What Claflin University is like

What it's like

Claflin is a historically black liberal arts college rooted in post-Civil War ideals of education and social mobility. Founded in 1869 by Methodist missionaries to educate freedmen, it retains that mission-driven character. The campus in Orangeburg, South Carolina supports over 50 student organizations and competes in NCAA Division II athletics, with a community that spans Greek life, honor societies, and athletic clubs.

Academic feel

The institution organizes academics across four schools: Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business, and Education. Research activity is substantial in STEM disciplines, with significant work in psychology, sociology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, and organic chemistry. The college offers both bachelor's and master's degrees.

Strengths

• Claflin is the oldest historically black college or university in South Carolina and was the first college in the state to welcome all students regardless of race or gender.[1]
• The institution was the first Black college to offer architectural drawing courses.[1]
• Claflin received a $20 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2020, the largest single gift in the institution's history.[1]
• The college maintains active research output across multiple STEM fields including psychology with 141 affiliated works, chemistry with 123 works, and sociology with 121 works.[2][3][4]

Traditions

• Claflin competes in ten intercollegiate varsity sports as the Panthers, a member of NCAA Division II and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association since 2018.[1]
• The college hosts chapters of eight of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations on campus.[1]