Clemson University Acceptance Rate Out Of State Clemson accepts roughly 65% in-state and 35% out of state students each year. This ratio has been present for decades, and has not changed. Clemson University has an acceptance rate of 43% and is among the top 11% of the most difficult universities to gain admission to in the United States. The university reports the admission statistics without distinguishing between local and international students.

Clemson University, located in South Carolina, maintains a consistent acceptance rate for both in-state and out-of-state students. With a ratio of approximately 65% in-state students and 35% out-of-state students accepted each year, the university has upheld this distribution for decades. Clemson University has an overall acceptance rate of 43%, making it one of the most competitive universities in the United States.

In order to be considered for admission to Clemson University, prospective students must meet certain basic requirements. These requirements include a completed application, high school transcripts, standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Additionally, applicants may be required to submit supplemental materials specific to their intended major or program of study.

The admission process at Clemson University entails a holistic review of each applicant’s academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The university values a well-rounded student body and seeks to admit individuals who will contribute positively to the campus community. With an acceptance rate of 43%, gaining admission to Clemson University is a competitive process that requires a strong academic record and meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities.

How Many Out of State Students Does Clemson Accept?

Clemson University Acceptance Rate Out Of State Clemson accepts roughly 65% in-state and 35% out of state students each year. This ratio has been present for decades, and has not changed. Clemson University has an acceptance rate of 43% and is among the top 11% of the most difficult universities to gain admission to in the United States.

The university reports the admission statistics without distinguishing between local and international students. Clemson University (out-of-state) Clemson University is known for being a highly selective school. They receive about 53,000 applications each year. With regards to the acceptance rate, it is around 43 percent which equals about 22,700 students being accepted to the institution.

Clemson University Acceptance Rate Out Of State

% Selected	Item
65%	In-state students
35%	Out of state students
43%	Overall acceptance rate
11%	Difficulty of admission in the US
53,000	Applications received per year
22,700	Students accepted annually

Clemson University (out-of-state) Statistics

• Acceptance Rate: 43%

Clemson University Acceptance Rate

Acceptance Rate

43%

Admission Standards		Very High
Applicant Competition		Average

Clemson University Acceptance Rate Out Of State

Clemson Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025This acceptance rate of 49% was significantly lower than the previous year which saw 62% admitted into the Class of 2024. The acceptance rate for in-state and out-of-state applicants was almost identical for the Class of 2024.

Will you get accepted?

Find out how likely you are to get accepted at Clemson based on your GPA, test scores, and even extracurricular activities. Then, get custom recommendations for how to improve your odds – completely for free.CALCULATE MY CHANCES

How hard is it to get into Clemson and can I get accepted? The school has a 43% acceptance rate ranking it #5 in South Carolina for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 14,100 out of 29,070 applicants were admitted making Clemson a more competitive school to get into with a good chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants.  Academically, it has very high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 18 percent. Clemson University typically accepts and attracts “A” average high school students. Only 26% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.

Test Requirements

You must submit admission test scores with your application. Clemson University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clemson SAT Scores

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range

1230-1400

Applicants Submitting SAT

50%

SAT Reading 25th	620
SAT Math 25th	610
SAT Composite 25th	1230

SAT Reading 75th	690
SAT Math 75th	710
SAT Composite 75th	1400
Average SAT Score	1320

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Clemson University?

Clemson University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 20 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1230 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT’s as low as 1140. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1320 out of 1600. The school ranks #2 in South Carolina for highest average SAT composite score. 50 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2019 starting class

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1400 and Above	Good	>64%
1315 to 1400	Avg +	51%-64%
1230 to 1315	Avg –	38%-51%
1145 to 1230	Reach	26%-38%
Less than 1145	Low	<26%

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Clemson ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range

27-32 

Applicants Submitting ACT

50%

ACT Reading 25th	27
ACT Math 25th	25
ACT Composite 25th	27

ACT Reading 75th	34
ACT Math 75th	30
ACT Composite 75th	32
Average ACT Score	29

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Clemson?

Admission data indicates that Clemson regularly accepts students with ACT’s of 27 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 15 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 24 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 30 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants – and students with a 32 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #2 in South Carolina for highest average ACT composite score. 50 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Clemson University.

Clemson University Acceptance by Majors

Program	Acceptance Rate (%)	Admission Requirements
1. Accounting	41%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
2. Agriculture Education	63%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
3. Animal and Veterinary Sciences	55%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
4. Architecture	43%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
5. Bioengineering	43%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
6. Business Administration	31%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
7. Chemistry	43%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
8. Civil Engineering	33%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
9. Computer Science	29%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average
10. Electrical Engineering	35%	GPA and SAT/ACT scores within the average

Clemson University – Acceptance Rate, GPA, Requirements

Adjacent to scenic Lake Hartwell and a short drive from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Clemson’s campus gives students a beautiful natural backdrop for study and countless opportunities for outdoor activities. 

Over 500 campus clubs and organizations provide ways for students to meet one another and become involved in their community. Clemson even has undergraduate dormitory communities for students with common interests; these facilities have their own staff, resources, and programming tailored to student needs.

A land-grant, research-focused university, Clemson’s resources allow undergraduates opportunities to participate actively in research through their Creative Inquiry program.

The Cooperative Education Program gives students valuable career experience, as well as the chance to learn and earn. Clemson also provides its students with a professional development and support program ranked first in the nation.

Clemson sports teams are legendary, but the school also offers exceptional Sports Management degree programs, ranking in the top 20 nationally. In Agricultural Sciences, Clemson breaks the top 10. Superior Nursing, Architecture, Business, and Engineering programs also make Clemson a great choice for many diverse undergraduate study paths.

What began as a military school for men only in 1889 now shines as one of the top state colleges in the country. 

Noteworthy alumni include sports heroes like Deshaun Watson and Jonathan Byrd, CEOs like Gary Parsons of XM Radio, and many legislators and politicians, including the former mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina Harvey Gantt, who first integrated Clemson in 1963.

Clemson Acceptance Rate

The 2021 incoming Freshman class came out of an admissions season with a 51.3% rate of acceptance, while the projection for 2022’s acceptance rate is projected to be 45.8%, the lowest in five years, reflecting an overall trend along with an unusually high number of applicants.

Clemson has no Early Action or Early Decision deadlines. Students can choose to submit application materials by the “priority” deadline in December, ahead of the standard May deadline; priority deadline applicants are usually notified of an admissions decision by mid-February. 

Most scholarships at Clemson require application by the priority deadline, but Clemson Admissions reports that applying by the priority deadline does not increase a student’s chances at acceptance over students who apply by the standard deadline.

Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

Since it’s a public university, Clemson strives to keep its student body distributed at 65% in-state students and 35% out-of-state students. 

Each year, the current student body distribution numbers – which fluctuate based on transfers, students who leave the program, and other factors – influence the out-of-state acceptances figures as the admissions department works to maintain the ideal proportion. 

While the school does generate more revenue from out-of-state tuition, the chief goal is to sustain an overall 65-35 student body distribution profile.

Separate numbers for out-of-state acceptance rates prove challenging to estimate, since the number of total applicants isn’t broken down by state of residence. 

Once accepted, in-state students are far more likely to enroll than out-of-state candidates. 

Clemson’s adoption of the Common Application and the Coalition Application has increased the number of out-of-state applicants. In contrast, the number of in-state applicants has stayed roughly the same. 

Therefore, to maintain the 65/35 mix of in- and out-of-state students, Clemson offers acceptance to fewer out-of-state candidates.

GPA

Class rank and GPA rate highly in Clemson’s admissions evaluation process; in fact, Clemson most often reports “high school record,” “GPA,” or “rigor of coursework” as the cornerstone to their selection procedure. 

Most accepted candidates have an unweighted GPA above 3.7, and more than half rank in the top 10% of their high school classes. Nearly all admitted Freshmen rank in the top half of their home high school class.

Clemson encourages future students to choose the strongest offerings at their high schools: International Baccalaureate programs, Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment or college courses. 

Any student planning to attend Clemson should work with their high school counseling department to make sure they enroll in the school’s most rigorous curriculum. Once students engage with challenging coursework, they’ll need to maintain a strong A average to compete in the Clemson selection process.

SAT & ACT Requirements

Having determined that performance on the SAT and ACT represents an accurate picture of success in the program, Clemson weighs test scores seriously. 

Average SAT and ACT scores of accepted students climbed steadily over the last decade as Clemson’s applicant pool increased. Most admitted students (88% of the 2021 freshman class) scored above 1200 on the 1600 SAT scale. 

For SAT numbers, Clemson admissions does “superscore” results, meaning the highest section scores from different test dates are combined to create the best picture of student performance. 

Half of the incoming ACT takers scored between 27 and 32. With respect to standardized test scores, Clemson ranks as one of the more selective state institutions nationwide. 

Since the Clemson admissions process does not require essays or letters of recommendation, test scores and GPAs perform a central function in student evaluations.

The standardized test requirement for 2021 and 2022 Clemson freshmen is waived, but the school made it clear that the decision to suspend mandatory SAT and ACT scores is temporary. Students can still submit test scores if they can take the tests under safe conditions.

Requirements & Admission Tips

Students intent on Clemson need to focus on maximizing standardized test scores. 

Excellent test preparatory programs exist online, in person, and in self-guided book and workbook form. 

Whether it’s learning how to read and approach SAT questions with systems and strategies, or practicing for a particular section of the test, spending the time to prepare for test day pays off in higher scores. 

Taking the test multiple times benefits students, since Clemson practices “superscoring,” or taking the highest section scores from each test, rather than the single overall highest test score.

Clemson studies student high school coursework for evidence of rigor. Taking high level courses, AP classes, or participating in programs like International Baccalaureate can send the important message that a candidate seeks and meets academic challenges with enthusiasm.

Since the school currently considers standardized tests optional, students can and should make use of the Personal Statement option to explain not only the absence of SAT or ACT scores, but also to highlight any academic indicators that might take the place of those scores as evidence of future success at Clemson. 

A strong strategy would be to focus on coursework performance in your stated intended major, any previous performance on standardized tests, like the PSAT, and any academic awards and honors not covered in the transcript (strong showings at science fairs and math competitions can be incredibly persuasive).

The Clemson application asks prospective students to select two intended majors. Depending on the year, some advantage may exist if one of the student’s selected majors turns out to be an under-sought choice. 

These demographics can change quickly, and in-state students receive priority placement in popular majors or majors with limited seating. It’s a calculated risk, but listing a less popular major as a first or second choice might give an out-of-state applicant or a prospective student with a slightly below-standard GPA a better chance at acceptance. 

Essays

Clemson’s own application does not require an essay, nor does it require or recommend letters of recommendation. 

Students may add a Personal Statement to their application bundle. Still, candidates should keep in mind that this statement option does not represent the same kind of essay aspect as other applications. 

This option is available primarily if you have unique circumstances or conditions that can illuminate parts of your existing application and are not addressed elsewhere. 

When writing a personal statement for the Clemson application, students should omit flourishes and move directly to the substantive conditions that could influence the way admissions readers interpret the data in the student’s application itself.