# College of Charleston

> liberal arts college in Charleston, South Carolina, USA

**Wikidata**: [Q4507421](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4507421)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_Charleston)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/college-of-charleston

## Summary
The College of Charleston is a public liberal arts college in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 1770, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. It is part of the University of South Carolina system and is recognized for its historic campus and academic programs.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1770 as a private institution; became public in 1970.
- Enrolls approximately 10,000 students (as of 2021), with 1,858 employees (2020).
- Endowment of $124 million (2022) and $135 million (2021).
- Designated a National Historic Landmark (1971) and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the American Council on Education.
- Athletics program: Charleston Cougars (NCAA Division I).

## FAQs
### Q: When was the College of Charleston founded?
A: The College of Charleston was founded in 1770, making it the oldest institution of higher education in South Carolina.

### Q: Is the College of Charleston public or private?
A: It is a public institution, part of the University of South Carolina system since 1970.

### Q: How many students attend the College of Charleston?
A: As of 2021, the college enrolls approximately 10,013 students, with 10,384 reported in 2020.

### Q: Is the campus historically significant?
A: Yes, the campus was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

## Why It Matters
The College of Charleston holds historical significance as one of the oldest colleges in the U.S., playing a pivotal role in preserving and advancing liberal arts education. Its public status ensures accessibility to higher education, while its historic campus contributes to Charleston’s cultural and architectural heritage. The college’s academic offerings, research affiliations (e.g., Oak Ridge Associated Universities), and membership in prestigious organizations underscore its commitment to scholarly excellence and community engagement.

## Notable For
- Oldest institution of higher education in South Carolina (founded 1770).
- Historic campus featuring Randolph Hall, a National Historic Landmark.
- Recognized for strong programs in computer science, led by faculty like Dr. William Byrd and Dr. Anthony Leclerc.
- Competitive athletics program (Charleston Cougars) in NCAA Division I.
- Consistently ranked for academic quality, with a 74% admission rate (2020) and 18% yield rate.

## Body
### History
- **Founding**: Established in 1770 as the "College of Charleston" by an act of the South Carolina Provincial Congress.
- **Public Transition**: Became a public institution in 1970, joining the University of South Carolina system.

### Academics
- **Classification**: Liberal arts college with a focus on undergraduate studies; classified by Carnegie as a "master's college/university" with "very high undergraduate" research activity.
- **Faculty**: Notable faculty include computer scientists Dr. William Edward Byrd (Ph.D., Indiana University) and Dr. Anthony Pascal Leclerc (Ph.D., Ohio State University).
- **Accreditation**: Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

### Campus
- **Location**: 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424-0001 (32.7842° N, 79.9381° W).
- **Landmarks**: Randolph Hall, a National Historic Landmark, anchors the campus.

### Enrollment & Statistics
- **Students**: 10,013 (2021, full-time equivalent); 10,384 total (2020).
- **Admissions**: 74% acceptance rate (2020); 18% yield rate (2020).
- **Endowment**: $124 million (2022), $135 million (2021).

### Athletics
- **Teams**: Charleston Cougars (NCAA Division I), competing in the Colonial Athletic Association.

### Affiliations
- **Memberships**: Association of American Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, National Humanities Alliance.
- **Research**: Affiliate of Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

### Recognition
- **Awards**: Ranked among top regional universities in the South by *U.S. News & World Report*.
- **Heritage**: One of the oldest municipal colleges in the U.S., with a campus reflecting Georgian and Federal architectural styles.

## References

1. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120073011/https://secure.aacu.org/iMIS/AACUR/Membership/MemberListAACU.aspx)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120080233/https://acememberdirectory.azurewebsites.net/)
6. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240126121019/https://nhalliance.org/about/members/)
7. Czech National Authority Database
8. MusicBrainz
9. [Source](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks/list-of-nhls-by-state.htm#onthisPage-40)
10. National Register of Historic Places
11. GeoNames
12. Freebase Data Dumps
13. [Source](http://www.cofc.edu)
14. [U.S. and Canadian 2022 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2022 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY21 to FY22, and FY22 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student (Excel). National Association of College and University Business Officers. 2023](https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2022/Public-NTSE-Tables)
15. GRID Release 2015-12-14
16. GRID Release 2016-12-06
17. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
18. Quora
19. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
20. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
21. [U.S. and Canadian 2022 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2022 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY21 to FY22, and FY22 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student (Excel). 2023](https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2022/Public-NTSE-Tables)
22. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
23. Name Suggestion Index
24. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
25. National Center for Education Statistics