Small in size. Huge in impact.
Since 1870, Allen has opened the door to a quality education for students who may not have had the traditional preparation or means to afford one, and changed families and communities in the process.
Founded on faith. Built on opportunity.
Allen University was founded in 1870 in Cokesbury, South Carolina, and has called Columbia home since 1880. As a faith-based institution rooted in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Allen makes an impact far beyond its size, on its students, their families, and the community around it.
At the turn of the 20th century, Allen was home to one of only three law schools among HBCUs. Since then, it has graduated legions of educators, clergy, and elected officials, and it continues to prepare graduates for lives of service to the greater good.
A big footprint for a close-knit campus.
- $30M+Estimated economic impact in Columbia each year
- 34States represented in our student body, plus every South Carolina county
- 8Countries represented by our international students
- 1880The year Allen made Columbia its home
Opportunity is our tradition.
Allen welcomes students with a wide range of academic preparation and meets them where they are, with the support to help them finish strong.
First-generation scholars
Most Allen students are the first in their families to attend college, and many are Pell Grant eligible.
Rooted in the Southeast
Most students come from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, joined by classmates from across the country and around the world.
Programs that lead somewhere
Our largest areas of study are Business, Social Sciences, and Biology, with graduate programs and an accredited seminary.
Majors & programs
Where history is part of everyday life.
The heart of our campus is made up of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, giving Allen one of the most distinctive settings in Columbia.
- Chappelle Administration Building, a National Historic Landmark
- The Carver Theater, part of Allen’s historic facilities
- Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital, a historic Columbia landmark
- Coppin Hall, the focus of our HBCU preservation project
Learn more about Allen
History
From Payne Institute to Allen University.
Mission & Vision
What guides us and where we’re going.
Office of the President
Meet Allen’s leadership.
Accreditation
SACSCOC and ATS accreditation.
Board of Trustees
The leaders who govern Allen.
Senior Leadership
Our executive team.
Strategic Plan
Our roadmap for the future.
Coppin Hall Project
Preserving a campus landmark.
Become all that can be imagined.
Come see why generations of students have found their purpose on Harden Street.