No tuition increase for coming year, official says

President Dwaun Warmack (third from left) and Claflin CFO Ashley Schofield (far right) pose with Panther reporters on April 16. Center is Lee Harter, Panther adviser. 

As students continue to watch the cost of college closely, Claflin University says tuition will remain unchanged for the upcoming year, even as the institution continues campus projects. 

Ashley Schofield, Claflin chief financial officer and interim vice president of fiscal affairs, addressed concerns about tuition during a meeting with Panther reporters on April 16. She was joined by President Dwaun Warmack and Chief of Staff Cletra Peters.

“There will be no tuition increase for this upcoming year,” Schofield said. “Tuition was not raised under Dr. Warmack’s leadership until this academic year.” 

Tuition had not increased since President Dwaun Warmack began his tenure at Claflin in 2019. That changed in the 2025-26 school year when students saw a 5% increase, or about $226 per student. 

University officials said tuition funds are directed toward operational costs and campus upkeep, not new projects. 

Beyond recent housing changes, the university has also undergone major campus redevelopment projects. 

The Dunwalton presidential residence on campus was demolished in March 2026 to make way for a new biotechnology and innovation center, which was funded through federal grant dollars via South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn. Construction of the new building is expected to be completed by fall 2027. 

The original Dunwalton was constructed in 1971 and named in honor of Dr. Lewis Dunton, the third president of Claflin University. A new presidential residence, constructed and owned by Claflin, is now located off campus. 

Following recommendations from campus planning consultants, additional changes were made to campus layout and development priorities. Discussions began when consultants recommended placing the new biotechnology building next to the student center to enhance the university’s front-facing vision along Magnolia Street. 

Following that recommendation, the board decided to move the president out of the on-campus residence, freeing the space for future development. 

While Schofield did not share the total cost, she said the new residence was funded strictly through cash reserves the university had already set aside, not through current tuition revenue or student fees. 

Peters, vice president and chief of staff, said the residence is intended for longevity. 

“Dr. Warmack is not going to be president forever,” she said. “What this does is provide a space that’s appealing to other presidents when you’re looking at recruiting.” 

In terms of day-to-day operations, Schofield said a significant portion of university spending goes toward maintaining aging facilities. 

“All of our residential facilities are aged, meaning they’re over 20 years old,” Schofield said. “A lot of the mechanical parts — HVAC systems, elevator systems — are old, so they require modernization.” 

She explained that the upgrades, including elevator replacements and HVAC system overhauls, can cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars and often take months or even years to complete due to supply chain delays and equipment shortages. 

Schofield pointed to past delays with campus projects, including the student center, which was held up due to an elevator installation just weeks before its opening. She also noted similar challenges in residential halls, where replacement parts for critical systems can take months to source. 

“It’s not that we’re not willing to pay for it,” she said, emphasizing that many delays stem from availability and manufacturing timelines rather than funding.