Clemson University
Clemson University
105 Sikes Hall, Clemson, SC 29634
Clemson University is a public university in SC, founded in 1889 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 20,868, and the graduate enrollment is 5,538. Clemson University is a highly selective school, receiving 28,599 applications and accepting 61.9% of applicants. Clemson University’s athletics teams compete at the club, intramural, and varsity levels. Additionally, Clemson University employs 1,360 full-time instructional staff (87% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has a 16:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
68
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
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Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to Clemson University will apply through the Clemson Application, the Common Application, or the Coalition Application. Clemson University does not require a personal statement for their application, but applicants have the option to submit a personal statement and a resume.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Decision Application Deadline
December 1st
Regular Application Deadline
May 1st
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Standardized Test Scores - Very Important
- Extracurricular Activities - Considered
- Application Essay - Considered
Average Acceptance Rate
61.90%
STUDENT LIFE
Clemson University has been in existence for 132 years. During this time, it has attained the status of a public land-grant research university and an R1 Doctoral University for its very high research activities. It is located on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Clemson, South Carolina, and borders both the Clemson Experimental Forest, which spans over 17,500 acres, and the artificially-built Lake Hartwell.
The school is home to 7 colleges, namely: Forestry, Agriculture, and Life Sciences; Business; Education; Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences; Computing and Applied Sciences; and Engineering. Not only that, the school has the second-largest student population in South Carolina. It also has an Honors College that accepts students with an average SAT score of 1400 and is graduating within the top 3% of the high school class, making it very competitive. The Honors College aims to educate highly motivated and academically talented students; thus, it has the lowest number of freshmen students every year.
In the fall of 2018, the general school accepted students with a 50% middle-range score in SAT and ACT exams resulting in an enrollment of 3,765 students for 2022. Amongst the best universities globally and nationally, the school ranks 679th and 74th, respectively.
Housing
- 99% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
- Freshmen required to live on campus
Clemson’s University Housing Office oversees the school’s housing system. This body is in charge of all the 24 residential buildings on campus, ranging from traditional residence halls (dormitories) to apartment-style buildings. The university mandates that all first-year students live on-campus until their third year. After this time, they can choose to live in any off-campus properties the school owns. The graduate students are at liberty to choose from any of the residences provided on and off-campus.
Life as a Student
Clemson University has one of the most significant landmasses in South Carolina, a suburban environment that provides a balanced living-learning environment. The absence of Greek houses on campus differentiates the school’s Greek system from other universities within the United States. The university has three traditions practiced every year and is home to the school stadium, known as the Memorial Stadium. The Tigers represent the school’s athletic team that competes in NCAA Division 1 as the Atlantic Coast Conference members.
TOP MAJORS
Business
Marketing
Psychology
Biology
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Legal Advice
- Psychological Counseling
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Bowling
Basketball
Cheerleading
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Field Hockey
Lacrosse
Riflery
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weight Lifting
Wrestling
Cross-Country Running
Bowling
Basketball
Cheerleading
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Field Hockey
Lacrosse
Riflery
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weight Lifting
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Intramural
Intramural
Basketball
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Table Tennis
Volleyball
Water Polo
Basketball
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Table Tennis
Volleyball
Water Polo
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
87% of Clemson University students receive some type of financial assistance. Clemson University provides academic-based, merit/achievement-based, and need-based financial scholarships for students.
*All costs below are estimates and can vary based on your circumstances.
- Tuition (Non-SC Resident On/Off Campus) - $37,110
- Fees (Non-SC Resident On/Off Campus) - $1,440
- Room (Non-SC Resident On/Off Campus) - $7,808
- Board (Non-SC Resident On/Off Campus) - $4,426
- Books and Supplies (Non-SC Resident On/Off Campus) - $1,248
- Personal Expenses (Non-SC Resident On/Off Campus) - $3,994
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance (Non-SC Resident On/Off Campus) - $57,156
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
Clemson University was founded by Thomas Green Clemson, a politician, and statesman who bequeathed a large portion of his estate to establish a college in South Carolina that would teach Scientific Agricultural and Mechanical arts to its citizens. Clemson further stated that he wished for the university to be modeled after the Mississippi State University, which he admired at the time. The Governor of South Carolina, Benjamin Tillman, influenced the South Carolina General Assembly into creating an agricultural institution. In 1889, Governor John Peter Richardson III signed a bill for the establishment of an agricultural college, one that was to be named the Agricultural College of South Carolina. The state used funds from the Morrill Land-grant College Act and Hatch Act of 1887 to finance the school’s buildings, including the Hardin Halls and main classroom buildings, in 1890 and 1891. The school was opened as an all-white male military school in July 1893 with a standard curriculum of English, mathematics, history, botany, physics, and agriculture.
In 1898, the school’s curriculum expanded to include industrial programs like mechanics, agricultural studies, foundry work, and more. In the same year, the textile department was established, making the school the first Southern institution to train textile specialists. During World War I, the school created a Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and a Student Army Training Corps (SATC) in 1917 and 1918. These corps served in both World Wars, which helped prevent the school from closing down, although the school’s enrollment was affected by the war. After the war, though, the school started a rebuilding program anew. That effort resulted in the addition of various programs, expansion of the school’s degree programs to include graduate programs, construction of new faculties on the school’s campus, and an increase in enrollment.
In 1955, the school underwent yet another transformation, resulting in the change from a military institution to a civilian school and bringing about the admission of white female students. This transformation did not change the segregation of the school immediately but pushed for desegregation, and in 1963, it was finally achieved. This same year, the school also admitted its first African-American students. In 1864, the school was renamed Clemson University after the Legislature had recognized its expansion and growth.