Colleges › South Carolina › Clemson University
Clemson University
About 38 in 100 applicants get into Clemson University — solidly within reach for students near the ranges below.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Clemson University occupies suburban Clemson, SC — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Information Science/Studies, where graduates median $105,646 four years out. Faculty pay averages $145,836 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 23,300 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 93.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1230 and 1390 — above the SC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Clemson University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to Clemson University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1230 and 1390; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 620 | 660 | 690 |
| SAT Math | 610 | 660 | 700 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 30 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Clemson University received 60,122 applications and admitted 22,879 (38.1%), with 4,494 enrolling.
How Clemson University compares
| Clemson University | South Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 38.3% | 72.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $15,554 | $17,440 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $71,513 | $44,354 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Clemson University student earns $71,513 — 61% above the South Carolina median of $44,354 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Clemson University prices by residency: $15,554 in-state versus $40,866 out-of-state — a $25,312 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
23,300 undergraduates make Clemson University a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
86.6% of Clemson University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 31.7 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $15,554 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Clemson University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 52 Clemson University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $71,513 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 18 additional Clemson University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Clemson University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1230–1390 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 38.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Clemson University's acceptance rate?
38.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 22,879 admitted from 60,122 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 do Clemson University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $71,513 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Carolina
- Furman University — 43% admitted
- Anderson University — 54.7% admitted
- Wofford College — 51.9% admitted
- Claflin University — 64.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.