Claflin University
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access and students from lower-income families. median debt is moderately high; earnings barely cover the debt load. 73% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Claflin University is a private nonprofit institution located in Orangeburg, South Carolina with approximately 1,706 undergraduate students enrolled. Claflin University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 65%. The average net price after financial aid is $17,800 per year. The graduation rate is 52%, and the typical graduate earns $30,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Claflin University is a private historically black liberal arts college in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1869 after the American Civil War by northern missionaries for the education of freedmen and their children, it offers bachelor's and master's degrees.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 49% graduation rate means fewer than half of students who start actually finish, which is a real concern worth weighing carefully. On the positive side, this HBCU has a strong sense of community and historical mission dating back to 1869, and the average net price of $21,232/year is manageable — though median earnings of $30,700 a decade out mean you'll want to keep borrowing in check. Worth considering if you're drawn to a close-knit HBCU experience and have a clear plan to stay enrolled and graduate.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 51 | $38,625 | $50,706 | −$12,081 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 39 | $83,436 | $88,910 | −$5,474 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 30 | $37,025 | $54,562 | −$17,537 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 30 | $41,353 | $55,378 | −$14,025 |
| Biology, General | 22 | $35,502 | $57,214 | −$21,712 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 21 | $38,161 | $56,359 | −$18,198 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 12 | $58,021 | $68,257 | −$10,236 |
| Marketing | 12 | $45,502 | $69,303 | −$23,801 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 10 | $46,265 | $47,382 | −$1,117 |
| Sociology | 8 | $39,353 | $52,657 | −$13,304 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 7 | $34,128 | $69,830 | −$35,702 |
| Political Science and Government | 5 | $40,910 | $63,293 | −$22,383 |
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 (1,706 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in South Carolina
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Bob Jones University
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See How Colleges Compare
Claflin 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 Claflin University?
Claflin University has an acceptance rate of 65%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Claflin University hard to get into?
Claflin University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 65%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Claflin University cost?
The average net price at Claflin University is about $17,800 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 Claflin University?
Claflin University has a graduation rate of 52%, 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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