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Clemson , SC
Clemson University is a public research university located in Clemson, South Carolina. Established in 1889, Clemson has grown into a renowned institution known for its outstanding academic programs and vibrant campus life. With a total enrollment of over 24,000 students, Clemson offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs across seven colleges, including agriculture, arts and sciences, architecture, engineering, education, business, and health and human development. The university is proud of its strong commitment to research, innovation, and community engagement, facilitating collaborations with industry partners and contributing to the economic growth of the region.
Clemson University boasts a beautiful and spacious campus, spread over 17,000 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The university provides state-of-the-art facilities, including research laboratories, libraries, athletic centers, and award-winning residence halls, ensuring students have access to the resources they need to excel academically and personally. The university has a thriving student community, offering numerous organizations, clubs, and extracurricular activities for students to get involved in. From Greek life to cultural and academic clubs, students have ample opportunities to pursue their interests and connect with like-minded peers.
At Clemson, academic excellence is highly valued. The university is highly ranked for its engineering, agriculture, architecture, and business programs. Faculty members at Clemson are renowned experts in their fields, committed to providing a high-quality education and preparing students for success in their careers. In addition to academic pursuits, Clemson places a strong emphasis on community service and social responsibility, encouraging students to engage in volunteer work and participate in service-learning programs, making a positive impact both locally and globally. Overall, Clemson University offers a dynamic and supportive environment for students to grow intellectually, socially, and personally.
Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 38%. The freshman retention rate at Clemson University is 93.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 87%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is May 1. The transfer application deadline is July 1.
Read more about what Clemson University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
23,401
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
87%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Learn some important information about admission at Clemson University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 23,586 in 2025. Clemson University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Clemson University offers a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
35% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 20% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 27% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 63% between 1,200 and 1,399, 10% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 1% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 60, 36 between 24-29, 4 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is May 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Clemson University was 93.5% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 87%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best match for you is not a simple task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Clemson University in 2025 was 29,077.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 41. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 23,401, 188 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,580.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 12,094 male and 13,956 female full-time students in 2025. There were 1,685 full-time graduate male and 1,397 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 686, and the number of Afro-American students was 1,159. 2,121 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 908 identified with more than one race. The school also had 17 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 56 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 518 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Clemson University estimated tuition price.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $14,038 for area residents. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $39,350 in 2025. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $39,350, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $1,516 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $39,350 | $1,516 | $40,866 |
| In-State | $14,038 | $1,516 | $15,554 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to give about $1,456 for books and supplies during their time at Clemson University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At Clemson University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $13,284. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school added up to $8,208, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $8,208.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 14,038 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,284 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,456 |
| Total Expense | $ 28,778 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Clemson University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,008 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $13,413.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
7,069 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Clemson University isn't available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 8,984. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $19,306,960, and state $36,650,717. The students of Clemson University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $30,219,317, and external in the amount of $6,176,139.
$4,721
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
5,927 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 1,645 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $25,089,182. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $4,679,367 USD.
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Clemson University was 16:1. That means that there were 16 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,988. This number included 1,105 male and 841 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Clemson University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Clemson University.
It has a campus size of 1,400 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 350 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 22 and female students 48. Other popular organizations among the students at Clemson University are Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Government.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Clemson University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Clemson University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Clemson University provides a number of services needed for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services are available to the students of Clemson University.
All in all, campus life at Clemson University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Clemson University.
Career Counselling
At Clemson University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Clemson University is located in Clemson, SC.
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Clemson University doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Clemson University is 38%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Clemson University is 93.5%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
