Claflin University vs Philander Smith College
Claflin University and Philander Smith College, both historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), offer unique educational experiences to their students. Claflin, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, has an acceptance rate of 68%, while Philander Smith, in Little Rock, Arkansas, has an acceptance rate of 58%. Claflin's student body is predominantly female (63%), while Philander Smith's is more evenly split (52% female, 48% male). Both institutions offer a range of popular majors, including business, education, and nursing, but Claflin also offers programs in agriculture and family and consumer sciences, while Philander Smith has strengths in computer science and social work. With graduation rates of 45% and 39% respectively, both universities are committed to student success and providing a supportive learning environment. Explore the comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional HBCUs and find the best fit
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![]() Claflin University |
![]() Philander Smith College |
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Overview |
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Location | Orangeburg, South Carolina | Little Rock, Arkansas |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 71.0% | 55.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | Methodism |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 62.5% | Open Admission |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$50
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$25 |
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 8,467 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,289 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 315 | |
Yield rate | 6.0% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | Required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Not required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $39,446 | $31,724 |
Average net price | $19,308 | $14,396 |
Tuition | $16,476 | $11,804 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,030
Meal plan:
$5,450
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Room/dormitory:
$5,192
Meal plan:
$3,058
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
97.0%
Average amount $13,431 |
98.0%
Average amount $11,505 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
80.0%
Average amount $6,294 |
57.0%
Average amount $5,451 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $9,735 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,779
Men 29.1% Women 70.9% |
710
Men 36.1% Women 63.9% |
Graduate students |
87
Men 29.9% Women 70.1% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 22.2% | N/A |
International students | 2.3% | 5.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 1,174 | 522 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Carolina Georgia Florida Michigan Missouri | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 51.1% | 28.2% |
Dropout rate | 21.6% | 68.8% |
Transferred out | 25.4% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biological and Physical Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
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