Clemson University
Clemson University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Clemson University Featured Rankings
- #1 Best Online MBAs South Carolina
- #1 Most Influential US Universities by State
- #2 South Carolina's Best Online Colleges 2026
- #2 South Carolina's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #2 Best Public Colleges in South Carolina
- #2 Best Grad Schools in South Carolina
- #2 Best Colleges in South Carolina
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in South Carolina
- #2 Best Research Universities in South Carolina 2026
- #4 Online Master's in Biology
- #6 Most Unusual Doctoral Degrees You Can Earn Online (PhDs)
- #6 Online Master’s in Emergency Management
- #6 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs
- #9 Online Master’s in Human Resources
- #9 Online Master’s in Green Technologies
- #12 Fastest Online Doctoral Degrees
- #13 The Most Influential Colleges in Tennis Today
- #14 Online Master’s in Data Science
- #15 Top 20 Best Online Accredited Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs)
- #15 Best Research Universities with Online Doctorate Programs (PhDs) 2026
- #16 Online Master’s in Special Education
- #16 Fastest Online Bachelor's Degrees
- #22 Online Master’s in Engineering
- #25 The Most Influential Colleges in Track & Field Today
- #29 Online MBAs
About Clemson University
According to Wikipedia, Clemson University is a public land-grant research university in Clemson, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Clemson is the second-largest university by enrollment in South Carolina. For the fall 2019 semester, the university enrolled a total of 20,195 undergraduate students and 5,627 graduate students, and the student/faculty ratio was 18:1. Clemson's campus is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The campus now borders Lake Hartwell, which was formed by the dam completed in 1962. The university manages the nearby Clemson Experimental Forest that is used for research, education, and recreation.
Clemson University's Online Degrees
MHRD in Human Resource Development
Degree Concentrations
- Athletic Leadership
- Comprehensive Hrd
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
MS in Parks, Recreation, And Tourism Management
Degree Concentrations
- Travel And Tourism Management
- Parks And Conservation Areas Management
- Community Recreation Management
- Recreational Therapy
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
MTSA in Transportation Administration
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
MS in Data Science And Analytics
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion Time: 1 year
- Format: Fully online
MPA in Public Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Emergency Management
- Homeland Defense And Security
- Local And State Government
- Nonprofit Management
- Regional Sustainability
- Required Credits: 39-42
- Format: Fully online
PBCERT in Online Teaching Certificate
- Required Credits: 12
- Format: Fully online
MS in Youth Development Leadership
- Required Credits: 15
- Completion Time: 1 year
- Format: Fully online
EdS in Administration And Supervision
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
MEd in Teaching And Learning
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion Time: 2 years
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Youth Development
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion Time: 1 year
- Format: Fully online
MEd in Administration And Supervision
- Required Credits: 36
- Format: Fully online
MEd in Literacy
Degree Concentrations
- Coaching
- Secondary
- Esol
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 3 years
- Format: Fully online
PhD in Rhetorics, Communication And Information Design
- Required Credits: 36
Graduate Certificate in Athletic Leadership
- Required Credits: 12
- Format: Fully online
MS in Athletic Leadership
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2 years
- Format: Fully online
PhD in Healthcare Genetics
Degree Concentrations
- Interventionists
- Translational Bench Science
- Ethics And Health Policy
- Required Credits: 70
- Format: Fully online
BS in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 2 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Biological Sciences
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 1 year
- Format: Fully online
PhD in Parks, Recreation, And Tourism Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Format: Fully online
Clemson University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60,122 | 38% | 93% | 88% | 1325 | 30 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Clemson University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $15,854 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $14,943 |
| 30K - 48K | $14,638 |
| 48K - 75K | $16,669 |
| 75K - 110K | $22,127 |
| 110K+ | $27,922 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Clemson University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Clemson University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $79,064 a year, and 95% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Clemson University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 31,612 | 24,568 | 7,044 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Clemson University?
Clemson University is located at 201 Sikes Hall, Clemson, SC 29634.
How Safe is Clemson University?
Relative to its enrollment, Clemson University has a violent crime rate of 0.04% and a property crime rate of 0.14%. Clemson has a violent crime rate of 0.16% and a property crime rate of 1.99%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Clemson University Known For?
Clemson University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Engineering
- Physics
- Chemistry
- History
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Economics
- Business
- Earth Sciences
- Philosophy
- Education
- Political Science
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Anthropology
- Communications
- Medical
- Sociology
- Literature
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
Clemson University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Clemson University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Clemson University ranks #102 in the U.S. and #394 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesClemson University ranks #120 in the U.S. and #489 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesClemson University ranks #128 in the U.S. and #585 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesClemson University ranks #140 in the U.S. and #386 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesClemson University ranks #143 in the U.S. and #531 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesClemson University ranks #147 in the U.S. and #490 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesClemson University ranks #147 in the U.S. and #646 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesClemson University ranks #158 in the U.S. and #480 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesClemson University ranks #160 in the U.S. and #652 worldwide for influence in Earth Sciences.
earth-science DegreesClemson University ranks #171 in the U.S. and #580 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesClemson University ranks #174 in the U.S. and #664 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesClemson University ranks #177 in the U.S. and #688 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesClemson University ranks #181 in the U.S. and #680 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesClemson University ranks #183 in the U.S. and #314 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.
criminal-justice DegreesClemson University ranks #200 in the U.S. and #614 worldwide for influence in Anthropology.
anthropology DegreesClemson University ranks #205 in the U.S. and #727 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesClemson University ranks #217 in the U.S. and #757 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesClemson University ranks #248 in the U.S. and #908 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesClemson University ranks #257 in the U.S. and #751 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesClemson University ranks #264 in the U.S. and #716 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesClemson University ranks #523 in the U.S. and #1352 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesClemson University ranks #561 in the U.S. and #2464 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesWho Are Clemson University's Most Influential Alumni?
Clemson University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Criminal Justice, History, and Engineering. Here are some of Clemson University's most famous alumni:
- James Dickey
- An American writer.
- Strom Thurmond
- An American politician .
- John Edwards
- An American politician from North Carolina.
- Jo Jorgensen
- An American politician, 2020 Libertarian Party presidential candidate.
- Anthony Bradley
- An American theologian.
- James F. Byrnes
- An American politician.
- Warren E. Dixon
- An American control theorist.
- Dolph Lundgren
- A Swedish actor and martial artist.
- Thomas Naylor
- An American economist.
- Horace Grant
- An American basketball player.
- Dwight Clark
- An American football player and executive .
- Deshaun Watson
- An American football player .
Who Are Clemson University's Most Influential Faculty?
Clemson University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Criminal Justice, History, and Engineering. Here are some of Clemson University's most famous faculty:
- Constance Bumgarner Gee
- An American scholar.
- Gary S. Grest
- An American physicist.
- Reshma Jagsi
- An American radiation oncologist.
- Xuejun Wen
- A Chinese bioengineer.
- Wendy Lee Queen
- A Researcher.
- Jeff Scott
- An American football player.
- Kamini Singha
- A Researcher ORCID ID = 0000-0002-0605-3774.
- Itoro Umoh-Coleman
- An American basketball player-coach.
- Jacob Darwin Hamblin
- A Researcher.
