Students attending college for the first time and pursuing their first associate’s or bachelor’s degree or diploma must complete the following in order to begin the enrollment process:

1. Personal interview. Students are required to meet with an assistant director of admissions. A telephone interview can fulfill this requirement under certain circumstances. The purpose of the interview is to explore the student’s background and interests and how they relate to school’s programs, to assist the student in identifying the appropriate area of study consistent with his or her background and interests, and to provide information concerning the curriculum and support services at The Art Institute of Charleston.
2. Application for admission, including essay and enrollment agreement. (See application form, booklet, or Web site.)
3. High school transcript or General Educational Development (GED) test scores. Transcripts must show grades for all years of high school attended and date of graduation. An applicant still in high school will be considered for early acceptance contingent on proof of graduation. Transcripts should be mailed or faxed directly to the college. Before a student may begin studies at The Art Institute of Atlanta or any of its satellite or branch campuses (The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, The Art Institute of Charleston, The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville, and The Art Institute of Washington), he or she must have received a diploma from a regionally accredited high school or a state-approved home school program, demonstrating satisfactory completion of state high school equivalency requirements, or earned a General Educational Development (GED). A certificate of attendance or completion is not acceptable.
4. Official report of COMPASS test scores. SAT, ACT, or ASSET test scores can be used in place of the COMPASS test. The ASSET test is preferred at The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville. The ACCUPLACER test may be used at The Art Institute of Washington. If the applicant has not taken any of these tests prior to application, the COMPASS test may be taken at no charge at The Art Institute of Atlanta or any of its satellite or branch campuses. The Art Institute of Charleston requires the COMPASS test to be completed within 10 days of making application to the college. When taking the SAT or ACT, please use the following code numbers to have scores reported directly to the college. Charleston: 5583 
5. A U.S. $50 non-refundable application fee and a U.S. $100 refundable tuition deposit.