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Allen University
Most applicants get into Allen University — 72.5% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Allen University sits in Columbia proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, a designation that shapes both its history and its present mission. The school maintains its African Methodist Episcopal affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Business Administration, Management and Operations, where graduates median $45,474 four years out. Faculty pay averages $66,024 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 576 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 45% of first-years come back for a second year.
Allen University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
Allen University does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 72.5% who got into Allen University did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Allen University received 3,658 applications and admitted 1,175 (32.1%), with 170 enrolling.
How Allen University compares
| Allen University | South Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 72.5% | 72.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $14,304 | $17,440 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $30,497 | $44,354 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Allen University's median earnings are $30,497 — below the South Carolina benchmark of $44,354. Weigh that against the $14,304 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
Allen University lists tuition at $14,304 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Allen University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $14,304 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 576 undergraduates, Allen University is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
Fewer than half of Allen University students — 13.3% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Allen University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $45,474 |
| Social Sciences, General | $38,198 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $35,787 |
| Biology, General | $29,249 |
Median earnings for these 4 Allen University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $30,497 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 11 additional Allen University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Allen University?
Allen University doesn't look at test scores; its 72.5% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Allen University's acceptance rate?
32.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,175 admitted from 3,658 applicants.
How much does Allen University cost?
At Allen University, published tuition is $14,304 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Allen University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Allen University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $30,497 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Carolina
- College of Charleston — 60% admitted
- Claflin University — 64.9% admitted
- Converse University — 67.7% admitted
- Erskine College — 62.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.