Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina · Public · 23,300 undergraduates · clemson.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
42%
of 64,805 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1250 to 1400
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$39,240Est.Estimate
$68,250 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Clemson University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
42% of applicants admitted
Reach
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, but your GPA is lower than about 90% of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$68,250
a year in 2027-28, from a $68,250 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1330
Send your score
About 47% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1220, and yours is above it.
Named scholarships you may qualify for (3)
Out-of-State Tuition Scholarship
You meet: the requirements
$1,500 to $2,500 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs National Merit Finalist standing.
Clemson-Sponsored National Merit Finalist Scholarship
$1,500 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs National Merit Finalist standing, other requirements.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- Send official score reports when you apply.
Source: How to Apply to Clemson - First-Year Application Guide · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Oct15Early Action · October 15, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Jan1Regular Decision · January 1, 2027The standard deadline.
- May1Other deadline · May 1, 2027
Who gets in
42%
of applicants were admitted: 27,498 of 64,805 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 10/15, hear by 12/15.
Wait list
13,297 students were offered a spot; 1,801 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 38% of them sent SAT scores and 19% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1250 to 1400
Reading and Writing 630 to 710
Math 620 to 700
ACT composite 28 to 32
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160027%
- 1200 to 139963%
- 1000 to 11999.7%
- 800 to 9990.7%
- 600 to 7990.1%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
- 4.086%
- 3.75 to 3.999.5%
- 3.50 to 3.742.7%
- 3.25 to 3.491%
- 3.00 to 3.240.6%
- 2.50 to 2.990.3%
- Below 2.500.1%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$39,240
a year, in state
$68,250
a year, out of state (tuition $45,340)
- Tuition (in state)$16,330
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$14,943
- $30,001 to $48,000$14,638
- $48,001 to $75,000$16,669
- $75,001 to $110,000$22,127
- Over $110,000$27,922
Financial aid
49%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$13,966
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
23%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $4,509 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 1/2
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Lyceum Scholars Program
$15,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsBreakthrough Scholars Program
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
Deadline: Honors College priority application deadline. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsNational Scholars Program
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · Application required
Deadline: Honors College priority application deadline. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsOut-of-State Tuition Scholarship
Competitive · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- exceptional high school academic record (no numeric thresholds published)
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, and pass 24 credit hours each academic year.
Details
Show 3 more scholarships
Resident Merit Scholarship
Competitive · In-state students · No separate application
- must receive SC Palmetto Fellows or LIFE Scholarship; class rank, test scores and other factors (no numeric thresholds published)
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, and complete 24 credit hours each year.
DetailsNational Merit Freshman Award
$1,500 to $2,500 a year
National Merit · No separate application
- National Merit award recipient reported to Clemson by NMSC
To keep it: it renews each year; ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsClemson-Sponsored National Merit Finalist Scholarship
$1,500 a year
National Merit · No separate application
- National Merit Finalist selected by NMSC with Clemson as sponsor
To keep it: it renews for 4 years total (8 semesters).
Details
South Carolina programs for residents
Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
$6,700 to $7,500 a year
State program · In-state students
- 4.00+ GPA, 1400+ SAT or 31+ ACT, Alternative pathway (no rank; early or late award); for schools that do not rank or students qualifying without regard to rank; CHE application
- 3.50+ GPA, 1200+ SAT or 25+ ACT, Rank pathway (early or late award); top 6% of class (end of grade 10 or 11 for early award; 10, 11 or 12 for late); school must rank per CHE-reviewed policy; CHE application, top 6% of class
LIFE Scholarship
$5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, 1100+ SAT or 22+ ACT, Four-year institution: 2 of 3 criteria; top 30% of graduating class (third criterion; school must have approved official rank policy), top 30% of class
- 3.00+ GPA, 1100+ SAT or 22+ ACT, Four-year institution: graduate of non-ranking school (GPA and test); graduate of non-ranking SC high school, non-ranking SC approved home school association, or out-of-state preparatory high school
LIFE Scholarship Enhancement
$2,500 a year
State program · In-state students
- 1100+ SAT or 22+ ACT, Add-on for LIFE recipients in STEM, education or accounting majors; must be receiving LIFE; second year or later at eligible 4-year SC institution; CHE-approved STEM, education or accounting major; STEM/accounting need 14 approved math/science hours before Year 2; education majors sign SC teaching-service agreement
Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement
$2,500 a year
State program · In-state students
- 1200+ SAT or 25+ ACT, Add-on for Palmetto Fellows in STEM, education or accounting majors; must be receiving Palmetto Fellows; second year or later at eligible 4-year SC institution; CHE-approved STEM, education or accounting major; STEM/accounting need 14 approved math/science hours before Year 2; education majors sign SC teaching-service agreement
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
40 of 40
Earn credit with a score of 3
40 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,630Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ELEC 0001 |
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 1030 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ELEC 0001 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 1030 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | GBS 1000 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 2100 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 1230, BIOL 1200 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL 1030, BIOL 1050 |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | BIOL 1030, BIOL 1050, BIOL 1040, BIOL 1060 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 1060 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 1060, 1080 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CH 1010 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | CH 1010, 1020 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 11 | CHIN 1010, 1020, 2010 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 14 | CHIN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POSC 1040 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | CPSC 1060 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CPSC 1210 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ELEC 0001 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ART 1030 |
| Drawing | 5 | 3 | ART 1050 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1999 |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENGL 1999, 1030 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1999 |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENGL 1999, 1030 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | ENSP 2000 |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HIST 1730 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | FR 1010, 1020 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | GER 1010, 1020 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 1010 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 11 | ITAL 1010, 1020, 2010 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 14 | ITAL 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 11 | JAPN 1010, 1020, 2010 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 14 | JAPN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Latin | 3 | 11 | LATN 1010, 1020, 2010 |
| Latin | 4 | 14 | LATN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2120 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2110 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 4 | MUSC 1420, 1430 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 2070, 2090 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 2080, 2100 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 2210, 2230 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 1220,1240 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 4 | MATH 1030 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 2010 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | ELEC 0001 |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | ELEC 0001 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | SPAN 1010, 1020 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 8 | SPAN 1010, 1020 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 11 | SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 14 | SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | STAT 2300 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POSC 1010 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HIST 1010 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIST 1010, 1020 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HIST 1999 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
88%
Come back for a second year
93%
Typical earnings
$79,064
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Clemson University$75,785
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 50 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Clemson University. The Clemson University logo is a trademark of the college.