Clemson University
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Why Clemson University Matters
Clemson University is a public research university in Clemson, SC ranked #350-400 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 23,300
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences
Why students choose Clemson University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 38% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1240–1410. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,253 a year after grants and scholarships — 30% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $71,513 ten years after enrolling — 75% above the typical college, against $21,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 65% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.57 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Clemson University is a great fit for students who seek a strong sense of community and a variety of academic paths. With around 23,300 undergraduates, there’s a vibrant campus life, and the acceptance rate of 38% means it’s selective but still accessible for many. Students frequently dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Engineering, and Biology & Biomedical, which are well-regarded and align with industry needs.
Looking ahead, graduates from Clemson can expect promising outcomes. The average earnings a decade after graduation sit at $71,513, which reflects the value of their education in real-world terms. While the affordability of higher education continues to be a concern, Clemson’s net price after aid is around $22,253, making it a reasonable option for many families. This financial aspect is crucial, especially when considering long-term financial mobility.
On a practical level, students here graduate with a median debt of $21,500, which is manageable given their earning potential. Those who thrive at Clemson tend to be proactive and engaged, taking advantage of both educational and extracurricular opportunities. With a graduation rate of 87%, it’s clear that many find their stride and succeed in completing their degrees, setting them up for a bright future.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Clemson University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clemson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Clemson University, located in Clemson, South Carolina, reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 38%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,353. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 87%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clemson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Clemson University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $40,866 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,253 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,607 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $21,500.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Clemson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Clemson University earn a median of $71,513 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Clemson Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Clemson University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Clemson University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,253/year ($89,012 total). Graduates earn $71,513 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,849,032 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,760,020 (20.8× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 87% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Clemson University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Clemson University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.20%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 37.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $120,200, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Clemson University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 169 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 17/100 research score.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Clemson University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Clemson University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clemson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Clemson University, located in Clemson, South Carolina, reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 38%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,353. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 87%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clemson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Clemson University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $40,866 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,253 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,607 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $21,500.
Is Clemson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Clemson University earn a median of $71,513 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Does Clemson University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Clemson University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.20%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 37.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $120,200, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Clemson University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Clemson University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.57 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Clemson University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations +
On the global stage, Times Higher Education places Clemson University at #350-400 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 17/100, teaching at 21/100, and citation impact of 26/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Compare Clemson University
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Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Clemson University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Clemson University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.57 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note