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Clemson University

Clemson University is a public campus in suburban Clemson, SC. The federal record identifies it as a land-grant institution.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$14,212

family income
under $30k

$14,857

$30–48k

$19,988

$48–75k

$24,020

$75–110k

$27,348

over $110k

Average net price

$22,2532023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Clemson University rose from $18,714 (2008) to $22,253 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$18,714
2009	$16,022
2010	$15,066
2011	$10,236
2012	$12,377
2013	$16,306
2014	$15,885
2015	$16,770
2016	$17,696
2017	$18,252
2018	$20,008
2019	$21,262
2020	$22,116
2021	$22,433
2022	$22,112
2023	$22,253

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$35,0152024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Clemson University rose from $21,897 (2009) to $35,015 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$21,897
2010	$23,478
2011	$25,060
2012	$26,626
2013	$27,944
2014	$26,065
2015	$26,373
2016	$27,722
2017	$28,545
2018	$29,499
2019	$31,158
2020	$32,254
2021	$33,004
2022	$34,001
2023	$34,494
2024	$35,015

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,590	$9,784
2001	$5,090	$11,284
2002	$5,834	$12,932
2003	$6,934	$14,532
2004	$7,840	$16,404
2005	$8,816	$18,440
2006	$9,400	$19,824
2007	$10,370	$22,300
2008	$10,379	$23,401
2013	$13,054	$30,488
2014	$13,446	$31,462
2015	$14,272	$33,190
2016	$14,708	$34,590
2017	$15,116	$36,058
2018	$15,374	$37,128
2019	$15,558	$38,550
2020	$15,558	$38,550
2021	$15,558	$38,550
2022	$15,558	$39,502
2023	$15,554	$39,498

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Clemson University reports published tuition by residency: $15,554 in-state versus $40,866 out-of-state — a $25,312 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Clemson University reports 23,300 undergraduates. This total does not establish class sizes for a particular subject.

86.6% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Clemson University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

86.6%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Clemson University rose from 69.6% (entered 1991) to 86.6% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	69.6%
1992 cohort	72.4%
1993 cohort	71.8%
1994 cohort	71.5%
1995 cohort	68.9%
1996 cohort	71.7%
1997 cohort	72.1%
1998 cohort	72.4%
1999 cohort	75.1%
2000 cohort	75.1%
2001 cohort	78.3%
2002 cohort	79.4%
2003 cohort	77.4%
2004 cohort	76.2%
2005 cohort	80.4%
2006 cohort	81.6%
2007 cohort	82.5%
2008 cohort	82.3%
2009 cohort	80.9%
2010 cohort	81.1%
2011 cohort	82.1%
2012 cohort	83%
2013 cohort	83.7%
2014 cohort	84.9%
2015 cohort	85.5%
2016 cohort	85.3%
2017 cohort	87.9%
2018 cohort	86.6%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$14,500	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$14,250	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$14,000	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$13,877	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$13,750	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$13,819	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$14,250	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,500	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$15,405	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,501	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,670	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,719	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,450	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$20,956	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$21,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$21,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$21,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$21,500	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$21,500	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$21,500	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$21,500	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$21,500	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$21,500	$8,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$58,311

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$65,822

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$71,513

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Clemson University admitted 23,586 of 61,517 applicants in Fall 2024. The 38.3% rate describes that application pool.

38.3%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $15,554 in-state tuition · 2023–24 23,300 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1240–14101600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Clemson University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Clemson University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 620–700 and Math was 620–710 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1240–1410 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	620	660	700
SAT Math	620	660	710
ACT Composite	28	31	32

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Clemson University received 61,517 applications and admitted 23,586 (38.3%), with 4,880 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

38.3%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

The share admitted at Clemson University declined from 52.3% to 38.3%; this does not establish why. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	52.3%
Fall 2002	51.8%
Fall 2003	60.8%
Fall 2004	68.6%
Fall 2005	68.6%
Fall 2006	54.7%
Fall 2007	54.7%
Fall 2008	50.2%
Fall 2009	57.6%
Fall 2010	62.8%
Fall 2011	57.7%
Fall 2012	63.3%
Fall 2013	57.9%
Fall 2014	51.5%
Fall 2015	51.3%
Fall 2016	50.5%
Fall 2017	47.2%
Fall 2018	47.2%
Fall 2019	51.3%
Fall 2020	61.9%
Fall 2021	49.2%
Fall 2022	43%
Fall 2023	38%
Fall 2024	38.3%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1240–1410Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1090	1280
Fall 2002	1110	1310
Fall 2003	1110	1290
Fall 2004	1110	1300
Fall 2005	1110	1300
Fall 2006	1120	1310
Fall 2007	1120	1310
Fall 2008	1130	1320
Fall 2009	1130	1320
Fall 2010	1130	1310
Fall 2011	1140	1330
Fall 2012	1140	1330
Fall 2013	1150	1340
Fall 2014	1150	1340
Fall 2015	1150	1350
Fall 2016	1150	1340
Fall 2017	1220	1390
Fall 2018	1220	1400
Fall 2019	1230	1400
Fall 2020	1210	1390
Fall 2021	1220	1420
Fall 2022	1220	1410
Fall 2023	1230	1390
Fall 2024	1240	1410

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

28–32Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	23	28
Fall 2002	24	29
Fall 2003	24	29
Fall 2004	24	28
Fall 2005	24	28
Fall 2006	24	29
Fall 2007	24	29
Fall 2008	25	30
Fall 2009	25	30
Fall 2010	25	30
Fall 2011	26	30
Fall 2012	25	30
Fall 2013	26	31
Fall 2014	26	31
Fall 2015	27	31
Fall 2016	26	31
Fall 2017	27	31
Fall 2018	27	32
Fall 2019	27	32
Fall 2020	27	32
Fall 2021	27	32
Fall 2022	28	32
Fall 2023	28	32
Fall 2024	28	32

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

23,300Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Clemson University rose from 13,583 (Fall 2002) to 23,300 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	13,583
Fall 2003	13,681
Fall 2004	13,808
Fall 2005	13,959
Fall 2006	14,069
Fall 2007	14,173
Fall 2008	14,624
Fall 2009	15,247
Fall 2010	15,379
Fall 2011	15,697
Fall 2012	16,425
Fall 2013	16,801
Fall 2014	17,083
Fall 2015	17,740
Fall 2016	18,395
Fall 2017	19,172
Fall 2018	19,564
Fall 2019	20,074
Fall 2020	20,796
Fall 2021	21,577
Fall 2022	22,467
Fall 2023	22,778
Fall 2024	23,300

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

93%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Clemson University has held near 93% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	90%
Fall 2003 cohort	89%
Fall 2004 cohort	88%
Fall 2005 cohort	89%
Fall 2006 cohort	90%
Fall 2007 cohort	91%
Fall 2008 cohort	90%
Fall 2009 cohort	89%
Fall 2010 cohort	90%
Fall 2011 cohort	91%
Fall 2012 cohort	92%
Fall 2013 cohort	92%
Fall 2014 cohort	93%
Fall 2015 cohort	92%
Fall 2016 cohort	93%
Fall 2017 cohort	93%
Fall 2018 cohort	93%
Fall 2019 cohort	94%
Fall 2020 cohort	94%
Fall 2021 cohort	92%
Fall 2022 cohort	93%
Fall 2023 cohort	93%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Clemson University

Faculty pay at Clemson University averages $145,836 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Clemson University as a primarily residential campus of 23,300 undergraduates — and 93.5% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Clemson University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1240–1410 — their midpoint is above the SC four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Clemson University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Clemson University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Clemson University38.3%

South Carolina median72.5%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Clemson University$15,554

South Carolina median$17,440

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Clemson University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Clemson University$71,513

South Carolina median$44,354

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Clemson University, South Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	Clemson University	South Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	38.3%	72.5%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$15,554	$17,440	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$71,513	$44,354	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Clemson University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Clemson University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 52 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Information Science/Studies	$105,646
Computer Engineering	$102,762
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$101,301
Construction Management	$98,726
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$96,446
Engineering-Related Fields	$94,449
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$93,705
Industrial Engineering	$92,491
Chemical Engineering	$92,098
Finance and Financial Management Services	$91,269
Mechanical Engineering	$91,028
Agricultural Engineering	$88,338
Materials Engineering	$85,883
Civil Engineering	$84,873
Accounting and Related Services	$84,458
Mathematics	$82,450
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering	$81,714
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	$81,526
Marketing	$81,109
Economics	$79,468
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$74,491
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	$72,010
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$71,968
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$70,584
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$70,059
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other	$69,274
Chemistry	$67,996
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$67,102
Agricultural Business and Management	$67,050
Design and Applied Arts	$66,150
Biology, General	$65,577
Landscape Architecture	$65,469
Political Science and Government	$64,822
Architecture	$63,892
Forestry	$63,764
Food Science and Technology	$63,501
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	$60,988
Psychology, General	$55,126
Sociology	$54,780
Plant Sciences	$52,844
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	$52,044
Agricultural Production Operations	$51,582
English Language and Literature, General	$50,582
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$50,212
Criminology	$50,133
History	$50,125
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$49,861
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management	$48,898
Animal Sciences	$47,853
Visual and Performing Arts, Other	$45,735
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$40,266
Fine and Studio Arts	$35,526

These 52 fields listed for Clemson University measure earnings after completion. The $71,513 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 18 additional Clemson University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Clemson University report?

Clemson University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1240–1410 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Clemson University's acceptance rate?

38.3% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 23,586 admitted from 61,517 applicants.

How much does Clemson University cost?

In-state tuition is $15,554; out-of-state students pay $40,866. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Clemson University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $71,513. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in South Carolina

Furman University — 42.9% admitted
Anderson University — 54.7% admitted
Wofford College — 51.9% admitted
American College of the Building Arts — 44.4% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.