How to Get into Clemson University

Clemson University is a public land grant research University in South Carolina. It is the second largest university by enrollment in South Carolina. In the fall 2019 semester, the university enrolled more than 20,000 undergraduate students, making the ratio of students to professors 18 to 1. 

What is Clemson University? 

Clemson University, formerly known as Clemson Agricultural is the second largest university in South Carolina. It is one of the oldest universities in the South, too, as it was founded in 1899. The campus borders Lake Hartwell and Clemson Experimental Forest, where ground-breaking research takes place. The university is home to seven colleges including agriculture, life sciences, and forestry.

Testing Scores for Admission

According to the college, the average SAT score ranges from 1240 to 1400, while the average ACT score is between 29 and 30. The average weighted GPA of acceptance is around 4.4 with 75% of accepted students having above a 4.0, which means that GPA is just as important as the main two standardized tests. 

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Acceptance & Graduation Rate

To get into Clemson, a student’s standardized test scores and high school GPA have to be slightly above average. This is reflected in the acceptance rate as it is 49%, meaning that almost half of these students that apply get in. However, this doesn’t mean it is an easy school because the graduation rate is 83%. This may have to do with the fact that many of Clemson’s top programs are difficult. 

How Are Applicants Rated? 

The Clemson admissions committee ranks five main factors as being “very important” to their selection process: being the rigor of high school, course load, class rank, GPA, and standardized test scores. โ€œConsideredโ€ factors are: the application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, and legacy status.   

Tips to Get Into Clemson 

  • Recruited athletes enjoy a huge advantage in getting accepted to Clemson, as it has 19 NCAA Division 1 sports teams. Within the class of 2025 alone, there are almost 100 student athletes. 
  • The acceptance rate for in-state and out-of-state students was near the identical for the class of 2024, so out-of-state students should definitely apply if interested. 
  • As mentioned before, legacy status is considered when reading applicants so being a son or a daughter of a Clemson alumni can boost your chances.
  • Clemson University does not require applicants to submit a supplemental essay, unless applying for the honors program, so take extra time and care completing the common application. 

How Does Clemson Compare to Other Top Universities? 

Clemson yield rate โ€” the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted โ€” was only 20% last year. This figure is significantly lower than other Southern powerhouse state universities like UGA (41%), UVA (40%), and UNC-Chapel Hill (43%). Clemson ranked number 25 among national public universities for graduation and retention rate. Clemson’s alumni also made the top 10 for giving and donation rate, ranking at number 6.

Are you or will you be attending Clemson University?

Stock up on gear to show your pride for the Tigers. Grab this sweatshirt, decals for your laptop, or this Clemson University pennant.

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