Campus & Student Life at Claflin University

Home to about 1,969 undergraduates in 2020, Claflin is a small, private university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. This is a great opportunity for those who would thrive in a charming, small-town atmosphere. Should you tire of the campus however, Claflin offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Claflin can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Claflin Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Claflin is an "Historically Black College or University" (HBCU)

The Higher Education Act of 1965 established historically black colleges and universities as institutions whose principal mission was the education of African-Americans. Today, the HBCU designation does not necessitate that Claflin is exclusively or even predominantly African-American (though it currently is). Thanks to integration efforts, there are HBCUs with non-black majorities and non-HBCUs with black majorities. For more information you can review the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Claflin University is Affiliated With the United Methodist Faith.

Some, but not all, schools with a religious affiliation may require a statement of faith or religious studies component. Contact the school to see what their requirements are. If an affinity with the United Methodist faith interests you, check out our ranking of The Best United Methodist Colleges and Universities.

Claflin Has a Disability Services Site

For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Claflin Disability Services.

Claflin for the Military

While not a "service academy", Claflin does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit Claflin Veteran Services . For more information, check out our Claflin for Veterans Guide.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Claflin University

Claflin offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Claflin University

Claflin has a comparatively small, student body. There were 1,969 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 1,806 (91.7%). Part-time attendance was 163 (8.3%).

Claflin University is Ranked #2,878 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Claflin has a very homogeneous student body. We rank Claflin #2878 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Claflin by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Claflin Diversity Guide.

Claflin University Competes in the NCAA

Claflin has a total of 185 student athletes, 90 men and 95 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Claflin University Athletics