Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Midsize suburb

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina. 23,300 undergraduates. Admits 38% of applicants.

88%Graduation rate33 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$22,032Average net price per year11% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$79,064Median earnings 10 years after starting34% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$19,500Median debt at graduation10% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($19,500) equals 25% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($79,064). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$14,943
$30,000–$48,000$14,638
$48,001–$75,000$16,669
$75,001–$110,000$22,127
Over $110,000$27,922

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $15,854 in-state, $42,378 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate88%54%
Return for second year93%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$65,679$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$79,064$58,912
Median debt at graduation$19,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

203 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Information Science/Studies31$82,608$122,195$26,780
Computer and Information Sciences, General179$78,133$107,767$20,500
Construction Management0$83,926$103,585—
Industrial Engineering161$78,339$102,795$23,000
Computer Engineering53$80,134$100,534$26,642
Chemical Engineering51$82,110$100,093$22,500
Engineering-Related Fields50$74,839$99,240$19,500
Finance and Financial Management Services380$67,685$95,494$20,443
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering70$77,897$95,291$23,751
Mechanical Engineering227$75,999$94,412$20,500
Materials Engineering16$74,683$94,315$22,849
Economics154$56,205$94,114$19,725
Biomedical/Medical Engineering134$71,944$90,985$21,500
Marketing406$58,136$90,420$19,500
Agricultural Engineering21—$90,304$22,875
Civil Engineering149$71,965$87,474$24,875
Mathematics48$52,981$87,156$21,500
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering27—$85,687$26,423
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other28$63,968$85,386$20,920
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2—$84,596—
Accounting and Related Services167$60,630$83,948$19,500
Political Science and Government115$40,586$76,875$20,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing255$78,462$76,618$20,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations498$55,858$75,785$20,500
Chemistry32—$75,092$25,000
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician72$73,346—$20,500
Biology, General337$34,345$72,208$20,500
Agricultural Business and Management71$47,181$70,664$20,800
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other98$41,130$70,015$20,000
Architecture75$53,041$68,448$27,000
Genetics42—$68,311$23,250
Design and Applied Arts75$52,318$67,927$22,536
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology64$43,525$66,958$19,500
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology59$42,913$65,020$23,750
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies78$50,374$64,684$20,500
Food Science and Technology83$40,352$64,239$20,500
Psychology, General328$34,838$60,557$19,500
Forestry16$48,907$60,398$26,425
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services20$28,230$59,741—
Animal Sciences112$33,160$58,171$20,094
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas15—$57,810—
Visual and Performing Arts, Other20—$57,226$22,375
Plant Sciences18—$57,037$19,517
Sociology88$42,696$55,126$22,244
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management106$40,075$54,934$21,000
English Language and Literature, General53$41,840$53,844$14,750
History85$38,339$50,832$20,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods168$43,022$49,693$21,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research31$45,354$47,833$20,614
Criminology106$45,226—$20,500
Agricultural Production Operations31$36,732$43,810$24,000
Fine and Studio Arts22$36,998$36,525$22,000
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services12———
Soil Sciences9———
Landscape Architecture25——$25,500
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies11———
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication33——$13,000
Special Education and Teaching34——$25,125
Education, Other9———
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services2———
Philosophy19———
Religion/Religious Studies7———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences8———
Physics15———
Anthropology13———
Film/Video and Photographic Arts8———
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs3———
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities18——$17,145

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

38%Admission rate
1,353Average SAT of admitted students
28–32ACT middle 50%
16:1Students per faculty member
18%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Clemson University cost per year?
The average net price at Clemson University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $22,032 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Clemson University graduates earn?
Former Clemson University students earn a median of $79,064 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Clemson University?
88% of Clemson University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Clemson University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Clemson University is $19,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.