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Former names | Denmark Industrial School for African Americans (1897–1902) Voorhees Industrial Institute for Colored Youths (1902–1947) Voorhees School and Junior College (1947–1962) Voorhees College (1962–2022) |
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| Type | Privatehistorically black university |
| Established | April 14, 1897; 128 years ago (1897-04-14) |
Religious affiliation | Episcopal Church |
Academic affiliations | NAICU[1] UNCF |
| Endowment | $10 million (2021)[2] |
| President | Ronnie Hopkins |
| Students | 507 |
| Undergraduates | 473 |
| Postgraduates | 34 |
| Location | , South Carolina ,United States 33°18′32.61″N81°7′41.51″W / 33.3090583°N 81.1281972°W /33.3090583; -81.1281972 |
| Campus | Rural |
| Colors | Royal Blue & White[3] |
Sporting affiliations | NAIA –HBCUAC |
| Mascot | Tiger |
| Website | www |
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Voorhees University (formerlyVoorhees College) is aprivatehistorically black university inDenmark, South Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with theEpiscopal Church andaccredited by theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools.
On April 14, 1897,Elizabeth Evelyn Wright foundedDenmark Industrial School for African Americans.[4][5] Located in a rural area and the small town of Denmark, it was modeled on the well-knownTuskegee Institute of Alabama. The first classes were held on the second floor of an old store.[6] Its first class was fourteen students, taught by two teachers.[6]
In 1902, Ralph Voorhees, aphilanthropist inClinton, New Jersey, donated $5,000 (equivalent to $182,000 in 2024) to the school in order to purchase land and construct buildings.[7][8] The school used the donation to purchase 250 acres of land from Capt. J.B. Guess for $4,500 (equivalent to $164,000 in 2024) and to build a school building on the land.[7] The school moved to the new location in October 1902.[7]
In 1904, theSouth Carolina General Assembly renamed the school and incorporated it as theVoorhees Industrial Institute for Colored Youths.
In 1924, the school was affiliated with theEpiscopal Diocese of South Carolina. In 1947, its name was changed toVoorhees School and Junior College. In 1962, with the addition of departments and four-year curriculum, it became accredited asVoorhees College.[9]
In 1969, the school's predominantly Black student body demanded more Black study programs and the hiring of Black faculty, as well as outreach to assist the local lower income community of Denmark with scholarships. The Voorhees administration, made up of mostly Whites, ignored the students' plea. A demonstration of 500 students began as a response, which eventually inspired 75 students to command a two-day armed student occupation of the college. The president of Voorhees agreed to the students' demands, but filed a formal request to the South Carolina National Guard to subdue the students. The protesters surrendered but were subsequently arrested.[10][11] Many were suspended.
In 2020, philanthropistMacKenzie Scott donated $4 million to Voorhees College. Her donation is the secone largest single gift in Voorhees' history.[12]
The institution changed its name to Voorhees University in 2022 when it celebrated its 125th anniversary.[13]
In 2025, Voorhees University received an additional $19 million from MacKenzie Scott which is the largest donation in Voorhees' history.[14]
Thishistoric district was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1982. It includes thirteen contributing buildings constructed from 1905 to 1935. The historic district is noteworthy as an example of pioneering education for African Americans in the early 20th century, and for its association with co-founder Elizabeth Evelyn Wright. In addition, the buildings, constructed mostly by students, showed ambitious design and masonry techniques. Many of these buildings were constructed by the students of Voorhees College as part of their crafts program.[15] Photographs of some of the buildings are available.[16]
Voorhees describes itself as a career-orientedliberal arts college,[17] "offer[ing] each student an intensive general educational experience coupled with professional education".[18] Its academic schools are:[19]
The general educationcore curriculum includes courses related to communication, mathematics, science, health, cross-cultural learning, and career development.[20]
The Voorhees athletics teams are called the Tigers and Lady Tigers. The college is a member of theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing as a member of theHBCU Athletic Conference since the 2024-2025 academic year; which they were a member on a previous stint from 2013–14 to 2014–15 when the HBCUAC was known as the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). The Tigers previously competed as anNAIA Independent from 2005-06 to 2012-13 and between 2015-16 and 2023-24. They also competed in the defunctEastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) from 1983–84 to 2004–05.
Voorhees competes in ten intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country and track & field; women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, softball and track & field.
The university has cheerleaders, choir, band,Student Government Association, special interest groups, fraternities, and sororities on campus.
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