Allen University

What Allen University does

Allen University is a private, faith-based Historically Black College/University (HBCU) founded in 1870 in Cokesbury, South Carolina and relocated to Columbia in 1880, where it has operated for over 140 years. It is SACSCOC-accredited to award associate through doctoral degrees and serves a primarily first-generation, Pell Grant-eligible student body drawn largely (90%) from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, with additional representation from 34 states and 8 countries. The university delivers instruction through on-campus residential programs in Business, Social Sciences, and Biology, through graduate programs in Religion (Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary), Business (MBA), Sports Management (MSSM), Environmental Science, and Ministry, and through the Levett School of Education. The Boeing Institute on Civility, housed in the renovated Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital, provides civic-discourse programming in honor of Senator Clementa Pinckney.

The institution's technology stack is conventional enterprise higher-ed IT: Jenzabar (v2025.1) powers the MyAllen student information portal for registration, financial aid, and grades; Canvas (Instructure) was launched as the new Learning Management System via QuickLaunch SSO; Cengage Unlimited and OpenStax supply course content; Echo360 provides lecture capture; BioSig-ID handles assessment identity verification; Microsoft 365/Outlook delivers email; Cisco provides telephony; and PowerFAIDS and ScribOrder support financial aid and transcript services. The 2026 academic year introduced a new calendar with a 100% online Winter Session to support student progression.

Allen University's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a private nonprofit HBCU: recurring tuition and fees (the largest stream), Annual Fund donations with tiered donor recognition ($500 to $5,000+), one-time/perpetual UNCF Gala corporate sponsorships ($2,000 to $30,000), federal Title III Part B and FUTURE ACT grants designated for HBCUs supporting physical plant, academics, fiscal affairs, and endowments, plus miscellaneous planned gifts. Marketing is sales-led: recruitment runs through college fairs, high school visits, alumni chapters, and social media targeting the southeastern US. Estimated annual financial impact on the Columbia community exceeds $30 million.

Name

Allen University

Legal name

Allen University

Website

https://allenuniversity.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Allen University is a faith-based, SACSCOC-accredited HBCU founded in 1870 in Columbia, SC, serving primarily first-generation, Pell-eligible students from the southeastern US through undergraduate, graduate, and theological programs delivered on-campus and online.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAMAB

Private Nonprofit HBCUs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

SECONDARYEDAHAMAG

Faith-Based & Religious-Affiliated HBCUs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

SECONDARYEDAHAMAF

Teaching-Focused & Liberal Arts HBCUs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

SECONDARYEDAHACAD

Historically Black Liberal Arts Colleges

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Liberal Arts Colleges

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Online education
• Theological education

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduate and graduate programs including associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees
2. Annual Fund Campaign: Unrestricted donations supporting student scholarships, academic resources, athletic programs, and areas of greatest need
3. Donations and Gifts: Various gift types including cash, stocks, bonds, life income gifts, bequests, real estate, retirement plan gifts, and matching gifts from employers
4. UNCF Gala Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various tiers (Platinum $30,000, Gold $15,000, Silver $7,500, Bronze $5,000, Table $2,000) for annual fundraising gala
5. Federal Grants (Title III): Title III Part B federal assistance for HBCUs supporting physical plant, academics, fiscal affairs, and endowments, plus FUTURE ACT grant funds

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Allen University is a private, faith-based Historically Black College/University (HBCU) founded in 1870, offering associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degree programs in fields including Business, Social Sciences, Biology, Education, Religion, Sports Management, and Environmental Science. Educational delivery occurs through traditional on-campus instruction in Columbia, SC, fully online distance programs, and the Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary. Ancillary offerings include intercollegiate athletics (AU Yellow Jackets), the Boeing Institute on Civility, and the Flipper Library, all supported by tuition, donations, and federal Title III funding.

Product overview

Allen University is a faith-based Historically Black College/University (HBCU) founded in 1870 in Cokesbury, South Carolina, offering undergraduate and graduate education across multiple colleges and schools. Its product portfolio is centered around the MyAllen Portal (powered by Jenzabar SIS) and the public Allen University Website, which serve as the primary digital platforms for student services, academics, and institutional information. Key academic sub-brands include Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary (offering online Master of Divinity and Master of Arts), the Levett School of Education (Elementary Education with Early Childhood add-on), a Graduate School (MBA, MSSM, Environmental Science), and Online Programs (Criminal Justice, Human Services). Ancillary offerings include the AU Yellow Jackets athletics program, the Boeing Institute on Civility (housed in the renovated Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital), Flipper Library, and the Annual Fund Campaign. The institution is accredited by SACSCOC and has a Financial Responsibility Index score of 2.8.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary: Graduate theological seminary offering Master of Divinity and Master of Religious Studies degrees, including 100% online delivery.
• The Levett School
• Boeing Institute on Civility

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Undergraduate academic programs for students seeking bachelor's and associate degrees, with largest areas of study in Business, Social Sciences, and Biology. Programs are delivered through on-campus instruction in Columbia, SC and online formats, targeting first-generation, Pell Grant-eligible students.
• Graduate Programs (MBA, MSSM, Environmental Science)

Quantifiable outcome

• Estimated $30 million+ annual financial impact on Columbia community
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dickerson-Green Theological SeminarycoreOthersDickerson-Green Theological Seminary is an integral part of Allen University offering graduate theological education (Master of Divinity, Master of Religious Studies, Doctor of Ministry). The seminary is housed in the renovated Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital building along with the Institute for Civility and the School of Education. Its mission is to provide high-quality graduate theological education preparing graduates for Christian congregational life and ministry.
• Levett School of EducationcoreOthersThe Levett School of Education is Allen University's teacher education division offering undergraduate and graduate programs in education. Accredited by SACSCOC, the school prepares students for careers in teaching with programs including Elementary Education B.S. and early childhood certification.
• Boeing Institute on CivilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamed in honor of late Senator Clementa Pinckney (Allen University Class of 1995), the Institute for Civility educates students on peaceful approaches to disagreement and differing viewpoints. The Institute is a permanent memorial to the Emanuel Nine and is housed in the renovated Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital.
• Waverly Wall MuseumminorOthersVisual gallery within the Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital facility showcasing photographs and historic artifacts paying tribute to individuals born in the hospital and medical professionals who served the community. Creates connection between the hospital's significant past and ongoing journey toward an inclusive future.
• ECMC (Educational Credit Management Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllen University partners with ECMC's Project Success Emergency Aid Program designed to support student persistence toward degree completion by removing unforeseen financial obstacles. The program has no fees charged to the institution.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAllen University hosts an annual UNCF Gala as a major fundraising event. The gala offers corporate sponsorship opportunities at various tiers (Platinum $30,000 through Table $2,000) with recognition benefits including premier seating, event promotional materials placement, and social media features.
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)coreOthersAllen University is accredited by SACSCOC to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees. Contact: 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; 404-679-4500

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Voorhees University: Private Episcopal-affiliated HBCU in South Carolina offering baccalaureate degrees and serving a similar first-generation, Southeastern student population with comparable scale and tuition dependence.
• Lane College: Private CME-affiliated HBCU in Jackson, TN offering baccalaureate degrees; comparable to Allen in faith-based denomination sponsorship, small enrollment scale, and Pell-eligible student profile.
• Talladega College: Private HBCU in Talladega, AL offering baccalaureate and selected graduate degrees; comparable to Allen in small scale, faith-influenced heritage, and dependence on HBCU federal funding streams.
• Morris College: Private Baptist-affiliated HBCU in Sumter, SC offering baccalaureate degrees; comparable to Allen in size, faith-based mission, reliance on federal financial aid, and Southeastern recruitment footprint.
• LeMoyne-Owen College: Private HBCU in Memphis, TN offering baccalaureate degrees; similar to Allen in small scale, urban setting, reliance on Title III funding, and focus on first-generation college students.
• Paine College: Private Methodist-affiliated HBCU in Augusta, GA offering baccalaureate degrees; closely comparable to Allen as a small, faith-based HBCU dependent on Title III/HBCU federal funding and serving first-generation students in the Southeast.
• Stillman College: Private Presbyterian-affiliated HBCU in Tuscaloosa, AL offering baccalaureate degrees; comparable to Allen in faith affiliation, small enrollment, and Pell-Grant-dependent tuition model.
• Benedict College: Private HBCU located in Columbia, SC, directly comparable to Allen University in size, faith-affiliated mission, reliance on Pell-eligible students, and SACSCOC accreditation offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the same regional market.
• Claflin University: Private HBCU in Orangeburg, SC offering undergraduate and graduate programs including an MBA, with a similar faith-affiliated heritage and comparable tuition-aid-driven revenue model serving first-generation students.
• Wilberforce University: Private AME-affiliated HBCU in Ohio, the historic sister institution to Allen's AME heritage; comparable in faith-based mission, small enrollment scale, and four-year liberal arts offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AllenUniversity
• Xx.com/AllenU_1870
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/allen-university

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Allen University