Getting in
For Fall 2025, 64,805 first-year students applied to Clemson, 27,498 were admitted and 5,084 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 42.4%.
Source: Clemson Common Data Set 2025-2026 (Clemson OPEN) (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | 10,697 | 5,661 | 52.9% |
| Out-of-state | 52,651 | 21,277 | 40.4% |
| International | 1,457 | 560 | 38.4% |
Source: Clemson Common Data Set 2025-2026 (Clemson OPEN) (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. Clemson's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major.
Source: Clemson Common Data Set 2025-2026 (Clemson OPEN) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early action. Clemson has no early decision plan. Its early action is not binding and not restrictive. The Common Data Set gives no early action counts, so there is no early round acceptance rate.
Source: Clemson Common Data Set 2025-2026 (Clemson OPEN) (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
You name two intended majors; if you are not admissible in your first choice, Clemson considers your second. Requirements can vary by major, and South Carolina residents get priority. One program asks for more:
- Performing Arts, music or theatre concentration. An audition is required.
Source: Clemson Admissions, College Preparation (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
87 majors across 8 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in Clemson's official 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, grouped by the college that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Concentrations and emphasis areas are listed with their major. Minors, certificates and graduate programs are left out.
College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences12
- Agribusiness (BS)
- Agricultural Education (BS)Choose one: Leadership Emphasis Area; Teaching Emphasis Area.
- Agricultural Mechanization and Business (BS)
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences (BS)Choose one: Animal Agribusiness Concentration; Equine Business Concentration; Preveterinary and Science Concentration.
- Food Science and Human Nutrition (BS)Choose one: Food Science and Technology Concentration; Nutrition Concentration.
- Packaging Science (BS)
- Environmental and Natural Resources (BS)Choose one: Conservation Biology Concentration; Natural Resource and Economic Policy Concentration; Natural Resources Management Concentration.
- Forest Resource Management (BS)Also offered with: Land Surveying Emphasis Area.
- Wildlife and Fisheries Biology (BS)
- Horticulture (BS)
- Plant and Environmental Sciences (BS)Choose one: Agricultural Biotechnology Concentration; Agronomy Concentration; Soil and Water Science Concentration.
- Turfgrass (BS)
Source: Clemson 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Architecture, Art and Construction5
- Architecture (BA)
- Landscape Architecture (BLA)
- Art (BA)
- Visual Arts (BFA)
- Construction Science and Management (BS)Also offered with: Residential Construction Concentration.
Source: Clemson 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, College of Architecture, Art and Construction (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Arts and Humanities10
- English (BA)
- History (BA)
- Women's Leadership (BA)
- World Cinema (BA)
- Language and International Business (BA)
- Modern Languages (BA)Choose one: American Sign Language Emphasis Area; Chinese Emphasis Area; French Emphasis Area; German Emphasis Area; Italian Emphasis Area; Japanese Emphasis Area; Spanish Emphasis Area.
- Language and International Health (BS)
- Performing Arts (BA)Choose one: Audio Technology Concentration; Music Concentration; Theatre Concentration.Extra requirement: An audition is required for the music and theatre concentrations.
- Philosophy (BA)Also offered with: Law, Liberty and Justice Emphasis Area; Medicine, Health, and Human Values Emphasis Area.
- Religious Studies (BA)
Source: Clemson 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, College of Arts and Humanities (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences15
- Communication (BA)
- Sports Communication (BA)
- Nursing (BS)
- Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (BS)Choose one: Parks, Recreation and Tourism Concentration; Recreational Therapy Concentration.
- Political Science (BA)
- Political Science (BS)Choose one: American Politics Concentration; Global Politics Concentration; Political Economy Concentration; Public Policy and Administration Concentration.
- Psychology (BA)
- Psychology (BS)
- Health Science (BS)Choose one: Health Promotion and Behavior Concentration; Health Services Administration Concentration; Preprofessional Health Studies.
- Anthropology (BA)
- Criminal Justice (BA)
- Sociology (BA)
- Anthropology (BS)
- Criminal Justice (BS)
- Sociology (BS)
Source: Clemson 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business7
- Accounting (BS)
- Economics (BA)
- Economics (BS)
- Financial Management (BS)
- Graphic Communications (BS)
- Management (BS)
- Marketing (BS)
Source: Clemson 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Education11
- Special Education (BA)
- Human Capital Education and Development (BS)
- Early Childhood Education (BA)
- Elementary Education (BA)
- Modern Languages Education (BA)Choose one: American Sign Language Teaching Area; French Teaching Area; Spanish Teaching Area.
- Science Teaching (BA)Choose one: Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Physics.
- Secondary Education (BA)Choose one: English; Mathematics; Social Studies (History).
- Agricultural Education (BS)
- Mathematics Teaching (BS)
- Middle Level Education (BS)Choose one: Language Arts and Social Studies Teaching Area; Mathematics and Science Teaching Area.
- Science Teaching (BS)Choose one: Biological Sciences.
Source: Clemson 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, College of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences15
- Automotive Engineering (BS)
- Biomedical Engineering (BS)Choose one: Bioelectrical Concentration; Biomaterials Concentration.
- Chemical Engineering (BS)
- Civil Engineering (BS)
- Computer Science (BA)
- Computer Information Systems (BS)
- Computer Science (BS)
- Computer Engineering (BS)
- Electrical Engineering (BS)
- Biosystems Engineering (BS)Choose one: Bioprocess Engineering Emphasis Area; Ecological Engineering Emphasis Area.
- Environmental Engineering (BS)
- Geology (BS)Also offered with: Environmental Science Concentration; Hydrogeology Concentration.
- Industrial Engineering (BS)Also offered with: Computing Emphasis Area.
- Materials Science and Engineering (BS)
- Mechanical Engineering (BS)
Source: Clemson 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Science12
- Biological Sciences (BA)
- Biological Sciences (BS)
- Microbiology (BS)Also offered with: Biomedicine Concentration.
- Chemistry (BA)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Biochemistry (BS)
- Genetics (BS)
- Mathematical Sciences (BA)
- Data Science (BS)
- Mathematical Sciences (BS)Also offered with: Biology Concentration.
- Physics (BA)
- Physics (BS)Also offered with: Interdisciplinary Emphasis Area.
Source: Clemson 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, College of Science (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Source: Clemson Admissions, College Preparation (opens in a new tab), for the extra requirements. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | October 15 | Mid-December | No |
| Regular Decision | January 1 | Mid-February | No |
| Final date to apply | May 1 | not published | No |
The application opens August 1. Outstanding checklist items are due November 1 for Early Action and January 10 for Regular Decision. Early Action applicants get an admit or deny decision or move to Regular Decision. For scholarship consideration, apply by January 1 and complete your file by January 10. Admitted students have until May 1 to decide. Clemson gives no decision date for applications sent after January 1.
Source: Clemson Admissions, Apply to Clemson as a First-Year Student (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Clemson is test optional: you choose whether your SAT or ACT scores are used, and you can switch that choice until the materials deadline (November 1 for Early Action, January 10 for Regular Decision). Scores must come officially from the testing agency. Clemson superscores both the SAT and the ACT.
Source: Clemson Admissions, Apply to Clemson as a First-Year Student (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 admission but considered if submitted, with scores due by May 1.
Source: Clemson Common Data Set 2025-2026 (Clemson OPEN) (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Clemson's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Clemson Admissions, Apply to Clemson as a First-Year Student (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Clemson, 2026-2027:
| Item | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $14,038 | $42,020 |
| Fees (mandatory, with average lab fees) | $1,832 | $1,832 |
| Housing (average residence hall) | $9,304 | $9,304 |
| Food (unlimited meal plan) | $5,576 | $5,576 |
| Books, supplies and course materials | $1,576 | $1,576 |
| Transportation | $1,320 | $1,320 |
| Personal | $4,484 | $4,484 |
| Loan fees (average federal) | $68 | $68 |
| Total | $38,198 | $66,180 |
Clemson's budget for a full-time undergraduate, fall and spring, on or off campus. First-year students add a $2,524 laptop allowance. Some majors add an enrichment fee of $0 to $2,500, not included here.
Source: Clemson Student Financial Aid, Estimated Cost of Attendance 2026-2027 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $13,607 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $14,109 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $18,851 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $24,833 |
| Over $110,000 | $27,922 |
| All incomes | $22,253 |
What first-year, full-time, in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Clemson's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Clemson University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL · Public42.8% admitted$10,411 average net price
North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, NC · Public39.5% admitted$17,303 average net price
University of South FloridaTampa, FL · Public40.7% admitted$9,812 average net price
University of Maryland, College ParkCollege Park, MD · Public45% admitted$15,678 average net price
William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA · Public37% admitted$19,096 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.