Allen University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here; median debt is moderately high. 77% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Allen University is a private nonprofit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina with approximately 576 undergraduate students enrolled. Allen University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 73%. The average net price after financial aid is $10,972 per year. The graduation rate is 13%, and the typical graduate earns $26,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
Allen University is a private historically black university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. It has more than 600 students and still serves a predominantly Black constituency. The campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Allen University Historic District.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: freshman retention is a promising 90%, suggesting students feel connected once they arrive, but the 13% graduation rate is a serious red flag that demands explanation before committing. On the financial side, the average net price of $11,081/year and median debt of just $12,000 are genuinely affordable, though median earnings of $26,400 a decade out raise real questions about return on investment. This HBCU's historic campus and tight-knit community in Columbia, SC make it worth a closer look for students who thrive in smaller settings, but have an honest conversation with current students about what's driving that graduation rate.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 16% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 26 | $45,474 | $68,257 | −$22,783 |
| Biology, General | 16 | $29,249 | $57,214 | −$27,965 |
| Social Sciences, General | 10 | $38,198 | $53,366 | −$15,168 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (576 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in South Carolina
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Denmark, SC · Private nonprofit
Southern Wesleyan University
Central, SC · Private nonprofit
Erskine College
Due West, SC · Private nonprofit
Columbia International University
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit
Coker University
Hartsville, SC · Private nonprofit
Presbyterian College
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See How Colleges Compare
Allen University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Allen University?
Allen University has an acceptance rate of 73%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Allen University hard to get into?
Not especially. Allen University has an acceptance rate of 73%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Allen University cost?
The average net price at Allen University is about $10,972 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Allen University?
Allen University has a graduation rate of 13%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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