
Claflin University is a private historically black university in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1869 after the American Civil War, it was originally named Claflin College and was established to educate freed slaves and their children. The university offers bachelor's and master's degrees and had a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,754 students in the fall of 2023. In 2022, the university received 7,568 undergraduate applications, with an acceptance rate of 78%. During the same year, the median undergraduate tuition at Claflin University was $16,476, and 98% of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants and loans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Institution | Private historically black university |
| Location | Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States |
| Year Founded | 1869 |
| Campus Size | 43-50 acres |
| Total Undergraduate Enrollment | 1,754 (as of fall 2023) |
| Total Enrollment | 1,830 (as of 2022) |
| Acceptance Rate | 78% (as of 2022) |
| No. of Undergraduate Applications | 7,568 (as of 2022) |
| No. of Undergraduate Admitted Students | 5,903 (as of 2022) |
| Enrollment Yield | 6.51% |
| No. of Student Organizations | Over 50 |
| Median Undergraduate Tuition | $16,476 (as of 2022) |
| Average Net Price | $19,951 (as of 2022) |
| Average Yearly Cost of Room and Board | $10,490 (as of 2022) |
| Average Yearly Cost of Books and Supplies | $1,900 (as of 2022) |
| Percentage of Undergraduate Students Receiving Financial Aid through Grants | 98% (as of 2022) |
| Percentage of Undergraduate Students Receiving Financial Aid through Loans | 76% |
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What You'll Learn

Undergraduate enrolment
Claflin University is a private, historically black university in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1869 after the American Civil War, Claflin was established to educate freed slaves and their children. It was the first college in South Carolina to welcome students regardless of race or gender.
In terms of undergraduate enrolment, the university received 7,568 applications in 2022, a 10.6% increase from the previous year. Of those applicants, 5,903 students were accepted, representing a 78% acceptance rate. Notably, 52% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications. Ultimately, there were 1,830 students enrolled at Claflin University in 2022, with a total undergraduate enrolment of 1,754 students in the fall of 2023.
The university offers bachelor's and master's degrees, with popular bachelor's degree concentrations in 2022 including General Psychology (56 degrees awarded), General Biological Sciences (50 degrees), and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (44 degrees). The median undergraduate tuition in 2022 was $16,476, significantly lower than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges. 98% of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants, and 76% received aid through loans. The average net price for students, after grants and loans, was $19,951.
Outside of academics, Claflin University has an active campus life. There are over 50 student organizations, including several honour societies and chapters for eight of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organisations. The university's athletics teams are known as the Panthers, and they compete at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
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Applications and acceptance rate
Claflin University is a private institution founded in 1869 with a campus size of 50 acres. The total undergraduate enrollment for the fall of 2023 is 1,754 students. The acceptance rate for Claflin University is considered somewhat selective, with a rate of 73%. The university has a friendly yet competitive environment.
The admission process at Claflin University involves evaluating applicants holistically, with an average SAT score range of 840-1040 and an average ACT score range of 16-18. The university's admissions process considers more than just standardised test scores, and the regular admissions application deadline is rolling.
The university ranks #153 in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges for National Liberal Arts Colleges. This ranking is based on performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. The university's selectivity and ranking contribute to its reputation and attract students seeking a quality education.
Prospective students considering applying to Claflin University can expect a thorough admissions process that takes into account their academic performance, test scores, and personal qualities. The university aims to ensure that applicants are well-rounded individuals who can contribute to the diverse and competitive environment on campus.
To increase their chances of acceptance, applicants should focus on meeting the university's admissions requirements and demonstrating their unique strengths and potential contributions to the Claflin University community. While the acceptance rate provides a general idea of the selectivity, each applicant's chances depend on their individual profile and how they match the university's admissions criteria.
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Student demographics
Claflin University is a private, historically black university in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1869 after the American Civil War, it was established for the education of freed slaves and their children. The university was named after Massachusetts Governor William Claflin and his father, Boston philanthropist Lee Claflin, who funded the purchase of the campus.
In 2022, Claflin University had a total of 1,830 students enrolled. The university received 7,568 undergraduate applications, of which 5,903 students were accepted, representing a 78% acceptance rate. The university has an overall enrollment yield of 6.51%, which is the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.
The average net price for students at Claflin University in 2022 was $19,951. 98% of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants, and 76% received financial aid through loans. The yearly cost of room and board was $10,490, and the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,900.
The university offers bachelor's and master's degrees, with the most popular bachelor's degree concentrations in 2022 being General Psychology (56 degrees awarded), General Biological Sciences (50 degrees), and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (44 degrees).
There are over 50 student organizations on campus, including several honor societies and chapters for eight of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations. The university's athletics teams are referred to as the Panthers, and they compete at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
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$16.99

Tuition and financial aid
Claflin University is a private institution with a total undergraduate enrolment of 1,754 students as of Fall 2023. The university has a campus size of 50 acres and follows a semester-based academic calendar.
The cost of attendance at Claflin University includes tuition, room and board, books, and personal expenses. The exact cost of attendance is not publicly available, but one source indicates that tuition is worth $21,000 each academic year. Nearly every student has to take out loans to afford the costs of attending Claflin University, suggesting that the financial aid policy at the school may be relatively weak. However, the high number of students with loans could also be attributed to other factors, such as the quality of education provided.
Financial aid can help bridge the gap between the cost of attendance and what families can afford. Grants, scholarships, and loans are all options for financial aid, and the net price for students is the total cost minus the total aid given. The lower the school's cost and the more aid a student receives, the lower the net price they will pay out of pocket.
To manage college costs effectively, it is important to plan for expenses and keep track of the different factors that contribute to the cost of attendance. This includes not only tuition but also living expenses, food, and other personal costs. Students can seek help on campus to access scholarship opportunities and other financial aid options to make their education at Claflin University more affordable.
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History and founding
Claflin University is a private institution that was founded in 1869. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,754 students as of Fall 2023 and a campus size of 50 acres. The university is named after two Methodist churchmen: Massachusetts Governor William Claflin and his father, Boston philanthropist Lee Claflin, who provided much of the funding to purchase the original 43-acre campus. Lee Claflin was a strong supporter of education and abolitionism, and he helped establish several other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the United States.
The university was founded as a college for freed slaves, with the aim of helping them take their rightful places as full American citizens. It was the first college in South Carolina to welcome all students regardless of race or gender, and it is the oldest HBCU in the state. The university's first president was Alonzo Webster, who had previously served on Claflin's board of trustees. He received a charter from the state of South Carolina to establish the college.
Webster was followed by eight other presidents, including Lewis M. Dunton, who served from 1884 to 1922 and was bestowed with one of the university's first honorary degrees, a Master of Arts. Other notable presidents include Joseph B. Randolph (1922-1944) and Henry N. Tisdale (1994-2019). In 2020, Claflin University received a $20 million donation from American novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest single gift in its history.
The university's athletics teams are known as the Panthers, and they compete in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Claflin University has a proud history and continues to be a prominent institution, known for its inclusive values and commitment to providing educational opportunities to all.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2022, there were 1,830 students enrolled at Claflin University.
In Fall 2023, 1,754 students were enrolled at Claflin University.
In 2022, the acceptance rate was 78% with 5,903 admissions out of 7,568 applications.
The overall enrollment yield of Claflin University is 6.51%.
Yes, Claflin University is the oldest historically black college in South Carolina.











































