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PrivateTownHBCU

Claflin University

Orangeburg, South Carolina 29115-4498

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPrivateHBCU

Known for psychology

Claflin University is a private institution in Orangeburg with particular strength in psychology and business.

A small campus of 1.7K undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

49% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $40,304 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $21,232.

Established
1869
Motto
"The World Needs Visionaries"
Type
Private historically black liberal arts college
Division
Division II

Plan Your Visit

73%Acceptance
—SAT Avg
1,727Students
13:1Student:Faculty
49%Grad Rate
$40,304Earnings 10yr
$21,232Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Claflin University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate72.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

72.5%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$17,046
Room & Board$9,480
Books & Supplies$1,900
Total Cost of Attendance$33,538
Average Net Price$21,232
Median Debt at Graduation$29,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$307

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$19,663
$30–48K$21,021
$48–75K$25,768
$75–110K$25,952
$110K+$26,086

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

28.6%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$22,049

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

10

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

3

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (50)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

79%

Negative
  • •79% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,727
Gender Split
74% / 26%
Women / Men
First Generation
32%
Pell Grant Recipients
73%

Race & Ethnicity

White 1%
Black 90%
Hispanic 1%
Int'l 2%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate49.1%
Freshman Retention78.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$29,227
10 Years$40,304

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Basketball

History & Fun Facts

  • •History It was originally named Claflin College and was founded in 1869 by Alonzo Webster, a minister for the Methodist Episcopal Church (today the United Methodist Church).
  • •Claflin College opened its doors on October 27, 1869.
  • •In 1870, the Baker Biblical Institute merged with Claflin University.
  • •Claflin University is the oldest historically black college or university in South Carolina and touts itself as the first college in the state to welcome all students regardless of race or gender.
  • •It was the first Black college to offer architectural drawing courses.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CLT Charlotte119 mi
RDU Raleigh-Durham202 mi
ATL Atlanta206 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA811 mi · ~23h 26m drive
New York, NY625 mi · ~18h 3m drive
Hartford, CT725 mi · ~20h 57m drive
Providence, RI772 mi · ~22h 18m drive
Albany, NY740 mi · ~21h 23m drive
Syracuse, NY707 mi · ~20h 25m drive
Rochester, NY690 mi · ~19h 56m drive
Buffalo, NY657 mi · ~18h 59m drive
Philadelphia, PA546 mi · ~15h 46m drive
Pittsburgh, PA482 mi · ~13h 55m drive
Harrisburg, PA517 mi · ~14h 56m drive
Newark, NJ621 mi · ~17h 56m drive
Washington, DC430 mi · ~12h 25m drive
Baltimore, MD464 mi · ~13h 24m drive
Atlanta, GA204 mi · ~5h 54m drive
Charlotte, NC119 mi · ~3h 26m drive
Raleigh, NC202 mi · ~5h 50m drive
Miami, FL536 mi · ~15h 29m drive
Orlando, FL344 mi · ~9h 56m drive
Tampa, FL395 mi · ~11h 25m drive
Nashville, TN383 mi · ~11h 4m drive
New Orleans, LA594 mi · ~17h 10m drive
Richmond, VA339 mi · ~9h 48m drive
Chicago, IL687 mi · ~19h 51m drive
Detroit, MI622 mi · ~17h 58m drive
Minneapolis, MN1032 mi · ~29h 49m drive
St. Louis, MO630 mi · ~18h 12m drive
Kansas City, MO855 mi · ~24h 42m drive
Indianapolis, IN523 mi · ~15h 7m drive
Columbus, OH462 mi · ~13h 21m drive
Cleveland, OH555 mi · ~16h 2m drive
Milwaukee, WI761 mi · ~21h 59m drive
Dallas, TX923 mi · ~26h 40m drive
Houston, TX891 mi · ~25h 44m drive
Austin, TX1014 mi · ~29h 18m drive
San Antonio, TX1076 mi · ~31h 5m drive
Los Angeles, CA2136 mi · ~61h 42m drive
San Francisco, CA2334 mi · ~67h 26m drive
San Diego, CA2091 mi · ~60h 24m drive
Seattle, WA2351 mi · ~67h 55m drive
Portland, OR2348 mi · ~67h 50m drive
Denver, CO1401 mi · ~40h 28m drive
Phoenix, AZ1792 mi · ~51h 46m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1771 mi · ~51h 10m drive
Honolulu, HI4696 mi · ~135h 40m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Charlotte (CLT)119 miles
Rental car
179 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
238 min$143-238
Raleigh-Durham (RDU)202 miles
Rental car
303 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
404 min$242-404

Deadline Calendar

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Claflin University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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