College of Charleston Prepares for Record Incoming Class

By: CofC Media

The College of Charleston is anticipating a record incoming class for the fall 2023 semester, providing further evidence of the university’s growing national reputation for academics, student life and affordability.

More than 26,500 students applied to the College for the 2023-24 academic year, a 17% increase over last year. Nearly 6,000 applications came from underrepresented minority students.

“The College of Charleston brand has never been stronger,” says President Andrew T. Hsu. “Given this increased demand, our incoming students and their families should be quite proud of their place in the fall class.”

Offices all across the downtown campus are busy this summer preparing for both incoming and returning students. The College’s total enrollment for fall is expected to be around its historical average of approximately 11,000 students. The first day of classes for fall is Aug. 22.

“Our dedicated faculty and staff have been working behind the scenes for months to make sure we can meet the educational, housing, staffing and support needs of all our students,” says Hsu. “We are ready and looking forward to another great year.”

College of Charleston officials say students bring vitality and diversity to the city and help to strengthen its knowledge-based economy. From jobs and internships to civic engagement and volunteerism, students give back to the city in innumerable ways. In addition, students and their families provide a significant economic boost to the city and region through spending on hotels, apartments, restaurants, household furnishings, clothing and entertainment.

The College’s first summer orientation sessions kicked off last week and will continue throughout June and July. Residence hall move-in begins Aug. 16.

Like many urban campuses around the country, the College has seen increased demand for on-campus housing as rates for off-campus housing continue to rise, says Hsu. “We know that students who live on campus perform better academically, so we are always planning for the long term to meet the demand. The availability of more beds on campus also gives us the flexibility to systematically take existing residence halls offline for routine maintenance and renovations.”

McAlister Residence Hall, the College’s largest, will be back online for fall 2023 following a one-year renovation. The College is also in the process of soliciting bids for new on-campus housing.

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