Dionte Green Younger, 11th grader at Brien McMahon High, and Jeremiah Jordan, 11th grader at Brien McMahon High School, standing next to the cheerful Claflin University tour guide
Claflin University
By Jordan Vann, 10th grader at Norwalk High School; Dionte Green Younger, 11th grader at Brien McMahon High School; and Jeremiah Jordan, 11th grader at Brien McMahon High School
Claflin University is a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) located in Orangeburg, SC, less than a mile from South Carolina State University (known for the Orangeburg massacre). Claflin University feels like an unknown gem of the South. We were pleasantly surprised at the depth of what Claflin offers to its students. There are study-abroad opportunities. Claflin is the top HBCU in Alumni giving (both in money and mentoring of current students), a Top 10 HBCU in the nation, and the #1 HBCU in South Carolina. We were convinced that Claflin would be a perfect place to launch our higher education journey, which will lead to career and life successes.
Claflin is the oldest HBCU in the state. This College was founded in 1869 and named in honor of Lee Claflin, a prominent Methodist layman from Boston, Massachusetts. Yearly tuition of $27,000 per year is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. Books are free, and Honors Scholarship with monthly stipends are awarded to students earning a 3.7 GPA, 1,200 on the SAT, and 27 on the ACT. A full-ride Honors Scholarship is awarded to students with a 3.5 GPA, 1,100 on the SAT, and 24 on the ACT. Honors scholars receive preferred suite-style living and much more. Student to staff ratio is 13 to 1.
Jordan Vann, 10h grader at Norwalk High School
Students at Claflin compete in Division II in football, basketball, track and field, volleyball, softball, baseball, cross country plus e-Gaming, and over eighty clubs. Claflin students can participate with the South Carolina State University (SCSU) band. Claflin considers SCSU their daughter institution since they gifted the land to SCSU.
Claflin University expands on its arts and commits to excellence. It is the first university to open its institution to all races, gender, religion, and ethnic groups. Claflin’s acceptance rate is 57%, and the graduation rate is 55%. Claflin is a small private college with a population of slightly over 2,000 graduate and undergraduate students and has about 37-40 majors, such as business, music, sociology, and more.
This college embodies its mascot, the panther; it’s more commonly seen alongside its athletics. Claflin’s mission is “dedicated to providing a student-centered, liberal arts education grounded in cutting-edge research, experiential learning, state-of-the-art technology, community service, and life-long personal and professional fulfillment.” This allows Claflin to develop and grow its rich community and fuel success.
Eighty percent of our college tour participants plan to apply to Claflin University and share in the Panther Pride.
