The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
Founded in 1842 in Charleston, The Citadel is one of the six senior military colleges of the United States — a public, 24/7 military college where cadets live in barracks, wear uniforms and train like soldiers, yet graduate with no obligation to serve. This complete guide covers admissions, the step-by-step application process, academic programmes, costs and career outcomes.
Directory Information
| Full name | The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina |
| Location | Charleston, South Carolina, United States |
| Official address | 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409, United States |
| Phone | 843-225-3294 |
| Official website | citadel.edu |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Type | Public senior military college (state of South Carolina) |
| Guiding principles | Core values: Honor, Duty, Respect (the college has no formal motto) |
| Cadet strength | Approximately 2,300 cadets in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets |
About & History
The Citadel traces its origins to 1822, when the South Carolina Legislature created an arsenal in Charleston to guard the city after the discovery of a planned slave rebellion. Two decades later, in December 1842, the legislature transformed that arsenal into the South Carolina Military Academy — the institution the world now knows as The Citadel. The first cadets reported on 20 March 1843.
History arrived early and dramatically. In January 1861, Citadel cadets fired on the Union supply ship Star of the West, firing some of the opening shots of the American Civil War. Alumni have since served in every American conflict, and graduates have become generals and admirals, governors, senators, ambassadors and business leaders in numbers far out of proportion to the college’s small size.
Today The Citadel is one of only two remaining 24/7 military colleges in the country outside the federal service academies. Every undergraduate is a member of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets: all live in the barracks, eat in the mess hall, wear uniforms on and around campus, and follow a military daily routine of morning formation, classes, afternoon training and study hours. The college’s mission is the education and development of principled leaders, built on three core values: Honor, Duty and Respect. The cadet honour code — “a cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do” — anchors academic life.
Ranked the #1 Regional University in the South and named the Best Public University in the South for 16 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report, The Citadel also holds the title of Best Public College for Veterans in the South. Its graduates carry a reputation for discipline and leadership that employers recognise across the country.
Programmes Offered
The South Carolina Corps of Cadets offers a full four-year undergraduate education with 31 majors, 57 minors and pre-health and pre-law tracks, taught at an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The five academic schools and some of their flagship majors are:
- School of Engineering — Civil & Environmental Engineering, Construction Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.
- Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business — Accounting, Finance, Management & Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Economics.
- Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics — Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Mathematics & Data Analytics, Physics, Nursing, Computer Science and Cyber Operations.
- School of Humanities & Social Sciences — Criminal Justice, English, History, Intelligence & Security Studies, Modern Languages, Political Science, Psychology.
- Zucker Family School of Education — teacher education and education studies programmes.
All cadets complete ROTC training — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force detachments all operate on campus — alongside their academic major. Signature experiences include the Honours Programme, the Distinguished Scholars Program, study-abroad opportunities (including The Citadel in DC), and the College Success Institute, a four-week summer transition programme for incoming freshmen. The Citadel Graduate College separately serves another ~1,000 civilian evening and online students, but the Corps of Cadets is a fully residential, full-time undergraduate programme.
Admission Requirements
Admission is rolling and test-optional, with no personal essay and no teacher recommendation required. The college publishes eight formal requirements for incoming freshmen:
- High school graduation. You must be a high school graduate or hold a GED.
- Completed application and fee. Submit the completed application for admission, ideally during your junior year or very early in your senior year of high school.
- High school transcripts. Send your transcripts to the Admissions Office (171 Moultrie St, Charleston, SC 29409); unofficial copies are accepted with the initial application, but an official transcript verifying graduation is required before final acceptance. Strong grades in English, mathematics, science, history and foreign languages improve your application.
- Test-optional. The Citadel is a test-optional institution. You may submit SAT (school code 5108) or ACT (code 3838) scores if you wish, but they are not required.
- English proficiency. Students whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL results (code 5108).
- Required coursework. You must successfully complete the required high school coursework.
- Medical clearance. All students must be cleared by The Citadel’s Medical Clinic before Matriculation Day. Medical fitness standards are strict.
- Age. You must be at least 17 and less than 23 years of age on the date of matriculation (usually mid-to-late August).
How to Apply: Step by Step
Tuition & Costs
Because every cadet lives in the barracks, eats in the mess hall, wears uniforms and uses on-campus services, The Citadel publishes an “all-in” rate rather than a simple tuition figure. The Board of Visitors held rates flat for the 2026–27 academic year:
| All-in cost for cadets, 2026–27 | In-state (South Carolina) | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Freshmen | $34,935 per year | $62,202 per year |
| Upperclassmen | $28,659 per year | $55,926 per year |
The all-in rate covers room, board, laundry and dry cleaning, infirmary use, books and uniforms — freshman charges are higher because first-year cadets purchase multiple sets of uniforms, with costs calculated through each cadet’s One Card/Quartermaster account. It does not include fees that vary by major or schedule (labs, materials or programme-specific costs). For comparison, tuition and fees alone were reported at $12,570 in-state and $38,508 out-of-state for 2024–25.
Financial support is substantial: 82 percent of students received some form of financial aid last year, and $15 million in ROTC scholarships was awarded. Anyone applying for full scholarship consideration should meet the 1 March deadline.
Service & Career Outcomes
The single most important distinction between The Citadel and the federal service academies: graduation carries no military service obligation. Every cadet completes ROTC training, but only about one-third of each class accepts a commission — approximately 30 percent of the Class of 2025 became officers in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, and more than 170 members of the Class of 2026 entered the armed forces as officers.
Civilian outcomes are equally strong. The college reports that 88 percent of graduates are employed, in graduate school or serving in the military at graduation, and its alumni network — famously loyal — spans business, engineering, law, medicine, education, public service and the military. Popular recent graduate majors include Intelligence and Security Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Management, Criminal Justice, Political Science and Finance.
The career pipeline is deliberate: cadets graduate with four years of leadership experience in a 24/7 military environment, an honour-code reputation, and a degree from the #1 Regional University in the South. Employers recruit The Citadel specifically for those qualities, and the college’s multi-major career fairs run throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Citadel cadets have to join the military after graduation?
No. Unlike the federal service academies, The Citadel imposes no military service obligation on its graduates. Every cadet completes ROTC training as part of the four-year programme, but commissioning is a choice: only about one-third of each graduating class accepts a commission as an officer, while the rest pursue civilian careers, graduate school or other paths.
How much does it cost to attend The Citadel?
For 2026–27 the published all-in annual cost is $34,935 for South Carolina resident freshmen and $62,202 for out-of-state freshmen (upperclassmen pay $28,659 and $55,926 respectively). That figure includes room, board, uniforms, books, laundry and infirmary use — nearly everything is bundled because cadets live in the barracks and eat in the mess hall. With 82% of students receiving financial aid and $15 million in ROTC scholarships awarded last year, the real cost for many families is significantly lower.
Is The Citadel hard to get into?
Admission is competitive but straightforward. You need a high school diploma or GED, the required high school coursework, and transcripts showing solid performance (especially in English, mathematics, science, history and foreign languages). There is no essay and no teacher recommendation requirement, and the college is test-optional. The non-negotiable hurdles are the strict medical fitness clearance and the age requirement (17 to under 23 at matriculation). Admissions are rolling with decisions in 10–15 days, but the class fills each year, so apply early.
Do I need SAT or ACT scores to apply?
No. The Citadel is a test-optional institution — you may submit SAT (code 5108) or ACT (code 3838) scores if you feel they strengthen your application, but they are not required for admission. Non-native English speakers must still submit TOEFL results.
What is “knob year”?
“Knob” is The Citadel’s traditional name for a freshman cadet (referring to the shaved heads new cadets once sported). The freshman year is the most demanding: new cadets report on Matriculation Day in mid-August, undergo intensive military training alongside their first semester of classes, and learn the customs, drill and discipline of the Corps of Cadets before earning more privileges as upperclassmen.
How is The Citadel different from West Point or the Naval Academy?
Three main differences. First, The Citadel is a state public college, so you pay tuition rather than receiving a free federally funded education. Second, there is no service obligation after graduation — commissioning is optional, with roughly a third of each class choosing it. Third, admission is a standard college application (Common App, rolling, test-optional) with no congressional nomination required. The military environment itself — barracks life, uniforms, formations, ROTC, an honour code — is comparably rigorous, which is why Citadel graduates compete for the same officer commissions and leadership roles.
Ready to take the next step?
Visit the college’s official admissions site at citadel.edu or call 843-225-3294.
Facts in this guide were verified against The Citadel’s official website; always confirm current figures and deadlines directly with the college before applying.
Directory entry for forcesguide.com. Facts verified against citadel.edu, today.citadel.edu and learn.citadel.edu, October 2026. Tuition figures are the Board of Visitors–approved 2026–27 all-in rates and are subject to change.