In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at Clemson
Clemson charges $15,554 a year in published tuition and fees for South Carolina residents, about $7,777 a semester, and $40,866 a year for students from other states, about $20,433 a semester, a difference of $25,312. About 44% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
How Clemson's admissions have changed
Clemson received 64,805 first-year applications for fall 2025, 2.5 times the 26,242 it received for fall 2017. Admitted students grew more slowly, from 12,380 to 27,498, so the acceptance rate fell from 47% to 42%.
For fall 2025, Clemson admitted 5,662 of 10,706 South Carolina applicants (52.9%), according to its fact guide.
The chart shows the acceptance rate for all first-year applicants: in-state, out-of-state and international together. Fall 2017–2024: IPEDS (first-year applicants and admits). Fall 2025: Clemson's Office of Institutional Research fact guide, which may define applicants slightly differently. A falling acceptance rate mostly reflects more applications, not a smaller class. Acceptance rates are a starting point, not a prediction.
What makes Clemson different
- On a lake. Campus borders Lake Hartwell, with the Blue Ridge Mountains nearby.
- A land-grant university. Engineering, agriculture and business all have deep roots here.
- Business at scale. Business administration, marketing and finance are among its largest majors.
What Clemson students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): business administration (498), marketing (406), finance (380), biology (336), psychology (327) and nursing (255). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Clemson if…
- You want a college town with strong school spirit and outdoor life.
- You're interested in business, engineering, nursing or biology.
- You'd like a large university that still feels close-knit.
Worth asking about
- How does Clemson's general engineering first year work before you choose a discipline?
- What scholarships are available to out-of-state students?
How Clemson compares with the other ACC schools
Clemson admits about four in ten applicants, in one of the ACC's classic college towns. See how the 18 ACC schools differ.
FAQ
What is Clemson's acceptance rate? 42.4% for fall 2025: 27,498 of 64,805 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its fact guide. Source For fall 2024 it was 38.3%.
What is Clemson's out-of-state acceptance rate? About 40% for fall 2025. Clemson's fact guide reports 54,099 out-of-state applications and 10,706 from South Carolina; it admitted 5,662 South Carolina applicants (52.9%) of 27,498 admitted in all, which leaves 21,836 admits from outside the state, or 40.4%. That out-of-state figure includes international applicants, since Clemson doesn't report them separately. Source Out-of-state tuition and fees are $40,866 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
What is Clemson known for? Its lake-and-mountains setting, engineering and business, and its school spirit.
How much does Clemson cost? Published tuition and fees are $15,554 a year in-state and $40,866 out-of-state, before any aid.
How much is Clemson tuition per semester? About $7,777 a semester for South Carolina residents and $20,433 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $15,554 and $40,866 before aid.
Is Clemson an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Clemson University is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Clemson? About 23,300 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Wondering if a college town fits you?
Lens's College Ideas suggest which kinds of settings may suit you. Start with Lens →