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Clemson University

Public

Clemson, SC

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Clemson University was founded in 1889 under a land-grant mission and holds a Carnegie R1 research classification. It is organized into colleges such as the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, and the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine. Clemson's Creative Inquiry program engages roughly 4,500 undergraduates annually in faculty-mentored research and creative projects.

Admissions

Admit rate38%
SAT range1240–1410
ACT range28–32
Undergrads23,300
Yield (admits who enroll)20%
Next deadlineOct 15, 2026 (EA)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$35,015
4-year grad rate87%
Median earnings, 10yr out$71,513

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Clemson University's numbers?

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How Clemson University weighs your application

From Clemson University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankVery important
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresImportant
Application essayNot considered
RecommendationsConsidered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesConsidered
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesNot considered
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyVery important
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workNot considered
Work experienceNot considered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans31%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out78%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

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

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity7,800
Typical room charge$7,724
Typical board charge$4,626

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsConsidered, not required

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Clemson University look for in applicants?

Per Clemson University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, state residency as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Clemson University's acceptance rate?

Clemson University in Clemson, SC admits approximately 38% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Clemson University?

Admitted students at Clemson University typically score between 1240–1410 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Clemson University?

Admitted students at Clemson University typically score between 28–32 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Clemson University cost?

Clemson University's total cost of attendance is reported at $35,015 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Clemson University?

Clemson University's earliest deadline is Oct 15, 2026 (EA), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Clemson University require students to live on campus?

No -- Clemson University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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