CostByCollegePublic, 4-year institution
How much does Clemson cost
Clemson University is in Clemson, SC. Total enrollment is 28,747 students, with 22,875 undergraduates.
The total cost for one year at Clemson University is $35,338 for in state students, living on campus. For out of state students the total is $59,282. Tuition and fees alone come to $15,554 of that total.
The cost breakdown
The total below uses the on campus figures for room, board, and other expenses. Each total is the sum of the rows above it, with nothing added and nothing left out.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, in state | $14,038 |
| Required fees, in state | $1,516 |
| Books and supplies | $1,436 |
| Room and board, on campus | $12,872 |
| Other expenses, on campus | $5,476 |
| Total cost for one year, in state | $35,338 |
Total cost for out of state students
Students from outside South Carolina pay a higher tuition rate at Clemson University. Every other part of the cost is the same.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, out of state | $37,982 |
| Required fees, out of state | $1,516 |
| Books and supplies | $1,436 |
| Room and board, on campus | $12,872 |
| Other expenses, on campus | $5,476 |
| Total cost for one year, out of state | $59,282 |
Average net price
The average net price at Clemson University is $24,408 for one year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across full time, first time students who received federal student aid and paid the in state or in district rate, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. It is an average, not a quote. A particular student can pay far less or close to the full published total, depending on family income and the aid the school offers.
That average net price is $6,404 above the average of $18,004 across the pilot schools on this site that publish a net price.
Cost weighed against outcomes
Median earnings ten years after entry are $71,513 a year. That figure covers students who received federal aid, who were working and not enrolled in further study at the ten year mark.
Median debt at graduation is $21,500. That is the median federal loan debt of students who completed a program at this school.
Put together, one year of median earnings at the ten year mark is about 3.3 times the median debt at graduation. That framing is rough. Earnings grow over a career, debt is usually repaid over many years, and both figures are medians across large groups, not a result any one student is promised.
The graduation rate is 88%. It measures the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
How this school compares
Against its state: That is $1,680 above the South Carolina pilot school average of $33,658.
Against the country: That is $7,325 below the national pilot school average of $42,663.
State and national averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a total cost, 2 schools in South Carolina and 293 schools nationwide on this site. They describe the schools listed on this site, not every college in the state or the country.
Admissions at a glance
The acceptance rate at Clemson University is 38.1% for fall 2023, from 60,122 applicants and 22,879 admitted students. Read the acceptance rate page for Clemson for the full picture, including how the rate compares.
Similar schools to compare
- University of South Carolina-Columbia, Columbia, South Carolina. Total cost $31,977 for one year.
- University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Total cost $28,106 for one year.
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida. Total cost $24,668 for one year.
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina. Total cost $26,604 for one year.
- University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Total cost $25,625 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Clemson cost per year?
The total cost for one year at Clemson University is $35,338 for in state students, living on campus. It counts tuition, required fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses. For out of state students the total is $59,282.
What is the average net price at Clemson?
The average net price at Clemson University is $24,408 for one year, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across the students described on this page.
What do graduates of Clemson earn and owe?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $71,513 a year, and median debt at graduation is $21,500, in the College Scorecard data used here. Both are medians across large groups, not a promise for any one student.
What is the graduation rate at Clemson?
The graduation rate at Clemson University is 88%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
What is the acceptance rate at Clemson?
The acceptance rate at Clemson University is 38.1% for fall 2023, from 60,122 applicants and 22,879 admitted students. The acceptance rate page on this site explains what that figure does and does not mean.
Is Clemson public or private?
Clemson University is a public, 4-year institution in Clemson, South Carolina. Total enrollment is 28,747 students.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard, United States Department of Education. Tuition and cost figures are for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. Average net price figures are for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Earnings and debt figures come from the College Scorecard file dated June 10, 2026. See the methodology page for full detail.