Allen University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Columbia, South Carolina. It enrolls 576 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes10
Value54
Affordability94
Selectivity57
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 72.5%, Allen University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
72.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Allen University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
21.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Allen University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,972 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,972
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
77%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
80%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$14,304
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,584
Room & Board (off-campus)
$6,000
Books & Supplies
$1,308
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,998
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,553
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,375
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,610
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,976
Over $110,000
$13,298
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$8,52525%percentile
$34,290Medianpercentile
$35,00075%percentile
$45,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,250
↓ $22,040
No Pell $6,500
↓ $27,790
Dependent students $10,480
↓ $23,810
Independent students $19,000
↓ $15,290
Female students $12,288
↓ $22,002
Male students $10,250
↓ $24,040
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($34,290), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
22% of full-time students who enrolled at Allen University graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
22%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Allen University earn a median of $30,497 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$30,497
Earning > $25K
51%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$23,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$27,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 21% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Allen University is home to 576 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
576
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 91.8%529
Hispanic 4.2%24
International 1.6%9
Other 0.9%5
White 0.7%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Allen University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityColumbia, South Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential425 beds for 576 students
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Allen University offers
a focused set of programs:
9 distinct programs across
9 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Allen University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$53M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$47,729
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
35 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Associate Professors
4
11%
$61,188
Assistant Professors
25
71%
$45,679
Instructors
6
17%
$47,300
Pros & Cons of Allen University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Allen University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, Allen University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Allen University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Allen University.
Is Allen University hard to get into?
Admissions at Allen University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 72.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Allen University?
Allen University has an acceptance rate of 72.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Allen University cost?
The average net price after aid at Allen University is $10,972 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Allen University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $30,497 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,972 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Allen University known for?
Allen University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Allen University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Allen University are $30,497, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Allen University accredited?
Yes. Allen University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Allen University?
Allen University enrolls 576 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Allen University?
Allen University graduates 22% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Allen University a public or private college?
Allen University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Allen University located?
Allen University is located in Columbia, South Carolina.
What programs does Allen University offer?
Allen University offers 9 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Allen University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Allen University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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