Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Claflin University #975 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,367 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 22.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Claflin University #1029 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for its student population. --- Claflin University's composite ranking reflects balanced performance across access, mobility, and return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's mobility outcomes stand out, with graduates achieving meaningful economic progress relative to their starting points.
Azimuth ranks Claflin University #975 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Claflin University enrolls roughly 1,706 undergraduates. Retention is 75.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 51.6%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a historically Black private institution. Claflin University serves a student population with significant financial need: 73.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.4% are first-generation college students. Where the institution performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Claflin University #1389 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,367 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Claflin University in the 22.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The composite reflects a strong earnings advantage paired with broad access to low-income and first-generation students. Claflin University's dominant program family is Business, which anchors the institution's economic signature and labor-market alignment. Affordability sits in the 40.6 percentile and access in the 92.8 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, positioning Claflin University as an institution that combines meaningful financial outcomes with genuine accessibility for students from under-resourced backgrounds.
Claflin University's published cost of attendance is $33,530. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,354, middle-income families pay around $22,279, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,071. Azimuth ranks Claflin University #847 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Claflin University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap helps families plan realistically for the true out-of-pocket cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $29,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $24,579; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Claflin University's median four-year earnings of $43,925, median federal debt of $29,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $328 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Claflin University is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Orangeburg, SC. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $43,925, placing Claflin University in the 2.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,367 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 22.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 73.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.4% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Claflin University in the 4.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Claflin University's program portfolio is concentrated in Business — students interested in these fields will find strong outcomes relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,959.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Claflin University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Claflin University's published cost of attendance is $33,530. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,354, middle-income families pay around $22,279, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,071.
Azimuth ranks Claflin University #847 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Claflin University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap helps families plan realistically for the true out-of-pocket cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $29,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $24,579; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Claflin University's median four-year earnings of $43,925, median federal debt of $29,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $328 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Claflin University earn median 4-year earnings of $43,925, placing Claflin University in the 2.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,367 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Claflin University in the 22.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Claflin University #1389 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Claflin University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 56 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $38,625, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 50 students with median 4-year earnings of $35,502, and Criminal Justice delivers median 4-year earnings of $41,353 for 44 graduates.
These programs anchor Claflin University's career outcomes and align with the institution's dominant focus on Business education.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Coker University Higher acceptance rate (24.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 76 miles away; similar graduate earnings | SC | 97% | $40,117 | Compare |
Columbia College Higher acceptance rate (23.2 percentage points higher) and located 39 miles away; similar graduate earnings | SC | 96% | $41,338 | Compare |
Columbia International University Higher acceptance rate (25 percentage points higher) and located 42 miles away; similar graduate earnings | SC | 98% | $38,951 | Compare |
West Virginia State University Higher acceptance rate (23.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WV | 96% | $40,492 | Compare |
College Of Coastal Georgia Higher acceptance rate (26 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | GA | 99% | $39,318 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Dallas Similar quality tier (#29353 ranked) | TX | 53% | $58,285 | #29353 | Compare |
Lycoming College Similar quality tier (#29357 ranked) | PA | 74% | $56,210 | #29357 | Compare |
Virginia Union University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29358 ranked) | VA | 98% | $38,275 | #29358 | Compare |
Tiffin University Similar quality tier (#29360 ranked) | OH | 80% | $35,942 | #29360 | Compare |
Georgetown College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29347 ranked) | KY | 91% | $52,074 | #29347 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
43 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
36 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
6 graduates
Marketing
7 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
44 graduates
Claflin University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on career-ready undergraduate education. Psychology, General is the largest program with 56 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Criminal Justice, Nursing, and Communication and Media Studies.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 415 students annually, the institution concentrates its degree output in applied business and management fields aligned with regional workforce demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in business-adjacent programs.
Nursing leads with median 4-year earnings of $83,436 across 43 graduates, followed by Business Administration with earnings of $58,021, Criminal Justice with earnings of $41,353, Sociology with earnings of $39,353, and Psychology, General with earnings of $38,625. This concentration in Business — representing 17% of graduates — positions Claflin University as a focused institution where program choice aligns directly with employment outcomes in stable, in-demand fields.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Claflin University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand. As a private nonprofit institution in South Carolina, Claflin University serves students seeking a clear pathway from degree completion to workforce entry in business and professional roles.
