Clemson University College Portrait
Clemson UniversityClemson, SC 29634
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Clemson University
About Clemson University
More than 19,000 students call Clemson University "home" each academic year. Why? Because Clemson has a way of doing things differently. Clemson is more than a top-tier research university, more than big-time science and engineering, and more than course schedules and final exams. It's about providing experiences and enrichment opportunities that create leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs. Clemson is one of 68 public and 51 private institutions selected to receive a 2008 community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation in the areas of Curricular Engagement and Outreach and Partnerships. It joins 76 other institutions that were selected in 2006 — the only other year of selections — out of 4,391 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Set in a college town with a beautiful backdrop of lake fronts and mountains, Clemson attracts students looking for a strong sense of community, school spirit and a love of winning - in academics, in athletics and in life. We invite you to get more. We invite you to Clemson University!
Living in the Tiger Community
Clemson Resources for Student Success
Clemson offers a number of resources to help make your Clemson Experience the best it can be, whether it is offering you academic support or helping you find a students' organization that fits your interests. With nearly half of classes at Clemson having fewer than 20 students, Clemson professors get to know their students and explore innovative ways of teaching. It is the one reason Clemson's retention and graduation rates rank among the highest in the country among public schools. It is the way Clemson continues to attract some of the country's best students who seek intellectual challenge. Clemson provides educational and enrichment opportunities to create leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs solving real-world problems through research, outreach and public service. The University's over 18,000 students can select from 70 undergraduate and 100 graduate degree programs offered by five colleges. Clemson is well known for its prominent athletic programs and for the spirit of its fans. Another important aspect of Clemson is its dedication to improving the world through public service. If you are in the area, tune your radio to Clemson's student station, WSBF 88.1 FM. Of course, the best way to see what it is like to be a Clemson student is to come to campus. We would love to see you!
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 19,453 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 15,459 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 7,056 | 46% |
| Men | 8,403 | 54% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 36 | <1% |
| Asian | 270 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 1,006 | 7% |
| Hispanic | 304 | 2% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 13 | <1% |
| White | 12,981 | 84% |
| Two or More Races | 162 | 1% |
| International | 142 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 545 | 4% |
| Where do CU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | 69% |
| Other US States & Territories | 30% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are CU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 20 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 4% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 25 - 31 | |
| Math | 580 - 680 | |
| Critical Reading | 550 - 650 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 78% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 97% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 100% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 4.1 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $20,002
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Clemson University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 21% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $4,778. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 34% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,488. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
CU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 16 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 61% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 87% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 1,052 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 33% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 15% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 88% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
98% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
41% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
Clemson University is devoted to providing faculty, staff, students and visitors with information they need to protect themselves. Safety information is disseminated through different systems to provide complete coverage of our population. Clemson has established a partnership with the Pickens County e-911 system. “Inside Alert
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, lower transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Doctoral, STEM dominant
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at CU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 98% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 60% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 44% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 85% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 35% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 65% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 76% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 23% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 98% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 97% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 74% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 74% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 65% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 86% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 98% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 74% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 60% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 88% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 54% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 92% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 95% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 92% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Clemson University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,198 |
| Master's | 785 |
| Doctoral | 162 |
| Total | 4,145 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 7% |
| Business Administration and Management, General | 7% |
| Civil Engineering, General | 6% |
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General | 5% |
| Finance, General | 5% |
| Links to degree programs at Clemson University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 96% four-year success and progress rate means that 96% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,994 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 642 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 91%
More Information
Student Learning at Clemson University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Clemson University has a systematic approach to annual assessment of all academic and non-academic programs, services, and departments including centers and institutes. All academic degree programs will have an annual assessment record. In addition to student learning outcomes for the degree program there must be at least one unique student learning outcome for all South Carolina Commission on Higher Education approved concentrations.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2010-10 Results from the ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP)
The ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, and written communication and reports separate scores on critical thinking and written communication.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 113
Senior Score: 115
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 27
Senior Score: 27
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1221
Senior Score: 1221
Written Communication Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 116
Senior Score: 116
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 27
Senior Score: 27
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1221
Senior Score: 1221