College of Charleston

Charleston, SC · Public · 1-year full-time (40 credits; fall start, cohort-based, with international immersion)

Average GPA: 3.51
Class size: 56 (Class of 2026)
Program tuition: $32,000 (program total)

Deadlines

Priority/Round 1: Oct. 1, 2026
Round 2 (deadline for merit aid and graduate assistantships): Feb. 1, 2027
Round 3 (decisions rolling): March 1, 2027
Final (decisions rolling): July 1, 2027

Essays

Cover letter (No word limit)

Use this opportunity to write a well-crafted, brief review of your academic and professional background, why you plan to pursue an MBA at the College and your career goals post-graduation. There is no word limit.

Editor's notes

Round 1 closes Oct. 1, 2026, a week from today. If it isn't ready, don't force it. The date that matters most for money is Feb. 1: merit aid and assistantships require a Round 2 application, and after that, admission is rolling as space allows.
This is a young class. The 2025 cohort averaged 24 years old with 17.1 months of work experience, and work experience isn't required. So the cover letter doesn't need a big career story. It needs a clear reason you want business training now, and a specific goal.
Tests are optional, but a GMAT score can pay. Official scores from 550 up earn guaranteed awards of $1,000 to $4,000 against $32,000 in tuition. If you already have a decent score, send it. If you don't, weigh the prep time against Round 2.
Prepare for the video assessment the way you'd prepare for any interview. The school says it wants to see how well you think on your feet, and it invites only complete files. Practice answering out loud, on camera, without a script.

College of Charleston

Deadlines

Essays

Cover letter (No word limit)

Editor's notes

Sources