Across South Carolina, there is no better return on investment for college students and parents than The Citadel.
That assessment comes from TIME, which recently named The Citadel among America’s best colleges, recognizing its strong graduation rates, student earning potential and long-term career outcomes for its graduates.
Among the top 500 colleges, The Citadel ranked No. 71 nationally — the highest of any college, private or public, in South Carolina.
The Citadel also ranked among the nation’s highest-performing military colleges, ahead of Virginia Military Institute, Texas A&M University and others.
“We believe our academic and leadership instruction result in significant real world success for our cadets and it is encouraging to see our effective process validated by others,” said Kevin Bower, Ph.D., interim provost and professor of Civil Engineering for The Citadel.
The inaugural ranking was designed to highlight U.S. higher education institutions that are providing the best value for their students.
Unlike many traditional college rankings, TIME placed significant emphasis on what students gain from their education relative to its cost. The magazine partnered with data research firm Statista to rank colleges based on student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to students, with student outcomes accounting for 75% of each institution’s overall score.
Nearly 90 percent of Citadel cadets in the Class of 2025 had secured a civilian job, entered military service or continued their education within six months of graduation. Among those entering the workforce, the median annual salary was $60,000.
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