United States Military Academy vs The Citadel
In the realm of military education, two esteemed institutions stand out: United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and Citadel Military College of South Carolina. While both offer rigorous academic programs and a strong sense of military tradition, they also possess distinct characteristics that set them apart. With acceptance rates of 11% and 30%, respectively, USMA is more selective in its admissions process. USMA's student body is predominantly male (89%) and White (73%), while Citadel's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of female (38%) and African American (13%) students. Both institutions offer a range of popular majors, including engineering, social sciences, and business, but USMA boasts a higher graduation rate (87%) compared to Citadel's 67%. To help you make an informed decision about your military education, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table
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![]() Citadel Military College of South Carolina |
![]() United States Military Academy |
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Overview |
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Location | Charleston, South Carolina | West Point, New York |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 86.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 86.4% | 10.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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SAT range | N/A | 1200 - 1440 |
ACT range | N/A | 28 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 78.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 62.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,470 | 13,955 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,134 | 1,488 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 566 | 1,201 |
Yield rate | 26.5% | 80.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$48,551
Out of state:
$71,807
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Average net price | $19,473 | |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,356
Out of state:
$30,857
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Room & board | $7,593 | |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
79.0%
Average amount $11,451 |
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Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,200 |
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Students taking out private loans |
17.0%
Average amount $26,781 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,718
Men 86.4% Women 13.6% |
4,594
Men 76.3% Women 23.7% |
Graduate students |
975
Men 50.1% Women 49.9% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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N/A |
Out-of-state students | 44.0% | 93.8% |
International students | 1.1% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 2,372 | 4,700 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Carolina Georgia North Carolina Florida New York | Texas California New York Florida New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | EXEMPT |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 73.1% | 83.6% |
Dropout rate | 9.1% | 12.9% |
Transferred out | 16.0% | 3.3% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
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N/A |
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