July 29 …
Allen University was founded by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Cokesbury, SC on July 29, 1870.
Originally named Payne Institute in honor of AME Bishop Daniel A. Payne, an advocate for the education of those recently freed from slavery, the school emphasized the training of AME ministers and teachers. Ten years after its founding, Delegates to the AME 1880 Annual Conference voted to move Payne Institute to Columbia, SC, and incorporated the school under South Carolina state law, under its current name to honor the founder of the AME church, Bishop Richard Allen.
During the early 20th century, Allen addressed the needs of students at all educational levels, providing elementary and high school coursework, but also programs in theology, law and the liberal arts. Addressing the needs of the Black population as it progressed, Allen’s wide-ranging curriculum eventually phased out its grammar school in the mid-1920s and its high school in 1933.
Today, the University — located on a 20-acre campus in Columbia — confers Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees in eight academic majors: Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Music, Religion, and Social Science. Graduate programs are also offered in Religion.
The online education program is the most recent addition to the curriculum. This program is designed to meet the educational goals of traditional day students as well as adult professionals who already hold degrees.
The University enrolls a population with varying levels of academic preparation that is primarily first generation, and Pell Grant eligible. Traditionally, 90% of Allen’s student body originates from the Southeast — South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Allen’s students hail from all South Carolina counties, from 34 US states, and from eight foreign countries.
Allen University continues to pursue its vision to “prepare leaders who are skilled in communication, critical thinking, and who demonstrate high moral character.” The school aims to provide a stimulating academic environment to enhance their students’ educational progress and to prepare them to achieve in a culturally diverse global economy.
Sources:
- Wikipedia contributors, “Allen University,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed February 21, 2026).
- Pitzer, R. (2010, January 05). Allen University (1870- ). BlackPast.org.
