Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina · Public · 38.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 86/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Clemson University scores 86 (Strong Value). Average 6-year earnings of $48,100 and a 6.3-year payback period reflect a university with both a high-performing engineering and business curriculum and an exceptional completion rate of 86.6%. The 83.9% three-year repayment rate is strong. Clemson is selective at 38.3% admission with SAT mid-ranges of 620-710 Math and 620-700 Reading, ACT 28-32. The 23,300-student enrollment creates a major university experience with flagship resources. The program-level data is deep: Electrical Engineering ($77,925 year-one, B+), Computer Engineering ($77,672), Information Science ($76,549), Chemical Engineering ($75,951), and Computer Science ($73,374) all earn B+ ROI grades with debt-to-earnings ratios under 0.35. Finance (280 graduates, B+), Biomedical Engineering (128 graduates, B+), and Industrial Engineering (169 graduates, B) are also strong. The 14.8% Pell grant rate reflects a less economically diverse student body.
Clemson University scores in the top 8% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Clemson University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,554/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,866/yr |
| Average net price | $22,253/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,012 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,513 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 86.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 23,300 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $15,554/year ($40,866/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $22,253/year, or roughly $89,012 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,607/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,922/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,100) and comes to 0.45, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,607 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,109 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,851 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,833 |
| $110,001+ | $27,922 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $13,607 per year at Clemson - competitive for a selective public university. Over four years, roughly $54,000. Against $48,100 average earnings and a 6.3-year payback, the math works for engineering, CS, and nursing students. Low-income students at Clemson benefit from the strong completion rate (86.6%) that reduces non-completion risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $18,851; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $24,833. The aid taper is significant. Middle-income families in the upper bracket face prices approaching $100,000 over four years. At that level, program choice matters: engineering and CS graduates justify the investment; social science and arts graduates face a harder payback calculation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $27,922 per year. For out-of-state students, sticker tuition is $40,866 - meaningfully higher and likely closer to full cost. At roughly $28,000 per year in-state, Clemson is excellent value for engineering, business, and health sciences.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Clemson University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,059 | C+ |
| Marketing | $81,109 | C+ |
| Psychology | $55,126 | D |
| Biology | $65,577 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $91,269 | B+ |
| Registered Nursing | $74,491 | B+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,028 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $101,301 | B+ |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,491 | B |
| Teacher Education | $49,861 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (101 graduates) earns $77,925 year-one and $96,446 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.334 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $26,000 is low relative to these earnings. Year-four trajectory to $96k is consistent with senior engineer and team lead progression.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (190 graduates) earns $73,374 year-one and $101,301 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.307 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $22,498 is very low for these earnings. The four-year trajectory above $100k reflects the strong tech placement at major employers.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (235 graduates) earns $74,206 year-one and $74,491 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.310 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $23,000 is low for a nursing program. The flat year-one to year-four trajectory is typical of nursing, where RN compensation plateaus unless additional credentials are pursued. Clemson nursing places graduates into a robust South Carolina healthcare market.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (280 graduates) earns $58,876 year-one and $91,269 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.340 (ROI grade B+). Median debt is $20,000. The year-four jump to $91k reflects the typical finance career trajectory - analyst to associate progression.
Psychology
Psychology (358 graduates - one of Clemson's largest programs) earns $32,146 year-one and $55,126 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.706 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $22,687 against $32k starting is tight. The D-grade reflects the credential gap: most clinical and counseling tracks require a master's or doctoral degree, and psychology graduates entering the workforce directly face a hard early-career period. Students should plan for graduate education costs when choosing this major at Clemson.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Clemson University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 38.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 620-710 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 620-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-32 |
| Enrollment | 23,300 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 14.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,153 |
Clemson's 38.3% admission rate places it in the selective tier. SAT 620-710 Math, 620-700 Reading, ACT 28-32 describe the competitive profile. South Carolina residents have strong incentives to apply early given in-state tuition of $15,554.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Clemson's completion rate is 86.6%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University (this school) | 86 | $22,253 | $71,513 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | 90 | $16,109 | $74,915 |
| University of Georgia | 88 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 87 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 85 | $20,723 | $72,085 |
| College of Charleston | 57 | $18,960 | $56,416 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Clemson University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Clemson admits 38.3% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 620-710 Math and 620-700 Reading, ACT 28-32. The 23,300-student campus offers strong research infrastructure, Greek life, and Division I athletics. The 14.8% Pell rate means the campus is not heavily socioeconomically diverse. Students in arts, natural sciences without a graduate path, or animal sciences face weaker outcomes.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Clemson University pays off. You'd pay about $22,253 a year after aid ($89,012 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,513 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.3 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 86.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Clemson University: Common Questions
Is Clemson University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Clemson University pays off. It scores 86/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $22,253 a year after aid ($89,012 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,513 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.3 years to earn back.
How much does Clemson University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,253 a year, or roughly $89,012 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Clemson University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,513 ten years after enrolling, roughly $29,713 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Clemson University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.3 years for Clemson University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Clemson University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $48,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Clemson University?
The six-year graduation rate is 86.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.