Clemson University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Clemson University is a public institution located in Clemson, South Carolina with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Clemson University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 42%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1330 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,253 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Clemson University?

86% of enrolled students at Clemson University had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does Clemson University weight in admissions?

Clemson University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Clemson University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 620–710, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Clemson University actually cost?

Published tuition is $15,554 for in-state students and $40,866 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,284 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,253 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Clemson University

Will my child graduate from Clemson University?

These predict outcomes at Clemson University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Clemson University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Clemson University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Biology, General. Across all programs, Clemson University confers roughly 2,234 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $72,568 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Clemson University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Clemson University disclosed 70 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 6 violent offenses and 20 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Clemson University?

About 8% of undergraduates at Clemson University live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 19% of men join a fraternity and 40% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in South Carolina parents ask about

• University of South Carolina-Columbia
  60% acceptance
• Winthrop University
  79% acceptance
• Coastal Carolina University
  75% acceptance
• College of Charleston
  60% acceptance
• Furman University
  43% acceptance
• Wofford College
  52% acceptance
• Charleston Southern University
  96% acceptance
• Presbyterian College
  68% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Clemson University