The Citadel , The Military College of South Carolina The Citadel , The Military College of South Carolina , also known simply as The Citadel , is a state - supported , comprehensive college located in Charleston , South Carolina , United States ; founded in 1842 . It is one of the six Senior Military Colleges in the United States . It has 16 academic department s divided into five schools offering 18 majors and 35 minors . The core day program consists of military cadets pursuing bachelor ' s degrees who are required to live on campus for all four years . The evening program , known as The Citadel Graduate College , includes a large postgraduate program and a small number of part - time students pursuing undergraduate degrees . The Citadel is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools . College overview . The Citadel is a state military college which combines academics , physical challenges and military discipline . The South Carolina Corps of Cadets is one of the largest uniformed student bodies in the United States and the school is one of only two colleges where all full - time undergraduates are required to be cadets and participate in ROTC . In addition to the cadet program , evening civilian programs are offered through the Citadel Graduate College with its undergraduate and graduate programs . The academic program is divided into five schools - Engineering , Science and Mathematics , Humanities and Social Sciences , Business Administration , and Education ; Bachelor ' s degrees are offered in 18 major programs of study and 35 minors . The graduate school offers 2 educational specialist courses , 16 master ' s degrees and 7 graduate certificates ; a 2 + 2 evening program allows those with associate degrees from Trident Technical College to pursue bachelor ' s degrees in 4 subjects . 95 % of the faculty hold doctoral degrees and the majority are full - time professors ; the ratio of cadets to faculty is 13 - 1 and the average class size is 20 . The Citadel enrolls 2 , 300 in its undergraduate Corps of Cadets and 1 , 200 civilian students in the evening programs ; women comprise 7 % of the Corps and minorities 14 % . Approximately half of The Citadel ' s enrollment is from the state of South Carolina ; cadets come from 45 states and 10 foreign countries . South Carolina residents receive a discount in tuition , as is common at state - sponsored schools . The Citadel receives 8 % of its operating budget from the state . In 2012 , the school ' s ROTC program commissioned 183 officers , more than any other senior military college and ranking only behind the service academies . All students , both cadets and civilian students , are eligible to compete on The Citadel ' s athletic teams . While all programs make use of the Citadel campus and professors , cadets and civilian students do not share classes and only cadets live on campus . The exception to this is the veterans program , reinstated in the fall of 2007 , which allows cadets who left The Citadel for active military duty to return as civilians , attend classes with cadets , and complete their degrees if certain criteria are met . Enlisted members from the Marine Corps and Navy also attend cadet classes as part of a program to commission highly - qualified NCOs . The mission of The Citadel is : to educate and develop our students to become principled leaders in all walks of life by instilling the core values of The Citadel in a disciplined and intellectually challenging environment . A unique feature of this environment for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets is the sense of camaraderie produced through teamwork and service to others while following a military lifestyle . History . Early history . In 1829 a structure was built on what is now Marion Square in downtown Charleston to house arms and ammunition , federal troops from nearby Fort Moultrie began guarding the new state arsenal in 1830 and in 1832 they were replaced by state militia . Over the next 10 years arsenals throughout the state were consolidated in Charleston and Columbia , Governor John Richardson eventually proposed converting both into military academies and on December 20 , 1842 the South Carolina Legislature passed " an Act to convert the Arsenal at Columbia and the citadel and magazine in and near Charleston , into Military Schools " thereby transforming the two state arsenals into the South Carolina Military Academy . The act specified : That the students when admitted , shall be formed into a military corps , and shall constitute the public guard of the Arsenal at Columbia , and of the Citadel and Magazine in and near Charleston . . . to guard effectually , the public arms and other property at the places aforsaid . . . The first 20 cadets reported to the Citadel Academy at Marion Square in downtown Charleston on March 20 , 1843 , a date now celebrated as " Corps Day " . Initially both schools operated as separate institutions governed by a common Board of Visitors , in 1845 the Arsenal Academy in Columbia became an auxiliary to the Citadel Academy in Charleston ; first year students attended the Arsenal then transferred to the Citadel Academy to complete their education . Both schools continued to operate during the Civil War but the Arsenal in Columbia was burned by Union forces and never reopened . Mexican – American War . Citadel cadets and faculty members trained South Carolina ' s " Palmetto Regiment " for service in the Mexican – American War ; 17 graduates and cadets fought with the unit which teamed with U . S . Marines to enter the famous " Halls of Montezuma " in Mexico City in 1847 . Lt . William J . Magill , a member of the first graduating class of 1846 was the first alumnus to serve in the U . S . Army and was a member of the 3d Dragoons under future President Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War . Civil War and aftermath . When South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860 , Major Robert Anderson moved his garrison of U . S . troops to Fort Sumter and requested reinforcements from the federal government . On January 9 , 1861 , a battery on Morris Island manned by Citadel Academy cadets fired on the Federal steamer Star of the West , preventing it from reaching Fort Sumter with troops and supplies and thus firing what some consider the first shots of the Civil War . Citadel cadets also manned several guns at " the battery " on Charleston harbor during the firing on Fort Sumter of April 12 – 13 , 1861 ; The first shot of the bombardment is believed by many historians to have been fired by Second Lieutenant Henry S . Farley , Class of 1860 . On January 28 , 1861 , the Corps of Cadets of The SC Military Academy was made part of the military organization of the state and named the Battalion of State Cadets . The Academy continued to operate as a military academy , but classes were often disrupted when the governor called the cadets into military service . Mounting and manning heavy guns , performing guard duty , providing security and escorting prisoners were among the services performed by the cadets . The Battalion of State Cadets participated in eight engagements during the Civil War . As a result of these actions , the flag of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets carries the following Confederate battle streamers : ( The Confederate States Army streamer is gray embroided in silver and the remainder embroidered in blue ) In early December 1864 , Governor Bonham ordered the Battalion of State Cadets to Tulifinny Creek to join a small Confederate force defending the Charleston and Savannah Railroad . On December 7 and December 9 the entire Corps of Cadets fought a much larger Union force ( including a contingent of U . S . Marines ) , successfully defending the rail line and forcing the Union troops to withdraw ; the cadets suffered eight casualties including one killed and they were commended for their display of discipline and gallantry under fire winning the admiration of the veteran troops who fought with them ; it is also the only occasion when the entire student body of a U . S . college fought in combat . The Citadel is also one of a handful of colleges to have received a battle streamer for wartime service . Other schools include the University of Alabama , Florida State University ( then known as Florida Military and Collegiate Institute ) , the University of Hawaii , the United States Merchant Marine Academy , the University of Mississippi , the College of William and Mary , and Virginia Military Institute . On February 18 , 1865 , the school ceased operation as a college when Union troops entered Charleston and occupied the site . Following the war , the Board of Visitors eventually regained possession of The Citadel campus and with the urging of Governor Johnson Hagood , Class of 1847 the South Carolina Legislature passed an act to reopen the college . The 1882 session began with an enrollment of 185 cadets . Into the 20th century . In the war with Spain in 1898 , more Citadel alumni volunteered for service than were needed . In World War I , Citadel graduates were among the first contingents of American troops to fight with the Australian , and later British and French divisions ; several served prominently with the Marine Corps at the Battle of Belleau Wood . By that time , The Citadel had outgrown its campus on Marion Square , despite numerous building additions . The name of the college was officially changed in 1910 to " The Citadel , The Military College of South Carolina " ; the word " Academy " had become synonymous with secondary schools , and the public had the misconception that the South Carolina Military Academy was a preparatory school . In 1918 , the city of Charleston offered the state of South Carolina on the banks of the Ashley River for a new campus on the condition that the state fund the construction of a new Citadel campus there . The state accepted the offer on February 26 , 1919 , and alloted $ 300 , 000 towards the construction of a new campus . The college moved to its current location in 1922 . The title of the head of The Citadel was changed from superintendent to president in 1921 , when The Citadel moved to its present location . Col Oliver J . Bond was the last superintendent and the first president of The Citadel . Women at The Citadel . The Corps of Cadets was officially all male until 1996 , in 1995 Shannon Faulkner won a legal battle and was granted admission by order of a federal judge ; she reported the first day of knob ( freshmen ) orientation , but was admitted to the school ' s infirmary immediately following lunch on the first day of military training . Faulkner remained in the infirmary for less than a week and quit . A Supreme Court ruling in a discrimination lawsuit against Virginia Military Institute eventually compelled the school to officially change its admission policy to admit women . The first group of four female cadets matriculated in August 1996 . Using credits from another college Nancy Mace completed her degree in three years and became the first female graduate in Corps history on May 9 , 1999 ; Czech born Petra Lovetinska was the first female graduate to have attended for four years and the first foreign female cadet as well as the first female graduate to be commissioned into the U . S . military . Lovetinska received her citizenship by Act of Congress . As of July 2012 , women comprise 7 % of the Corps of Cadets and 21 % of the overall student body . In 2006 a survey by the college revealed that roughly 70 % of female cadets claimed to have experienced sexual harassment on campus and 19 % claimed to have been a victim of sexual assault . Graduation 2012 marked another milestone in the history of women at The CItadel when Shanna M . Couch and Alexandria R . Burns were named First and Second Honor Graduates respectively . This was the first time in school history that either of the top two graduates of a class were women . A four year starter on the soccer team , Couch was also the first woman at The Citadel to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship . Burns , a native of Pendleton South Carolina , was recognised for her remarkable academic achievement by the Anderson County Council in a resolution passed in June 2012 . Rankings . In 2012 , U . S . News & World Report ranked The Citadel highest among public institutions in the " Regional Universities - South " category and fifth out of all universities ( public and private ) in the same category , defined as those institutions offering " a full range of undergrad programs and some master ' s programs but few doctoral programs " . In 2012 U . S . News & World Report also ranked The Citadel as the eighth best value among institutions in the " Regional Universities - South " category , In 2005 Newsweek magazine named The Citadel as one of America ' s " hottest colleges " . U . S . News & World Report also ranked The Citadel ' s School of Engineering 17th among all undergraduate engineering programs in the United States in 2012 and ranked the civil engineering program eighth in undergraduate engineering specialty programs . In 2010 , The Citadel ranked first nationally in graduation rate for public colleges with students having an average SAT score of 1000 - 1200 . As of 2012 , the 4 year graduation rate is 63 % compared to a national average of 30 % ; the 6 year rate is 72 % . Student life . Undergraduate cadets at The Citadel are members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets . Cadets must meet physical fitness and SAT / ACT testing standards for acceptance into the Corps of Cadets . On occasion , waivers to height / weight standards can be granted upon successful completion of the physical training test . On most days , cadets have both morning and afternoon physical ( fitness ) training , called " PT " , military instruction on leadership , weapons , drill , and discipline , in addition to their regular college classes . Most weekdays start with a formal muster and inspection of all personnel and their rooms . Cadets then march to structured military meals . After a day spent in classes , sports , intramurals and other activities , the day usually ends with an evening muster formation and mandatory evening study period during which there is enforced quiet time and all cadets are required to be in the barracks , library or academic buildings . Cadets are restricted to campus during the week but are allowed general leave on weekends and have limited but gradually escalating privileges for weekend and overnight passes . Because The Citadel emphasizes corps unity and discipline , cadets may not be married and must live on campus in the barracks with their assigned company . The Citadel emphasizes an extremely strict disciplinary and physical fitness indoctrination for fourth - class cadets , who are called knobs because of the shaved heads they must maintain until the end of their first year when they are then recognized as upperclassmen . Cadets who accumulate too many demerits or breach regulations can be punished by serving confinements or tours . A tour is one hour spent marching in the barracks with a rifle at shoulder arms and is normally performed when a cadet would otherwise be permitted to leave campus . A confinement is one hour spent in a cadet ' s room when they would normally be permitted to leave campus . First class cadets , those in their senior year , receive their class rings at a special ring presentation ceremony , which was previously held in the college ' s chapel , but which now takes place in the school ' s field house . The Citadel ring is 10 karat gold with no gem stone and is one of the heaviest all - precious / semi - precious metal college rings in the United States . The design is common to all cadets and the design does not change with each class with the exception of the class year . Active - duty and evening undergraduate students receive a ring which is the same size , but with a different design . One of the core values of The Citadel is a strictly enforced Honor Code that mandates that all cadets and students not lie , cheat , steal or tolerate those who do . A cadet run Honor Court investigates all alleged violations and conducts trials , expulsion is the usual penalty when found guilty . Included in The Citadel Graduate College student body are numerous active duty Marine and Navy enlisted personnel attending The Citadel under the Seaman To Admiral program ( STA - 21 ) and the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program ( MECEP ) , which originated at The Citadel in 1973 . The Regimental Band and Pipes . Established in 1909 , the Regimental Band is one of the twenty - one companies that comprise the current Corps and is a prominent feature at every formal parade . Prospective members must pass an audition . None of the band ' s members are music majors as The Citadel does not offer such a major , yet the band and pipes enjoy an international reputation . Selected by the Director of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo to represent the United States at the 2010 Silver Jubilee Tattoo , The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes performed their own seven minute segment of the Jubilee program in August 2010 as well as performing as part of the massed pipes and massed bands . This was The Citadel ' s second appearance at the Tattoo having also appeared there in 1991 . In the summer of 2013 the Band and Pipes has been invited to perform at The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax , Canada . The Citadel Regimental Pipe Band , established by General Mark W . Clark in 1955 , is one of the few college bagpipe bands in the country and it performs at the weekly parade at The Citadel as well as at numerous other public events . The Citadel Regimental Band participated in the Presidential Inaugural parade in 1953 , and again combined with the pipe band in the 1961 and 1985 Presidential Inaugural parades . Summerall Guards . One of the most unique and elite cadet units is the Summerall Guards , a silent drill team consisting of 61 cadets chosen each spring from the junior class . Founded in 1932 the team performs a routine called The Citadel Series that has changed very little from its inception and has never been written down , the Guards have performed at numerous high profile events around the U . S . including three presidential inaugurations , the National Cherry Blossom Festival , Mardi Gras in New Orleans and at several NFL games . The Honors Program . An Honors Program is available for cadets with exceptional academic standing and includes a core curriculum of honors courses conducted by the most highly rated faculty members , small seminars and classes are conducted in a discussion type forum that encourages intellectual advancement . The program also assists the most highly qualified cadets in applying for scholarships , grants and merit based internships ; since 1992 The Citadel has produced 13 Fulbright Scholars and 4 Truman Scholars . Each year cadets participate in study abroad programs in numerous foreign countries , an internship program in Washington , DC allows cadets an opportunity to work at various government agencies and in the offices of congressmen and senators . Summer internship programs are available in many cities with major U . S . corporations . Athletics . The Citadel competes in NCAA Division I and has been a member of the Southern Conference since 1936 ; the school mascot is the Bulldog . Men ' s intercollegiate sports are football , basketball , baseball , wrestling , cross country , indoor and outdoor track , rifle , tennis and golf ; women sports are volleyball , soccer , cross country , indoor and outdoor track , rifle and golf . Numerous club sports include lacrosse , rugby , pistol , sailing , crew , ice hockey and triathlon . The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team has won 20 Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships , most recently in 2010 . The 1990 team won the Atlantic Regional , earning the school its first trip to the College World Series ( CWS ) and finishing the season ranked sixth in the final Collegiate Baseball poll with a record of 46 – 14 ; they also became the first military school to play in the CWS . Numerous alumni have played in the major leagues in recent years ; Head Coach Fred Jordan ' 79 is the school ' s winningest with more than 700 victories as of the 2012 season . The football team has won two Southern Conference Championships and appeared in the Division I - AA playoffs ( now FCS ) three times ; the 1992 squad went 11 - 2 and finished the regular season ranked # 1 in the I - AA poll . As of 2010 the football program had a graduation success rate of 90 % compared to the Division I average of 65 % Several alumni have played in the NFL including current WR / KR Andre Roberts of the Arizona Cardinals and CB Cortez Allen of the Pittsburgh Steelers . FB Nehemiah Broughton ' 05 also recently played with the Washington Redskins , Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants ; K Greg Davis ' 87 had a 12 - year career with several teams including Arizona and the Atlanta Falcons , ESPN color commentator Paul Maguire ' 60 played for three AFL champions with the Buffalo Bills and former Arizona Cardinals running back Lyvonia " Stump " Mitchell ' 81 has been a head coach at two Division I colleges and served as an assistant for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins . Completed in 2005 , the Inouye Rifle Center is utilized by cadets , law enforcement and the South Carolina National Guard . The rifle team has won four national championships . In 2010 The Citadel had a graduation success rate for athletes of 87 % ; this compares to the national Division I average of 70 % . Campus . The Citadel sits on a tract of land on the Ashley River . There are 27 buildings grouped around a grass parade ground . The buildings around the parade ground include ten classroom buildings , an administration building , five barracks , mess hall , a student activities building , chapel , library , a yacht club , a marksmanship center , a field house , faculty housing area and various support facilities including a laundry , cadet store , tailor shop and power plant . The campus is bounded on the west by the Ashley River , to the north by the Wagener Terrace neighborhood , to the east by Hampton Park and the Hampton Park Terrace neighborhood , and to the South by the Westside Neighborhood . Just off the main campus are the football stadium , baseball stadium , and alumni center . Additionally , there is a large beach house facility located near the north end of the Isle of Palms . The Daniel Library The Daniel Library was opened in 1960 with major renovations completed in the fall of 2010 . It houses over 200 , 000 volumes of material as well as electronic access to thousands of journals . The third floor of the building houses the campus archives and museum . The Prioleau Room on the first floor houses special collections and is considered by many as one of the best places on campus to study with its dark wood paneling and fireplace . The Citadel Graduate College . The Citadel ’ s evening graduate program serves the Lowcountry by offering regionally and professionally accredited bachelor ' s , master ' s and specialist degrees scheduled around the student ’ s profession , family and lifestyle . CGC offers 19 graduate programs with concentrations in education , psychology , computer science and business . The Masters of Business Administration program is the only nationally accredited MBA program in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina . CGC also offers undergraduate evening programs in business and engineering . Core values . In its vision statement the Citadel Board of Visitors identifies the following as the school ' s " core values : " Leadership training . ROTC . All cadets are required to undergo four years of ROTC training in one of the four branches of the armed services , but they are not required to enter military service after graduation . Krause Center . Established with a gift from L . William Krause ' 64 , the Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics offers symposiums , classes and training seminars to help instill the principles of leadership , ethics , morals and service . A minor in leadership studies is also sponsored through this program . Training is conducted each year for freshmen and sophomores on honor and ethics . Leadership classes are also given to cadets in the senior chain of command . The institute also sponsors programs that offer cadets an opportunity to perform community service and instill a sense of commitment to one ' s fellow man . Summer camp . " The Citadel Summer Camp " , a summer camp for boys and girls ages 10 to 15 , was held at The Citadel every summer from 1957 until 2006 . Founded by General Mark Wayne Clark , its purpose was to develop and strengthen the physical , mental , ethical , spiritual , patriotic and social characteristics of campers . The Citadel Summer Camp ceased operation in 2006 because of financial issues , space limitations and pressure from several pending lawsuits concerning sexual misconduct . Cadet Officer Leadership School . Selected members of Air Force JROTC units from the Southeastern United States cadets are eligible to spend a week at The Citadel for officer training for their home JROTC units . A routine day attending Cadet Officer Leadership School ( COLS ) begins with waking up to Reveille for morning PT , the remainder of the day is uniform wear and inspection , two classes and constant regulation drill . On the day of graduation from the school , cadets participate in a " pass in review " ceremony where awards and decorations are given to certain cadets who have gone above the normal standards . A PT ribbon and a Leadership School ribbon are given to all cadets who graduate from COLS back at their home unit . Alumni . The Citadel has produced a wealth of distinguished alumni in many different career fields ; well known alumni include longtime U . S . Senator Ernest " Fritz " Hollings , best selling novelist Pat Conroy , football commentator Paul Maguire , Space Shuttle astronaut Colonel Randy Bresnik , Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts and the longest serving Commander of the U . S . Navy Blue Angels Captain Greg McWherter . Notable alumni include 6 governors , 3 U . S . senators , 12 congressmen , the presidents of 46 colleges and universities , the Director of the U . S . Olympic Committee and many professional athletes . Approximately 40 % of graduates are commissioned as military officers in the active or reserve components with another 10 % going directly to graduate programs ; alumni currently serve in all five military services . Over the years , 271 Citadel alumni have reached the top ranks in the military by becoming flag officer s ( generals , rear admiral s or commodores ) , ten have served as a state Adjutant General . During World War II of the 2 , 976 living graduates all but 49 served in the military ; the entire class of 1944 was inducted into the U . S . armed forces and only two members graduated . Alumni served with some of the most famous units of the war including the Flying Tigers , Doolittle Raid ers and the RAF Eagle Squadrons formed from American volunteers . Seven alumni have served as pilots with the two U . S . military flight demonstration units , the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels ; graduates have served as commanders of both squadrons . Alumni also serve in the military services of foreign countries including 5 four star generals from Thailand and the head of Jordan ' s Security Forces . Citadel alumni were killed in action during the Mexican – American War ( 6 ) , Civil War ( 67 ) , World War I ( 15 ) , World War II ( 280 ) , Korean War ( 32 ) , Vietnam War ( 68 ) , Lebanon ( 1 ) , Grenada ( 1 ) , the Gulf War ( 1 ) , and the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan ( 18 ) .