Coker College

Welcome to Coker College.Coker College is a student-focused, private liberal arts college located in Hartsville, South Carolina. Coker combines round table, discussion-based learning with hands-on experiences to encourage active participation in and out of the classroom. A supportive, close-knit community prepares Coker students with the confidence and practical life skills they need to reach their personal best, in college and beyond.

Coker College offers programs designed to prepare you for career and graduate school success. Many students double major; some design their own. Minors and specializations offer additional ways to customize.

Why Coker? Because we believe that every student has a story. When you arrive here, your story matters—regardless of your background. When you leave here, you leave confident in your ability to choose your story and prepared with the knowledge to make it happen. We won’t tell you what your story should be, but we’ll show you what it can be.

Founded in 1908, Coker is a bachelor’s and master’s degree-granting institution and competes in 21 NCAA Division II sports. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review, and by Washington Monthly as No. 2 in South Carolina for value.

Located right in downtown Hartsville, main campus covers 15 acres of beautiful grounds and Georgian-style buildings, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Iconic Davidson Hall, built in 1910, is both the literal and physical heart of campus. The City of Hartsville offers a welcoming small-town feel, with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options within walking distance from campus. Hartsville averages 69°F from September to May and is within two hours of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

At Coker, we’re a family. No hiding in the back of a giant lecture hall here. With an average class size of 12, the Coker experience is about actively creating the college story that’s right for you. With the support of faculty and staff who know you personally, there are endless ways to make that happen.

Coker operates on a selective, rolling admissions process (with a preferred application deadline of March 15th). Our dedicated Admissions staff personally guide each applicant throughout every step of the process, from campus visit to financial aid. Once an application is complete, a decision is made by the admissions committee within two weeks.Coker’s student body is a close-knit family of approximately 1,200 students from 22 states and 16 countries. The student population is about 60 percent female and 40 percent male, with 33 percent African-American students and 46 percent for all minority students.

Among our 67 full-time faculty members, 98 percent hold a doctorate or the highest equivalent degree in their field.With a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, our faculty are here because they love getting to know their students. They won’t just give you grades—they’ll be both your teachers and mentors throughout your college career and beyond.

Whether you’re a part of the traditional undergraduate, the adult degree or the master’s program, Coker offers a well-rounded liberal arts education founded on hands-on experience. Our signature round table learning brings students and professors together in small groups for discussion and exploration. The traditional undergraduate program offers more than 40 areas of study, including pre-law, pre-med and other pre-professional tracks—or, you can design your own major.Trans4mations, our four-year program, incorporates engaged learning (like internships, study abroad and community service) into every student’s experience.

No matter your interests, Coker gives you the opportunity to find your niche, get involved, and become a leader. More than 30 student organizations offer everything from intramurals to choral groups to astronomy club. The Sory Boathouse and Clubhouse provides students with access to Prestwood Lake—and Kalmia Gardens, Coker’s nearby 30-acre botanical gardens, Kalmia Gardens, holds even more opportunities for hiking, studying and outdoor recreation.

Students who live on campus are part of a safe and supportive residential community. Nine residence halls range from traditional community suites to apartment-style living. Dining options include the Susanne G. Linville Dining Hall, We Proudly Serve Starbucks, and WOW Cafe.

The Coker Cobras compete in 21 NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports as a member of the South Atlantic Conference.Campus includes a 22-acre complex for outdoor sports—plus the state-of-the-art DeLoach Center, opened in 2014, which features a 1,908 seat gymnasium, an auxiliary gym, interactive classrooms, a student-athlete only weight room, a fitness center, athletic offices and more.Coker College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and masters degrees.

Coker College is a student-centered, comprehensive college. It is dedicated to providing every student enrolled in the Day Program and in the Adult Degree Program an academic curriculum based upon a uniformly excellent liberal arts core that enhances the structured development of key personal skills.The College’s goal is to graduate students with the ability to think analytically and creatively, and to write and speak effectively.

Experiences both in and out of the classroom are focused on active student involvement and the practical application of academic knowledge that lead to lifelong learning. Coker measures its success by the personal and professional accomplishments enjoyed by all members of the academic community.