wetland study opportunities. Research by the center has proved invaluable to many resource and coastal management programs in the Carolinas and elsewhere.

The university recently partnered with the North Carolina Land Trust to monitor water quality on Lake Waccamaw and the North Carolina segment of the Waccamaw River. The center has also been active since 2009 in studying the viability of wind energy.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Gallery

Admissions

There is a selective admissions policy and potential students are screened on a variety of factors. Students applying to the college should submit high school transcripts and standardized test scores. The university also takes recommendations and documentation of participation in civic and other organizations into consideration. Students applying to the college should have a full high school college preparatory curriculum as outlined by the state of South Carolina under their belts, or have completed remediation at a community college.

The majority of students admitted to Coastal Carolina University had a high school GPA of 2.9 or higher. The average SAT score was 920 or higher, the average ACT was 24 or higher.

For transfer students, programs in the college do have a selective admissions process that takes into account things such as college GPA, prerequisite courses, etc. It is advisable to check with an advisor prior to applying.

Financial Aid

Students are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of South Carolina, the college, and other organizations that students may be eligible for.

Scholarships

For example, the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship provides up to $6,700 for freshmen and $7,500 for upperclassmen for South Carolina residents who have a minimum high school GPA of 3.5, score a 1200 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT and rank in the top 6 percent of their high school graduating class. The Palmetto LIFE Scholarship provides $5,000 per year to freshmen who score a 1100 on the SAT or 24 on the ACT, have a 3.0 GPA and rank in the top 30 percent of their high school class. The President’s scholarship provides $4,000 for in-state students and $7,500 for out-of-state students. To qualify, in-state students must have a high school GPA of 3.5, and have scored a 1250 or better on the SAT or a 27 on the ACT. Out-of-state students must have a 3.5 GPA and have scored a 1300 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT.

Other Financial Aid

In total, about 64 percent of students here receive some sort of financial aid. These are just some of the scholarships available at Coastal Carolina University. Academic performance is not the sole criteria for all scholarships, some take many other factors into consideration, including ethnicity, career path, etc.

The college’s office of financial aid also stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships they may be eligible for. The school’s website has a helpful list of scholarships that students can use to see which awards they may be eligible for.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 941st for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in South Carolina.

Students

On campus, there’s plenty for students to do. The university has more than 70 clubs and organizations students can participate in, including academic and career groups, as well as special interest groups. About 7 percent of students participate in Greek life—there are 10 fraternities and eight sororities on campus.

The university recently began construction on a new student center. When complete, the $30 million, 128,000 sq. ft. facility will house a convocation center for basketball games and commencement and other activities and a student recreation center complete with swimming pool, indoor track and field, climbing wall and other fitness-related activities.

The university’s newspaper is the Chanticleer, and the university also publishes literary reviews. Students can also participate in a university television and radio station.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The Chanticleers, or Chants wear the team colors of teal, bronze and black and participate in the NCAA Division I school and are members of the Big South Conference. The school has had a track record of athletic success in a variety of sports over the years and regularly competes with other Big South colleges and universities for the Sasser Cup, an award given to the school with the best record of athletic success for the year, which they have won nine times.

The university offers men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, track and field, soccer and tennis; and women’s softball, basketball, cross country, volleyball, golf, track and field, soccer and tennis.

Golf

The university also runs a public 18-hole golf course, the Quail Creek Golf Club, which is on land adjacent to the university’s main campus.

Traditions

The university hosts Family Weekend each November and is a big campus tradition. The event helps keep the connection between home and school strong and is filled with exciting events for students and their families.

Local Community

With its proximity to the resort city of Myrtle Beach, students will never lack for entertainment opportunities. Myrtle Beach is a major tourist destination, with more than 14 million visitors annually. The city offers beaches, shopping destinations, tourist attractions, and entertainment venues. Home to the Carolina Opry, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, the Hard Rock Café park, and other destinations, the area offers plenty of opportunities for students living in Conway to enjoy the beach and entertainment opportunities.

Accreditation

Accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Coastal Carolina University