Coastal Carolina University
Incredible value, attractive location and strong relationships set Coastal Carolina University apart. A public liberal arts institution, just minutes from the resort area of Myrtle Beach, CCU is sharply focused on results-oriented student success.
Coastal Carolina University is a dynamic, public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, just minutes from the resort area of Myrtle Beach, S.C. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the baccalaureate degree and master's degree; currently offering 55 areas of study toward the baccalaureate degree and seven master's degree programs in education, writing, coastal marine and wetland studies, and the MBA. CCU is seeking approval for a Ph.D. program in Marine Science and is investing more than one million dollars in a new research vessel in support of marine science. On our campus, more than 9,000 students from across the country and the world interact with a world-class faculty, and enjoy a nationally competitive NCAA I athletic program, an inspiring cultural calendar, and a tradition of community interaction that is fueled by more than 120 student clubs and organizations.
The University comprises 72 main buildings on 630 acres including the Coastal Science Center and the Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, located on the East Campus in the Atlantic Center on U.S. 501, and The General James Hackler Golf Course at Coastal Carolina University, a public 18-hole golf facility located adjacent to the campus. This Golf Course supports our PGA certified professional golf program as well as student, faculty, and public use. The University also offers courses at the Waccamaw Center for Higher Education in Litchfield and the Myrtle Beach Education Center. Waties Island, 1,105 acres of pristine barrier island on the Atlantic coast, provides a natural laboratory for extensive study in marine science and wetlands biology.
Engaged Students
A central focus of the mission of Coastal Carolina University is to prepare our students to both excel in the classroom and to succeed in life. An essential part of our educational mission is to engage our students in hands-on learning that bridges the gap between theory and practice which provides them with the critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary for a fruitful and fulfilling life both personally and professionally. In order to achieve this goal more effectively, the university has created Experienced@Coastal which is an integrated approach to student engagement. This initiative brings experiential learning to the center of our educational culture by building on our strong tradition of active learning through undergraduate research, internships, international experiences, and community engagement.
CCU students can expect to engage in collaborative research with faculty and peers in a number of venues. This past year, our students have performed over 1,500 undergraduate research projects and have made well over 200 conference presentations both on campus and at regional, national and international conferences. Our annual undergraduate research competition and biennial Celebration of Inquiry conference are but two of the many opportunities available to our students to perform and present their research, scholarship and creative activities. Our students regularly present at both the Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium and at the National Council for Undergraduate Research Conference in addition to the national and international discipline specific conferences.
Internships provide an excellent opportunity to develop both personal and job-related skills. During the 2011-2012 academic years, our students were offered over 1,200 internship opportunities related to their major and career interest with over 500 employers. Our approach to internships spans the globe ranging from students participating with local employers, high profile national employers such as the U.S. Marshal Service, and international employers such as Citi Group. Coastal Carolina University has witnessed a steady growth of internship opportunities in all academic disciplines campus-wide. Through the efforts of the Career Services Internship Coordinator, a new CCU Internship Program was developed and a Director of Internships and Service Learning was hired in recent years to continue to foster that growth.
To ensure that our students develop a global perspective and are prepared for life in the 21st century, we offer a variety of opportunities for international studies and experiences ranging from semester-long study abroad, to individual courses with an international travel component. CCU has entered into bilateral agreements with universities and colleges in 9 countries and 20+ short and long term exchange sites including England, France, Australia, Austria, Germany, Ecuador, Spain, and Japan. The Office of International Programs and Services actively promotes study, work, and travel programs for students wishing to visit other countries. In 2011-2012 more than 150 students and 25 faculty participated in study abroad programs. The Wall College of Business is the only U.S. Business College to be admitted to the Consortium of Double Degree Programs, headquartered in France.
Great Teaching
Coastal Carolina University is a place where integrity and excellence are central to the student experience. As part of that experience, students find a thoughtful and welcoming community where student ideas and aspirations are nurtured. With a world-class faculty and dedicated staff, CCU offers a premier student experience to encourage success in the classroom and in the world. Approximately 79% of our faculty hold doctoral or terminal degrees in their field. The low faculty to student ratio of 17 to 1 ensures close interaction between faculty and students.
At Coastal Carolina University, we nurture a richly textured environment of creativity and discovery for our faculty and students. University research, an activity that supports university teaching, opens new pathways to interpret and understand our world. Whether in the classroom, the laboratory, on stage, or in the field, undergraduate and graduate students work side by side with scientists, scholars, educators, visual and performing artists, and others engaged in research, innovation, and performance.
The Coastal Carolina University campus is technology-rich and continuously growing. Several new buildings are currently under construction including the Bryan Information Commons, a new building attached to the current library, which will include 24 hour services such as laptop and work station computers and physical spaces designed to support both individual and small group study efforts of students.
Vibrant Community
At Coastal Carolina University, we nurture a richly textured environment of creativity and discovery for our faculty and students. CCU believes the student experience is enhanced by activities and programs outside of the classroom. There are 138 clubs and organizations offering opportunity for participation in student government, academic and professional organizations, sports, honor societies, Greek life, and a variety of special interest groups. Clubs and organizations on campus have more than doubled during the past five years.
2012 marked the 10th Celebration of Inquiry (COI) for CCU. The celebration is a campus-wide event open to the public that showcases a variety of student, faculty, staff and community presentations, exhibits, performances, roundtable discussions, poster sessions and media related to a common theme, which is created anew each year. The theme for COI 2012 was From Curiosity to Exploration - Linking, Knowing & Doing.
Last year more than 1,000 participants and nearly 70 teams surpassed the American Cancer Society's fundraising goal of $80,000 and CCU's goal of $90,000, with a total $111,000 raised as of April 13. CCU was the first Relay for Life in the state to reach the goal set by the American Cancer Society.
This year marked the 4th Undergraduate Research Competition enabling undergraduate students from all disciplines and majors the opportunity to present their University research at a venue outside their regular classroom. Presentations are judged by CCU faculty on such factors as originality, methodology, evidence of research, clarity and organization.
The cultural arts program at CCU complements the academic experience for students and enriches the quality of life in the community and region by offering a dynamic and diverse calendar of cultural events. The 2011-2012 cultural calendar was stronger than ever with 87 events including public performances, exhibits, theatrical productions and musical entertainment.
Successful Outcomes
Coastal Carolina University's mission is to develop students who are not only knowledgeable in their chosen field, but who are also prepared to become productive, responsible citizens. The active learning community prepares students for professional careers and graduate programs, and encourages a continued connection to CCU.
Marine science has been one of the most popular majors for the past decade; its distinguished faculty provides students, largely undergraduates, with remarkable research opportunities. Studies conducted by the University's Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies play a vital role in shaping public policy relating to coastal resource management issues not only along the South Carolina coast but other U.S. shorelines as well. The Center is a currently a major participant in a statewide study exploring the viability of offshore wind energy production.
The University's E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business' reputation for high achievement is exemplified by its Wall Fellows program, an elite leadership program that cultivates top students for high-level careers. In recent years, Wall Fellow graduates have been accepted for 
positions at such prestigious international firms as Rolls-Royce, Deloitte & Touche, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
More than 200 students are enrolled in the University's PGA Golf Management Program, created in response to the needs of the thriving golfing industry in the Myrtle Beach area. Coastal Carolina University's program is one of only 20 in the nation that is accredited by the PGA of America.
A majority of teachers who work for the Horry County School District have received degrees or pursued college coursework at Coastal Carolina University. Horry County School District is the third largest in the state and serves more than 39,000 students.
Coastal Carolina University is a public comprehensive liberal arts university which offers baccalaureate degrees in 55 major fields of study including degrees and specialized degree concentrations, as well as seven master degrees.
Web site
www.coastal.edu
Location
Conway, SC
Student Profile
9,084 students from 47 states and
48 countries (8,517 undergraduates)
46% male
54% female
Faculty Profile
Full-time faculty members: 355
Part-time faculty members: 268
Student: Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Resident Life
87% of first-time, first-year freshmen live in college-owned, -operated, or –affiliated housing
39% of undergraduate students live in college-owned, -operated, or –affiliated housing
Athletics
NCAA Division I / Big South
Men’s intercollegiate teams (8):
- baseball
- basketball
- cross country
- football
- golf
- soccer
- tennis
- outdoor track and field
Women’s intercollegiate teams (10):
- basketball
- cross country
- golf
- indoor track and field
- outdoor track and field
- soccer
- softball
- tennis
- volleyball
- women’s lacrosse
Mascot:
Our mascot is the Chanticleer, the crafty, quick-thinking rooster from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Colors:
Teal and Bronze
Academic Programs
http://www.coastal.edu/admissions/programs.html
Costs and Aid
2011-2012
- In-state tuition: $9,760 per year
- Out-of-state tuition: $21,560 per year
- Housing/Meals: $7,050 - $9,550 per year
Number of students awarded any financial aid: 5,420 (63.6%)
Endowment
$25 million
More Distinctions
- For the past two years, Coastal Carolina University has been named one of "America's Best Colleges” by Forbes Magazine.
- U.S. News and World Report recognized CCU as one of the top regional universities in the South
- G.I. Jobs Magazine named CCU a “Military-Friendly School.”
Admissions
Coastal Carolina University considers applications for admission based on overall performance in high school courses, grades in the 19 core courses that are required for admission and SAT and/or ACT scores. If you take a test more than once, your best score will be considered. The following high school courses are required for admission:
- 4 units of English
- 4 units of math (includes Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, and a higher level math course)
- 3 units of laboratory science (for which biology and/or chemistry is a prerequisite)
- 2 units of the same foreign language
- 3 units of social science (U.S. history is required; 1/2 unit of economics and 1/2 unit of government is required of all South Carolina high school graduates)
- 1 unit of fine arts
- 1 elective (must be a college preparatory class)
- 1 unit of PE or ROTC
The deadlines for applications are:
- Priority deadline for applications: December 1
- After December 1, applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis
- Priority deadline for scholarships: acceptance by January 1
An overview of the freshman class profile for fall 2011:
- More than 10,000 applications for 2,100 spots
- 74% of applicants were offered admission
- Middle 50% GPA range: 3.0 - 3.7
- Middle 50% SAT range (critical reading and math only): 930 - 1070
- Middle 50% ACT range: 20 - 23
Financial Aid
Tuition and fees at Coastal Carolina University for the 2011-2012 academic year were $9,820 for in-state students and $21,560 for out-of-state students, while room and board was $7,700. Types of financial assistance available include grants, scholarships, loans, student employment, and a tuition payment plan.
Approximately 68.7% of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid. The average need-based scholarship or grant award is $4,972. Merit-based scholarships are also available and include:
- President's Scholarship
- Provost's Scholarship
- Coastal Scholar Award
- Honors Program Award
- Coastal Transfer Award
- Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship
- Professional Golf Management Program Scholars Award
Coastal Carolina University
PO Box 261954
Conway, SC 29528
800-277-7000
School Website:
www.coastal.edu
Admissions Contact E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it