College of Charleston

College of Charleston is a public university located in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in the eighteenth century, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States and the oldest in South Carolina. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs across the arts and sciences, business, education, and health and human performance. Its historic urban campus is integrated into downtown Charleston, providing close connections to cultural institutions, government, and local industries. Students are often drawn to College of Charleston for its liberal arts foundation, coastal location, and opportunities for research, internships, and community engagement within a midsize public university setting.

College of Charleston was founded in 1770 in Charleston, South Carolina, making it the oldest institution of higher learning in the state. Established during the colonial period, the college was formally chartered by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1785. Robert Smith was elected as its first president in 1786. In its early years, College of Charleston educated young men in classical studies and reflected the civic leadership of the city. The campus developed through the nineteenth century, though operations were disrupted during the Civil War and Reconstruction. The institution reopened and gradually expanded its academic offerings. In the twentieth century, College of Charleston transitioned from a private college supported by the city to a public institution within the state system. It admitted its first African American students in 1968 and has since grown into a comprehensive public university with undergraduate and graduate programs.