One of the six senior #military colleges* in the U.S., the focus of The Citadel, established in 1842, is to develop students academically, physically, and morally. All 2300 undergraduate students at “The Military College of South Carolina” are part of the Corps of Cadets and are immersed in a military environment. Another 1000 students attend the graduate school. The core values of this co-ed state-supported #public college are honor, duty, and respect.
* A senior military college is one that offers ROTC under 10 U.S. Code section 2111a.
Location
The 300-acre campus is located in a residential area of Charleston, #SouthCarolina, on the bank of the Ashley River and adjacent to one of the largest parks in the city. Romanesque buildings surround a grassy parade deck in the central part of the campus. Charleston International Airport and the nearest Amtrak station are ten and seven miles away, respectively.
Academics
The Citadel offers cadets 30 majors and 50 minors in one of six schools:
Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business
School of Engineering (with ABET-accredited majors in civil, computer, construction, electrical, and mechanical #engineering)
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics (including a B.S. in #nursing)
Zucker Family School of #Education
Department of Leadership Studies
#Business is the most popular major, followed by Intelligence and Security Studies, Mechanical Engineering, and Criminal Justice. Interesting programs include majors in Cyber Operations and Sports Management and minors in Climate Resiliency and Environmental Sustainability Studies, Southern Studies, and Sport Coaching.
In addition to the general education requirements and courses for their major, undergraduate students also take classes in #leadership, physical education, and #ROTC (Army, Air Force, and Navy/Marine). All first- and second-year students must take a Basic ROTC class each semester. During their third and fourth years, each semester, those who pursue a commission must take Advanced ROTC classes, while those who don’t must enroll in courses designated as “ROTC fulfillment.”
The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1, and over 90% of classes have fewer than 30 students. Selective academic programs include the Citadel #HonorsProgram (which focuses on intellectual discourse), the 1842 Scholars Program (which focuses on leadership), and the Distinguished Scholars Program (which prepares upperclassmen for educational opportunities after graduation). The Citadel Success Institute is an optional summer program for incoming students to help with the transition to college and the Charleston area.
Student Life
All undergraduate students wear military uniforms daily and live in barracks with members of their company, with whom they work out two mornings a week. Cadets must meet specific standards for physical fitness, dress, and behavior. About half are from South Carolina, and only 15% are female.
The Citadel offers eight men's and six women's #NCAADivisionI sports teams, as well as various clubs (including sailing) and intramural sports. Musicians can audition for the 100-member Regimental Band and Pipes that performs throughout the state and beyond. There are numerous clubs, organizations, and religious ministries to choose from.
Cadets are only authorized to leave campus during certain times and must be in uniform within a ten-mile radius of campus, which includes downtown Charleston and ocean beaches, where students can try to find relief from the hot and humid summers. Out-of-state students are matched with sponsor families that give them a local place to call home.
Affordability
Costs for cadets during the 2023-24 academic year are as follows:
Tuition for South Carolina residents: $13,140
Tuition for out-of-state students: $37,940
Leadership lab fees: $1208 for freshmen and $1040 for upper-class students
Room and board: $9,791
Quartermaster Fee (covers uniform, books, and supplies): $9,741 for freshmen and $3123 for upper-class students
The Citadel meets around 70% of cadets' financial need as determined by the FAFSA. 65% of students graduate in four years.
All first-year students are automatically considered for most merit #scholarships, and around 70% of freshmen receive one. Full academic scholarships and scholarships for students in the honors and the 1842 Scholars programs require an additional application and are competitive. Athletic scholarships are also awarded.
Nearly one-third of students earn commissions and receive ROTC scholarships from the Army, Air Force, Space Force, Navy, or Marines. These scholarships cover tuition or room and board as well as a monthly subsistence allowance and textbook allowance (these vary by service). Four-year ROTC scholarship recipients might also receive the National Service Scholarship, which covers the cost of room and up to the cost of board, while three-year scholarship winners might receive the Service to Country Scholarship, which covers up to the full first-year cost of tuition. ROTC scholarship recipients with an SAT score of at least 1200 (or 27 ACT) and a minimum high school GPA of 3.2 are eligible for the Armed Forces Scholarship Program and can receive $3500 each year they receive an ROTC scholarship.
Service obligation
Graduates are not required to be commissioned into any of the branches of the military, though around 33% of them do. The Citadel is one of the largest producers of U.S. military officers. Students on an ROTC scholarship have a service obligation that varies by branch. Non-scholarship cadets who pursued commissioning will have a shorter obligation (the duration varies depending on the branch).
Admissions
To be eligible for admission to The Citadel, students must:
Be between the ages of 17 and 23 on the day of matriculation (mid-to-late August)
Not be married nor be responsible for a child
Not have a criminal record
Pass a medical test before the first day of school
Meet the U.S. Army standard for height and weight (with exceptions)
Prospective applicants apply to The Citadel via its own application or the #CommonApp. Neither SAT/ACT results ( #TestOptional), essays, nor teacher recommendations are required. 98% of applicants are admitted, the average high school GPA is 3.7, and admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. The deadline for full scholarship consideration is March 1. Admitted students must be prepared to pass a fitness test early in the fall semester. Interested students might want to attend the “Inside the Gates” overnight program to help determine if The Citadel is a good fit for them.
I took all the photos on this page during a visit on a beautiful day in February 2024.
Have you visited or attended The Citadel? If so, leave a comment and share your experience.