Students who have attended another college or have earned an associate's degree from another college 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 The Art Institute’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. Transcripts should be mailed or faxed directly to the college. Before a student may begin studies at The Art Institute of Charleston, 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 transcripts from each college attended, showing all courses attempted. Transcripts should be mailed or faxed directly from the college(s) attended to the Admissions Office at The Art Institute location of Charleston.
5. 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. Test scores are not required for students who have satisfied English and math credits based on previous college study or through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College Level Examination Program Exam scores.
6. A U.S. $50 non-refundable application fee and a U.S. $100 refundable tuition deposit. 

NOTE: A portfolio of the student’s artwork is not required for admission (other than for high school seniors entering the annual scholarship competition). Work experience in the foodservice or hospitality industry is not required for culinary arts applicants. Students applying for the food & beverage management or wine, spirits & beverage management programs must provide proof of age to show that they will be 21 years of age or older before matriculating in the program.