Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634
About Clemson University
Clemson University (Clemson) is a public research university in Clemson, South Carolina, with about 23,300 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 38.34% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $71,513 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Clemson University charges about 2.8× the national public median tuition ($15,554).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is 20% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 86.56%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $71,513.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Clemson University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 703% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Clemson University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 137 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University | $15,554 | $22,253 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $12,978 | $11,376 | 63 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Clemson University really?
Key findings
- Clemson University charges about 2.8× the national public median tuition ($15,554).
- Versus the South Carolina median, sticker tuition is 20% above.
Clemson University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $15,554
Finding Clemson University charges about 2.8× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $15,554. That is about 2.8× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the South Carolina median ($12,978), sticker tuition is 20% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 31% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Clemson University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Clemson University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Clemson University is $22,253.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $22,253 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $10,877 above the South Carolina median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $3,553 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Clemson University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Clemson University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Clemson University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$15,554
Out-of-state tuition
$40,866
Avg. net price
$22,253
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $13,607 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,109 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,851 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $24,833 |
| $110,001+ | $27,922 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $62,216. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Clemson University is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General725
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General420
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General406
- Industrial Engineering397
- Finance, General380
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 20% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1353
- Midpoint ACT: 30
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Clemson University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Clemson University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Clemson University.
Campus
Location
Clemson, SC
City / state
- ZIP
- 29634
- NCES locale
- Rural distant
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 19% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
23,300
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 24,916
- Graduate
- 5,676
- Full-time share
- 97%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 14.75%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Clemson University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Clemson University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Clemson University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $13,054 | $30,488 | $12,377 |
| 2014 | $13,446 | $31,462 | $16,306 |
| 2015 | $14,272 | $33,190 | $15,885 |
| 2016 | $14,708 | $34,590 | $16,770 |
| 2017 | $15,116 | $36,058 | $17,696 |
| 2018 | $15,374 | $37,128 | $18,252 |
| 2019 | $15,558 | $38,550 | $20,008 |
| 2020 | $15,558 | $38,550 | $21,262 |
| 2021 | $15,558 | $38,550 | $22,116 |
| 2022 | $15,558 | $39,502 | $22,433 |
| 2023 | $15,554 | $39,498 | $22,112 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1353 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 30 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.60
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Clemson University reported total enrollment of about 23,300 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 46% male and 54% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (75.7%), Hispanic or Latino (9.1%), and Black or African American (5.0%). About 14.75% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 17.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Clemson University in 2024 is 23,300 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 24,916 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,676 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
93.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
68.29% 100% Completion Time
86.56% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 68.29% of students graduating from Clemson University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 61% male / 39% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 28% male / 72% female
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 34% male / 66% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Clemson University graduates earn a median of $71,513 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Clemson University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $71,513. Median federal loan debt: $21,500. Average net price used in cost models: $22,253.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Clemson University graduates report median earnings of $71,513 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Clemson University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (137 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Clemson University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Clemson University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Clemson University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$1.03B
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- South Carolina median 81× the median ($12.8M)
- Southeast median 53× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 39× the median ($26.4M)
- South Carolina median 5.4× the median ($7,041)
- Southeast median 4.1× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 3.1× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 87.6%
- South Carolina median 26.9 pp above median (60.7%)
- Southeast median 28.2 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 29.7 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $12,153
- South Carolina median 1.8× the median ($6,831)
- Southeast median 1.8× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,641
- South Carolina median 1.8× the median ($8,125)
- Southeast median 2.2× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 2.0× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Clemson University at a glance
Clemson University
Clemson University is a public institution in Clemson, SC, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralBiology/Biological Sciences, GeneralMarketing/Marketing Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian75.7%Hispanic or Latino9.1%Black or African American5.0%
Schools near Clemson University
Other campuses in Clemson, SC when available, plus nearby institutions in South Carolina.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within South Carolina, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clemson located?
Clemson University is located in Clemson, SC. The institution is also known as Clemson.
What is Clemson's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Clemson University (Clemson) is 38.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 60,122 applicants and 22,879 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Clemson's tuition?
Clemson University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $15,554 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $22,253 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Clemson cost?
Reported tuition is $15,554 and average net price is $22,253 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,284 annually.
What explains Clemson's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($22,253), completion (86.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($71,513). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Clemson?
Clemson University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 24,916 students, White (75.7%), Hispanic or Latino (9.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Clemson?
About 17.2% of students at Clemson University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Clemson University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Clemson University reports midpoint SAT about 1353 and midpoint ACT about 30.
What do graduates of Clemson University earn?
Median earnings are $58,311 six years after entry and $71,513 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Clemson University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 86.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Clemson University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,500.
Is Clemson University public or private?
Clemson University is a public institution located in Clemson, SC.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- South Carolina college profile
- South Carolina college costs
- South Carolina colleges by ROI
- University of South Carolina-Columbia vs Clemson University vs College of Charleston
- Southeast regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in South Carolina
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.