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Clemson University

Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Suburb · 23,300 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Oct 15 · Early Action · in 13 days
Checked Oct 2026 · clemson.edu
$22,253
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
87%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$71,513
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
38%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

Located along the shores of Lake Hartwell in the Blue Ridge foothills, Clemson University is a top-tier public land-grant research institution renowned for standout programs in engineering, computing, business, agriculture, and nursing. The campus experience is anchored by a close-knit "Clemson Family" culture, where high-energy school spirit centers around championship-caliber Division I athletics and traditions like "Solid Orange" Fridays. Undergraduates benefit from exceptional experiential learning, distinguished by robust cooperative education (co-op) partnerships and unique hands-on research opportunities throughout the university's adjacent 17,500-acre Experimental Forest.

Wikipedia:Clemson University is a public land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1889, Clemson is the second-largest university by enrollment in South Carolina. For the fall 2025 semester, the university enrolled a total of 24,060 undergraduate students and 5,485 graduate students, and the student/faculty ratio was 16:1.

Location
Clemson, SC, 29634 · Suburb campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
ATL · Atlanta
116 mi away
Open in Google MapsView official campus map
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$15,554$40,866
Housing & food (on campus)$13,284$13,284
Books & supplies$1,456$1,456
Cost of attendance$35,015$60,308
Average net price$22,253Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$40,866
In-state: $15,554
Housing & food (on campus)$13,284
Books & supplies$1,456
Cost of attendance$60,308
In-state: $35,015
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $22,253
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.clemson.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
Clemson University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$42,852
Books & supplies$1,576
Personal expenses$5,804
Total published by the school$60,308
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$13,607
$30–48k
$14,109
$48–75k
$18,851
$75–110k
$24,833
$110k+
$27,922
Merit aid · 2024-25
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$4,905
First-years who got one1,090
Source: Clemson University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
87%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
68%
Back for yr 2
93%
Transferred
8%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
86% graduated · 10% transferred · 3% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$58,311
10 yrs after entry$71,513
Debt
Median at graduation$21,500
Monthly payment$228
Middle 50% owe$8.7k–$27k
90th percentile$32,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
38%
Test policy
Test optional
Checked Sep 2026
SAT average
1353
R 620–700 · M 620–710
ACT midpoint
30
Comp 28–32 · E 26–34 · M 26–31
SAT middle 50%: 1240–1410
40080012001600
Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry
Early Action
Oct 15 2026
in 13 days
Not binding: apply early, hear early, and you can still apply elsewhere.
Regular Decision
Jan 1 2027
in 91 days
Not binding: the standard deadline.
Checked Oct 2026 · clemson.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

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Essay prompts
How much essays count at Clemson University: Not considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)
Source: Clemson University's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

If Clemson University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 46%Women 54%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
16 : 1
Pell grant
15%
First-gen
17%
Family income
$78,377
Independent
7%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
3%
Race & ethnicity
White
76%
Hispanic
9%
Black
5%
Asian
3%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
1%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Gymnastics
    Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Women's
  • Rowing
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$58,311
After 10 yrs
$71,513
Business Administration, Management and Operations445
Marketing361
Psychology, General358
Biology, General299
Finance and Financial Management Services280
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing235
Mechanical Engineering217
Computer and Information Sciences, General190
Industrial Engineering169
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods155
Accounting and Related Services138
Civil Engineering131
Biomedical/Medical Engineering128
Economics121
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management110
Animal Sciences109
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$1.1B
Full-time faculty
88%
Faculty salary
$12,153/mo
Teaching spend
$14,641
per student
Federal loans
31%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$339M research spending · 297 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if Clemson University is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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