Charleston vs. South Carolina: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

Both are South Carolina law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, South Carolina is the more selective admit (median LSAT 162 vs 154); South Carolina posts the higher first-time bar passage (83.25% vs 74.07%); South Carolina is cheaper on sticker tuition ($20,322 vs $48,600); South Carolina places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (93.7% vs 81.4%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricCharlestonSouth CarolinaBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT154162South Carolina
Median undergraduate GPA3.513.67South Carolina
Acceptance rate50.2%29.9%South Carolina
Cost
Resident tuition$48,600$20,322South Carolina
Non-resident tuition$48,600$38,100South Carolina
Median grant$20,000$12,562Charleston
Bar passage
First-time bar passage74.07%83.25%South Carolina
Two-year ultimate bar passage84.91%86.67%South Carolina
Bar passage vs. state average-2.8 pts+7.4 ptsSouth Carolina
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment81.4%93.7%South Carolina
Large-firm (250+) employment2%14.7%South Carolina
Federal clerkships0.5%1.6%South Carolina

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 77.46% in 2011 to 74.07% in 202540%50%60%70%80%111315182022242574.07%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Charleston — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 86.58% in 2011 to 83.25% in 202575%80%85%90%111315182022242583.25%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
South Carolina — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $36,774 in 2011 to $48,600 in 2025$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,0001113151719212325$48,600
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Charleston — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $21,026 in 2011 to $20,322 in 2025$15,000$20,000$25,000$30,000$35,0001113151719212325$20,322
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
South Carolina — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

Charleston full profile · South Carolina full profile · All South Carolina law schools

FAQ

Is Charleston or South Carolina harder to get into?

South Carolina is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 162 against Charleston's 154.

Which is cheaper, Charleston or South Carolina?

South Carolina is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $20,322 versus Charleston's $48,600.

Which has better bar passage, Charleston or South Carolina?

South Carolina has the higher first-time bar passage, 83.25% against Charleston's 74.07%.

Which has better job outcomes, Charleston or South Carolina?

South Carolina places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (93.7% vs 81.4%).

Charleston vs South Carolina: which is better?

It depends on what you weigh — the table above shows where each wins. Across the four headline measures (selectivity, sticker cost, first-time bar passage, and JD employment), South Carolina leads on more of them, but read the row that matters most to you rather than the count.

Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 26, 2026.

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