Conway, SC: Well known for its marine biology program, Coastal Carolina University is the local college for students in and around Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The campus is located about 15 miles from the beach, and its location alone is enough to draw students from all over the country. The college has its own bus system that will take students from the campus to many of the local highlights such as Broadway at the Beach.

In-state tuition costs $8,640 and out-of-state tuition $18,090 per year plus an extra $7,080 for housing and food. The school has around 8,100 students coming from 44 states and 33 countries. The average SAT score for first time freshman is 1,039 with an average GPA of 3.35.

Students can earn a bachelor’s degree in any one of Coastal Carolina's 40 major fields of study, and 37 minor fields of study, as well as an MBA or a master’s degree in education or coastal marine and wetland studies. For students engaged in the school's marine biology program, Coastal Carolina University owns Waties Island, a 1,062 acre undeveloped barrier island located just south of the North Carolina/ South Carolina border.

For those students who are avid readers, Coastal Carolina University has an extensive library. The two story library opens at 7:30 am and doesn't close until 2:00 am Monday - Thursday, with varying hours on the weekends. Coastal Carolina University also participates in a program called PASCAL Delivers which allows students to have books from any college library in the state, shipped to the CCU library. The library also offers extensive online research databases for its students to use. The library also has study rooms available and students can borrow laptops to use for projects and papers.

For students participating in the schools professional golf management program, the school owns Quail Creek Golf Club. Quail Creek Golf Club is a public, 18 hole golf course that is adjacent to the school. The club is managed by students in the professional golf management program and is maintained by students in Horry-Georgetown Technical College's sports turf management program.

The school also offers a wide range of clubs and organizations for students including an NCAA I athletic program. The school boasts over 100 clubs and organizations including sororities and fraternities, honor clubs, religious clubs, and many academic/professional clubs.

Coastal Carolina University is a well rounded school that is perfect for almost anyone. No matter what you're interested in doing, CCU has something for you. You can learn more about Coastal Carolina University by visiting their website at http://www.coastal.edu/