Allen University
- Graduation Rate
- 13% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $30,497 D
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $10,972 B
- 36% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 73% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~1 years. Net gain: $794,981.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 25% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 13% — 77% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Allen University
Allen University is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 576
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU · 51
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Allen University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 73% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,972 a year after grants and scholarships — 36% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $30,497 ten years after enrolling — 25% below the typical college, against $34,290 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.75 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 576 students, Allen University in Columbia, SC, caters primarily to those seeking a close-knit academic environment. The acceptance rate of 73% indicates that the school is welcoming to a range of applicants. Students often focus on areas like Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, and Biology & Biomedical, creating a diverse educational landscape where personal attention can enhance learning.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $30,497 within ten years, which provides a reference point for potential financial outcomes. While the graduation rate is on the lower side at 13%, those who do graduate may see their degrees open doors to various career paths. The affordability of the school is notable, especially since a significant 77% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help offset costs.
When it comes to the practical side of attending Allen University, the net price after aid is approximately $10,972, making it relatively accessible for many families. However, the median debt of $34,290 is something to consider, as it may be a burden for some graduates. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a smaller community and are willing to navigate the challenges of a less conventional academic path.
Can I Get In?
How selective Allen University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Allen University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Columbia, South Carolina, Allen University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. The graduation rate is roughly 13%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Retention Rate
- 45%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 49%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,502
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.15
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
- Applicants
- 3,123
- Admitted
- 1,354
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Allen University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Allen University is $14,304, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,972. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,553 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $34,290 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $14,304
- Out-of-State
- $14,304
- Avg Net Price
- $10,972
- Median Debt
- $34,290
- Pell Grant Rate
- 77%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 80%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,553
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,375
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,610
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,298
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Allen University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Allen University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Allen University report median earnings of $30,497, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $23,889
- 8 Years
- $26,980
- 10 Years
- $30,497
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 1.12x
- Earning > $25K
- 26%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (15)
- 8%
- 100% (15)
- 8%
- 100% (15)
- 8%
- 100% (15)
- 8%
How Allen Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Allen University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Allen University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,972/year ($43,888 total). Graduates earn $30,497 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $838,869 in total earnings — a net gain of $794,981 (19.1× your investment). The median debt is $34,290, which takes about a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 13% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $43,888
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $838,869
- Net Return
- $794,981
- ROI Multiple
- 19.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,972
- Median Debt
- $34,290
- Debt Payback
- ~1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 13%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $458,613
- Investment Income
- $176,735
Top Programs
The fields Allen University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 28% $26,707 early-career
- Social Sciences 18% $27,732 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 13% $21,762 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7%
- Education 3%
- English & Literature 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- Mathematics & Statistics 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Allen University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Allen University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Columbia, South Carolina, Allen University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. The graduation rate is roughly 13%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Allen University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Allen University is $14,304, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,972. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,553 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $34,290 in federal student loans.
Is Allen University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Allen University report median earnings of $30,497, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Allen University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Allen University. Its economic connectedness score is 0.75, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.11), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Allen University.
- Rust CollegeHolly Springs, MS · Close peer17% grad $32,275 earn 49% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Talmudical Seminary Oholei TorahBrooklyn, NY · Close peer17% grad $39,230 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, NC · Close peer29% grad $38,412 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- Stillman CollegeTuscaloosa, AL · Close peer32% grad $35,421 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar size
- Southern University at New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Close peer16% grad $34,042 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Tougaloo CollegeTougaloo, MS · Close peer33% grad $34,724 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Allen University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Allen University. Its economic connectedness score is 0.75, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.11), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note