Academics
Located in Columbia, South Carolina, Benedict College is an inclusive, family-oriented institution that provides a transformative learning environment to a diverse student population of around 1,700 students. Three schools house 25 undergraduate degree programs, including majors in many in-demand areas of study such as STEM, Cyber Security, Mass Communication, Computer Science, and Education. Through individualized coursework and general education requirements, students are prepared to enter the world as global citizens, and all can avail themselves of the Benjamin F. Payton Learning Resources Center (the school’s library center). All first-year students are enrolled in The College Experience, a course that teaches them how to make the most of campus resources such as drop-in tutoring, workshops, and technology support videos. All sophomores also complete a Professional Pathways course, which exposes them to career options and professional development. The Office of Extended Learning Services offers non-traditional students and adult learners the opportunity to obtain a degree through nighttime and weekend classes, and the Veterans Resource Center helps active and retired military with all of their educational needs.
Career
The annual Harambee Festival commemorates Black history and culture, as do annual Black History Month events held at the college. There are more than 50 organizations available to students, including academic clubs, social justice organizations, and the Miss and Mister Benedict College & the Royal Court; fraternities and sororities are also present on campus. The Benedict College Gospel Choir is one of the nation’s top collegiate gospel choirs, and the Marching Tigers “Band of Distinction” performs at most football and basketball games, as well as several events throughout the year; this popular organization has over 125 members. The school was recently a recipient of a Propel Impact Grant for Arts & Entertainment, which it plans to use to create a groundbreaking student graphic novel that will center on the learning experiences of HBCU students with career interests in music, video, and visual arts.
Culture
A report issued by the UNCF found that a Benedict graduate working full-time throughout their working life can expect to earn $1.1 million in additional income because of their Benedict College degree. Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Biology are the most desired degrees at Benedict. Notable alumni include civil rights leader Modjeska Monteith Simkins, James Maxie Ponder (the first Black physician in St. Petersburg, FL), and former U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman LeRoy T. Walker.
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