Claflin University
Claflin University is a private nonprofit HBCU in Orangeburg, South Carolina, founded in 1869, serving approximately 1,900 students across 40 undergraduate majors, 6 graduate degrees, and 10 online degrees, with revenue generated primarily from tuition, alumni donations, and federal grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1869
- HeadquartersOrangeburg, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Claflin University does
Claflin University is a private, nonprofit historically black university founded in 1869 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is the oldest and first HBCU in the state, currently serving approximately 1,900 students across 40 undergraduate majors, 6 graduate degrees, and 10 online degrees organized into four academic schools (Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business, and Education). The institution maintains a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, with 83% of faculty holding terminal degrees, and serves a diversified student base spanning traditional undergraduates, graduate students, working adults in accelerated CPCS programs, and asynchronous online learners.
The technology platform is conventional enterprise education infrastructure: Canvas LMS (claflin.instructure.com) for course delivery, Office 365 for productivity, a YouVisit virtual tour for prospective students, Constant Contact for email marketing, and a bncollege.com-powered bookstore. Specialized offerings include the Honors College and Alice Carson Tisdale Honor College, the Visionary Leadership Institute, the Public Opinion and Social Behavior Research Institute (POSBRI), and the STEM Truck for community outreach. A new two-building Public Health Center is under construction in 2026 with HRSA federal grant funding. The institution maintains SACSCOC accreditation, Title IX compliance, and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
Revenue is generated through tuition and fees (subscription-recurring, per-semester billing across undergraduate, graduate, and online tiers), annual alumni and donor giving via the Claflin Fund, federal grants (notably HRSA), and project-based grants such as the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through online applications at apply.claflin.edu, supported by a multi-channel recruitment infrastructure spanning social media, virtual tours, campus events (Panther Ready Day, Hilltop Experience), and high school counselor engagement. The institution markets to four customer segments (traditional undergraduates, graduate students, non-traditional/professional students, and online learners) and cites Top 10 Private HBCU status and the #1 alumni giving ranking among HBCUs as primary positioning claims.
Claflin University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Claflin University
- Legal name
- Claflin University
- Website
- https://claflin.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1869
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Claflin University is a private nonprofit HBCU in Orangeburg, South Carolina, founded in 1869, serving approximately 1,900 students across 40 undergraduate majors, 6 graduate degrees, and 10 online degrees, with revenue generated primarily from tuition, alumni donations, and federal grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Claflin University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Honors Liberal Arts Colleges (Honors College/Program-Led) (EDAHACAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)
Keywords
Where Claflin University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Orangeburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Claflin University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, along with associated fees for academic programs
- Annual Giving and Donations (The Claflin Fund): Annual Alumni, Family, and Friends Campaign providing critical financial support for scholarships and university initiatives
- Federal Grants (HRSA): Health Resources and Services Administration grant funding for public health center construction and healthcare programs
- Grant Funding (Library of Congress): Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant for collaborative K-12 educational initiatives
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Undergraduate Programs |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate Programs |
| Subscription | Annual | Online Programs (CUOnline) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Claflin University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Claflin University is a private, nonprofit historically black university that delivers residential undergraduate education, graduate degree programs, and continuing education for working adults at its Orangeburg, South Carolina campus. Academic offerings are organized across four schools—Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business, and Education—spanning 40 undergraduate majors, 6 graduate degrees, and 10 online degrees, with online delivery through the CUOnline platform built on Canvas. Specialized named offerings include the Visionary Leadership Institute, Honors College, Alice Carson Tisdale Honor College, and the Center for Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS) for accelerated adult degree completion.
Product overview
Claflin University is a comprehensive historically black university offering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs through multiple academic schools. The institution operates CU Online as its primary online education platform, complemented by the Center for Professional and Continuing Studies for working adults. Academic divisions include the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (with programs in Biotechnology, Cybersecurity, Nursing, Computer Science), School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Art, English, Political Science, Mass Communications), School of Business (Business Administration, MBA), and School of Education. The university provides specialized programs including the Visionary Leadership Institute, Honors College, Alice Carson Tisdale Honor College, and Office of Global Education for study abroad. Additional services include library resources, career development, academic coaching, and research institutes like POSBRI.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CU Online
- Center for Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS)
- School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- School of Business
- School of Education
- Master of Science in Biotechnology
- Master of Science in Cyber Security
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
- Visionary Leadership Institute
- Honors College
- Alice Carson Tisdale Honor College
- Office of Global Education
Companies that use Claflin University
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Claflin University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature2 records
Claflin University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Orangeburg County School District (OCSD)coreClaflin University and OCSD partnership for the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant project. The initiative strengthens instructional practices, enhances curriculum development, and expands access to high-quality educational resources across seven OCSD high schools. Workshops provided educators with training and strategies to integrate Library of Congress resources into classroom instruction.
- Hyde Closet, Inc.minorPartnership with Hyde Closet, Inc. for the Panther Closet professional attire program. Donors sponsor students to receive professional outfits, dry cleaning, and styling advice for career readiness and professional dress.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Claflin University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Allen University: Allen is a small private HBCU in Columbia, SC affiliated with the AME Church, offering undergraduate and graduate programs. As a similarly-sized, faith-affiliated HBCU in the same state, it competes with Claflin for South Carolina students in the HBCU market.
- Benedict College: Benedict is a private HBCU in Columbia, SC offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a liberal arts focus. As a like-sized regional HBCU located in the same state, it directly competes with Claflin for South Carolina students seeking HBCU experiences.
- South Carolina State University: SC State is a public HBCU in Orangeburg, SC — the same city as Claflin — offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Geographic overlap makes it a direct local competitor for HBCU-bound students in the Orangeburg and Columbia markets.
Broad incumbents
- Howard University: Howard is a prominent private HBCU in Washington, DC offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Like Claflin, it serves the African American community with a liberal arts and STEM focus, and competes for the same demographic of high-achieving students seeking HBCU experiences.
Direct peers
- Tuskegee University: Tuskegee is a private HBCU in Alabama with strong STEM, engineering, and veterinary programs. As a similarly-sized private HBCU in the Southeast, it competes with Claflin for students interested in STEM, agriculture, and pre-professional tracks.
- Hampton University: Hampton is a private HBCU in Virginia offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs with a strong emphasis on STEM and liberal arts. It is similar in scale to Claflin and competes head-to-head for students across the Southeast seeking private HBCU education.
- Xavier University of Louisiana: Xavier is a private, Catholic-affiliated HBCU in New Orleans, distinguished by its STEM and pre-med programs. It competes with Claflin for STEM-oriented African American students and serves a similar student demographic seeking small, faith-rooted HBCU experiences.
- Morehouse College: Morehouse is a private, all-men HBCU in Atlanta focused on liberal arts education and leadership development. It competes with Claflin for traditional undergraduate students, particularly through overlapping value propositions around HBCU identity, mentorship, and alumni networks.
- Spelman College: Spelman is a private, all-women HBCU in Atlanta with a strong liberal arts focus, small student-to-faculty ratios, and robust alumni giving. It directly competes with Claflin for high-achieving African American women seeking residential HBCU liberal arts education.
- Fisk University: Fisk is a small private HBCU in Nashville with a strong liberal arts focus and high-achieving student profile. It competes with Claflin for academically-oriented students seeking intimate residential HBCU environments with strong research opportunities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Claflin University social profiles
Digital presenceClaflin University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Claflin University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Claflin University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Claflin University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Claflin University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Claflin University
What does Claflin University do?
Claflin University is a private, nonprofit historically black university that delivers residential undergraduate education, graduate degree programs, and continuing education for working adults at its Orangeburg, South Carolina campus. Academic offerings are organized across four schools—Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business, and Education—spanning 40 undergraduate majors, 6 graduate degrees, and 10 online degrees, with online delivery through the CUOnline platform built on Canvas. Specialized named offerings include the Visionary Leadership Institute, Honors College, Alice Carson Tisdale Honor College, and the Center for Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS) for accelerated adult degree completion.
Is Claflin University a public or private company?
Claflin University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Claflin University founded?
Claflin University was founded in 1869. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Claflin University based?
Claflin University is headquartered in Orangeburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Claflin University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are annual Giving and Donations (The Claflin Fund), federal Grants (HRSA) and grant Funding (Library of Congress).
Who are Claflin University's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Allen University, Benedict College and South Carolina State University. Howard University is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Tuskegee University, Hampton University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Morehouse College, Spelman College and Fisk University.
Does Claflin University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Claflin University.
What industry is Claflin University in?
Claflin University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAL, Honors Liberal Arts Colleges (Honors College/Program-Led), with a secondary code of EDAAAEAA, University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.