Academic: The Citadel is a comprehensive college with a classical military environment. It is widely recognized for the excellence of its programs because of the education and experience of the faculty, the student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1, the availability of financial aid, and emphasis on an honor system. The curriculum offers 20 majors and 13 minor areas of study in liberal arts and engineering. In 2000, U.S. News & World Report ranked The Citadel as the "best college value" in the South.

Military: The Citadel trains students in a military environment that encourages teamwork, promotes self-discipline, and challenges students to make decisions under pressure. Cadets are trained to become leaders who understand the values of honor, loyalty, patriotism and service to others. The fourth-class system gives every cadet an equal opportunity to shoulder increasing levels of responsibility by advancing in the chain of command.

Alumni: About a third of the graduates traditionally go into military service and the others go to graduate schools or professions. Citadel alumni have distinguished themselves by taking leading roles in business and government. Over the years, 132 Citadlel alumni have reached the top ranks in the military by becoming flag officers (generals, rear admirals or commodores). Alumni of The Citadel have unselfishly served their country in all wars involving the U.S. Citadel alumni have been killed in action during the Civil War (49), World War I (15), World War II (280), Korean War (32), Vietnam (68), Lebanon (1), Grenada (1), and the Gulf War (1).

History: Established as the Citadel Academy in 1842 by the South Carolina legislature, the college draws its military character from its original mission to educate young men whose duty was to protect the city of Charleston from the threat of a slave rebellion.

A notable event in The Citadel's history occurred on Jan. 9, 1861 when cadets initiated the first overt act of the Civil War. The cadets stationed at Morris Isand fired on the U.S. steamer, the Star of the West, preventing it from supplying Fort Sumter with troops and supplies. Cadets earned eight battle streamers during the Civil War and those streamers still fly with the regimental colors during weekly parades.

The Citadel was closed for 17 years between 1865 until 1882, when the academy was reopened by an act of the U.S. Congress and the S.C. General Assembly.

The original Citadel was on Marion Square in downtown Charleston. In 1922 the college moved to its present location, approximately 100 acres of marsh and high ground along the banks of the Ashley River.

The first African-American alumnus, the late Charles D. Foster, was admitted in 1966.The first female graduate, Nancy Mace, was admitted in 1996 and graduated three years later in 1999. Petra Lovetinska, the first female cadet to go through the full four-year program, graduated in May 2000. The first full class of female cadets will graduate May 12, 2001.