Photo: Claflin University. Retrieved from: www.hbculifestyle.com
With over 1,900 students and over 30 majors, Claflin University is a private co-educational liberal arts school. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the school is situated in a large town with over 40acres of land.
Orangeburg is truly a college town as its home to not only Claflin University but also South Carolina State University, Southern Methodist College, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. With over 14,000 residents there are many things to do within the town. From museums to restaurants to nightlife, students will never get bored when venturing off campus.
Claflin University is located just 38 miles away from Colombia. Just a short drive away, students have many opportunities to explore the city while also applying for part-time jobs and valuable internships. With many businesses in the city, openings are endless.
There are many chances to succeed within the campus. Offering majors such as art, biotechnology, and gender studies, administrators gives students a range of majors to choose from. Students can study what they want and get an education that inspires them to pursue their interests in hopes that upon graduation, students will make a difference in their communities.
History
Noted as the oldest historically black college or university in South Carolina, Claflin University was founded in 1869 after the Civil War by Methodist missionaries to give freedmen a higher education. The university is named after the then Massachusetts Governor William Claflin and his father, Lee Claflin, who provided much of the money needed to buy a campus for the college.
Notable alumni at Claflin University include Civil Rights Activist Dr. Gloria Rackley Blackwell of the class of 1953, and Leo Twiggs of 1956 who was the first African-American to receive a Doctorate of Arts degree.
Campus Life
There are many clubs and organizations to take part in while at Claflin University. The Panthers can participate in honor societies, the Greek Life, and even the ROTC program which allows students who successfully graduate to be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.
Claflin University participates in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and is Division II. They host10 Varsity sports teams including baseball, basketball, and cross country.
Financial Aid
With total fees including tuition and room and board, Claflin University costs nearly $30,000 a year. Claflin University gives out scholarships, grants, and loans to their students to offset this cost. The average aid package per student is about $10,000. Upon graduation, students can expect to be $20,000 in debt.
At Claflin over 90% of students were found to have financial need. Out of those, 11% of students had their needs fully met. A majority of the students were given 59% of their total need.
