Clemson University
Clemson, SC
38.3%
Acceptance Rate
$15,554
Avg Cost (In-State)
$40,866
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
87.2%
Graduation Rate
23,300
Total Enrollment
What they weigh most
Source: Common Data Set
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
May 1
Early Deadline
October 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$70
Interview
Not required
Essays: One personal essay required through Common Application (250-650 words)
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$58,311
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$71,513
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
87%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $47,260 | $70,059 | 346 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $73,220 | $91,028 | 215 |
| Marketing. | $47,606 | $81,109 | 212 |
| Psychology, General. | $32,146 | $55,126 | 210 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $74,206 | $74,491 | 207 |
| Biology, General. | $31,481 | $65,577 | 185 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | $58,876 | $91,269 | 139 |
| Industrial Engineering. | $74,709 | $92,491 | 139 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Calculate Your Cost at Clemson University
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Clemson Tiger Band Scholarship
$500-$2,500/yr
universityAudition-based award for Clemson University Tiger Band members.
Deadline: Spring tryouts
Learn more ↗Clemson Tiger Pride Scholarship
$2,500-$8,000/year
universityAutomatic for SC residents with top-percentile GPA + ACT/SAT.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗SC HOPE Scholarship
Up to $2,800 (freshman year only)
stateSC HS grads with 3.0+ GPA not meeting LIFE/Palmetto Fellows; freshman year only at SC institutions.
Deadline: Auto-determined
Learn more ↗SC LIFE Scholarship
Up to $5,000/year ($7,500 for STEM)
stateSC HS grads with 2 of 3: 3.0 GPA, top 30%, or 1100 SAT/24 ACT, at SC public/private institutions.
Deadline: Auto-determined
Learn more ↗University of South Carolina McNair Scholars Program
Tuition + fees + research stipend + study-abroad
universityTop 40 incoming USC freshmen nationally; full ride + enrichment programs.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗University of South Carolina Carolina Scholarship
Up to full cost of attendance + summer enrichment
universityTop USC SC incoming freshmen via competitive McNair/Stamps/Capstone process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Clemson University Lyceum Scholars
$10,000/year + summer enrichment
universityTop Clemson incoming freshmen with academic merit + leadership.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coastal Community Foundation of SC Scholarships
$500-$10,000 across 100+ named funds
localHS seniors from 9-county Lowcountry SC region (Charleston / Beaufort / Berkeley).
Deadline: February
Learn more ↗Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Education Fund
$500-$2,500
localGullah/Geechee descendants from coastal NC/SC/GA/FL.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 38.3% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
42%
acceptance
Overall ~46%; OOS more competitive.
Source ↗Regular Decision
38.34%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
13.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
12.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
60.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
11.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
34.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
93.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
85.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Considered
Visiting, attending info sessions and opening admissions emails meaningfully helps your chances. Track your touchpoints.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY
38.6% acceptance
Both admit around 39% of applicants, with 15k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
37.7% acceptance
Both admit around 38% of applicants, with 32k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA
39.2% acceptance
Both admit around 39% of applicants, with 32k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
43.2% acceptance
Similar selectivity (43% vs 38%) but out-of-state cost runs $17k — meaningfully less than $41k.
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL
38% acceptance
Similar selectivity (38% vs 38%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $41k.
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
40.1% acceptance
Similar selectivity (40% vs 38%) but out-of-state cost runs $22k — meaningfully less than $41k.
Reaches above this college
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
24.2% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (24% vs 38%) — a stretch target if Clemson University is already on your list.
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 38%) — a stretch target if Clemson University is already on your list.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 38%) — a stretch target if Clemson University is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
54.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (55% vs 38%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
57% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (57% vs 38%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
57% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (57% vs 38%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From SC community colleges
articulation onlyClemson's Bridge to Clemson program, run jointly with Tri-County Technical College, is one of the Southeast's best-known dual-enrollment transfer pathways: students live in Clemson housing while taking TCTC classes and transfer to Clemson with sophomore standing. South Carolina T…
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