Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 66/100

Claflin University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Orangeburg, South Carolina

About Claflin University

Claflin University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It enrolls 1,706 students (a mid-sized 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.

Acceptance
64.9%
Graduation
49.3%
Net Price
$17,800
Median Earnings (10yr)
$40,304
Enrollment
1,706
Student : Faculty
13:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

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
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 44
Value 31
Affordability 80
Selectivity 69

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 64.9%, Claflin University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate
64.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants 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 Claflin University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective 17.4 pts since 2019
55.2%201965.1%202062.5%202178%202272.6%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Claflin 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 $17,800 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$17,800
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
73%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
74%
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
$18,282
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,480
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,500
Books & Supplies
$950
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,250
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$33,530

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)


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
    $16,354
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $21,118
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $22,279
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $23,502
  • Over $110,000
    $25,071

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.

$5,500
10% percentile
$9,500
25% percentile
$29,000
Median percentile
$36,750
75% percentile
$45,000
90% 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 $23,511 ↓ $5,489
No Pell $12,500 ↓ $16,500
Dependent students $23,725 ↓ $5,275
Independent students $18,305 ↓ $10,695
Female students $23,000 ↓ $6,000
Male students $20,000 ↓ $9,000
Pell recipients: 19.4% (5,633 students)No Pell: 10.3% (2,995 students)Dependent students: 19.6% (5,684 students)Independent students: 15.1% (4,386 students)Female students: 19.0% (5,511 students)Male students: 16.5% (4,792 students)Overall Median$29,000
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,750, less than completers ($29,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

49% of full-time students who enrolled at Claflin University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Claflin University earn a median of $40,304 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,304
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$28,000$31,000$35,000$38,000$42,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$28,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$35,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$28,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$32,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$36,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $7,200, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

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 14.7 pts across 6 years
28.2%1yr37%3yr45.1%5yr42.9%7yr
What this signals: Concerning. Only 43% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Claflin University is home to 1,706 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,706
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
32%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Black 89.2% 1,521
White 2.4% 41
International 2.3% 39
Hispanic 0.8% 13
Other 0.3% 5
Asian 0.1% 2
Black: 89.2% (1,521 students)White: 2.4% (41 students)International: 2.3% (39 students)Hispanic: 0.8% (13 students)Other: 0.3% (5 students)Asian: 0.1% (2 students)Total1,706

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Claflin University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Distant Orangeburg, South Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential 1,171 beds on campus
Adult Learners
10% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Claflin University offers a varied set of programs: 33 distinct programs across 18 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.

7 Programs
2 Programs
4 Programs
1 Program
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Claflin University is 13:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$152M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,210
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

116 instructional faculty across 6 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
Full Professors 24 21% $84,873
Associate Professors 36 31% $65,151
Assistant Professors 39 34% $66,068
Instructors 14 12% $57,560
Lecturers 2 2% $46,442
No Rank 1 1% $54,575

Pros & Cons of Claflin University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Claflin 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
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
  • Below-average completion rate
  • Modest first-year retention
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • Higher than typical student debt at graduation
  • Most students take on federal loans

Frequently Asked Questions about Claflin University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Claflin University.

Is Claflin University hard to get into?
Admissions at Claflin University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 64.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Claflin University?
Claflin University has an acceptance rate of 64.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Claflin University cost?
The average net price after aid at Claflin University is $17,800 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Claflin University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,304 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,800 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Claflin University known for?
Claflin University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Nursing, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Claflin University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Claflin University are $40,304, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Claflin University accredited?
Yes. Claflin University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Claflin University?
Claflin University enrolls 1,706 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Claflin University?
Claflin University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Claflin University a public or private college?
Claflin University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Claflin University located?
Claflin University is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
What programs does Claflin University offer?
Claflin University offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Nursing, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Claflin University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Claflin University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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