10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
+$3,618at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
Clemson University
Clemson, SC · 80 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 78 · Federal debt reported for 52
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Positive payoff
+$3,618 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
9.9 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
+1%Estimated return after 10 years
$72,263Observed earnings · year 5
$23,158Highest annual price before payoff reaches $0
The price benchmark is $905 per year below this threshold.
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $13,284 housing and food allowance plus $5,520 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$92,630
$8,000Annual price+$60,630
$16,000Annual price+$28,630
$22,000Current college-wide context+$4,630
$24,000Annual price−$3,370
$32,000Annual price−$35,370
$40,000Annual price−$67,370
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Online study is a meaningful part of the student experience.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- Suburban
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- Land-grant institution
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in South Carolina run 6% below the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$22,253Average net price / year
$35,015Cost of attendance
$21,500Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$228/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$72,263Median earnings · year 5 after completion
86.6%Completion rate
38.3%Admission rate
1,353Average SAT score
30ACT midpoint
23,300Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about Clemson University
What does Clemson University cost?
Clemson University reports an average annual net price of $22,253 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do Clemson University graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $72,263 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do Clemson University graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $21,500. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at Clemson University worth the same?
No. The current release contains 80 field-and-degree records for Clemson University; 78 report year-4 earnings and 52 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
31,678Students enrolled at any point
24,916Undergraduate students
6,762Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
79% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
1,817 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
72% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$62,688Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$68,925Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$75,080Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income67%
Middle income75%
Higher income83%
Undergraduate student composition
White76%
Black5%
Hispanic9%
Asian3%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Clinical Psychology.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 42
Not availableYear 1
$123,601Year 5
$179,858Year 10
Computer Programming.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$88,775Year 1
$134,767Year 5
$160,199Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 14
$88,935Year 1
$124,854Year 5
$150,773Year 10
Computer Programming.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$75,262Year 1
$107,201Year 5
$137,412Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 14
$84,496Year 1
$107,546Year 5
$133,492Year 10
Agricultural Business and Management.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 01
$76,015Year 1
$115,056Year 5
$132,226Year 10
Applied Mathematics.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 27
$61,332Year 1
$107,824Year 5
$130,533Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$72,252Year 1
$102,556Year 5
$125,595Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$51,401Year 1
$75,142Year 4
$72,263Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Industrial Engineering · Master's Degree$136,0582Real Estate · Master's Degree$119,1153Engineering, Other · Master's Degree$114,4554Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$114,3995Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree$109,4706Information Science/Studies · Bachelor's Degree$105,6467Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$102,7628Mechanical Engineering · Master's Degree$102,636Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1MarketingNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) · $96,856 reported+47%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt2Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesBachelor's Degree · $67,102 reported+38%vs same-degree national median$23,250federal debt3Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, OtherBachelor's Degree · $69,274 reported+37%vs same-degree national median$22,715federal debt4Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's Degree · $81,526 reported+30%vs same-degree national median$25,762federal debt5Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree · $66,150 reported+28%vs same-degree national median$26,000federal debt6Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree · $70,584 reported+28%vs same-degree national median$26,500federal debt
Comparable colleges in SC
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Charleston, SC
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
- Annual net price
- $20,723
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $77,277
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +23%
University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Annual net price
- $22,811
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $62,564
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -35%
College of Charleston
- Annual net price
- $18,960
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $54,011
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -65%
University of South Carolina-Upstate
- Annual net price
- $13,557
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $52,851
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -66%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing the 40 highest-earning records from 80 field-and-degree records. Use the program directory to search the complete set.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering | Master's Degree | $136,058 | Not available | Not reported |
| Real Estate | Master's Degree | $119,115 | Not available | Not reported |
| Engineering, Other | Master's Degree | $114,455 | Not available | 15 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $114,399 | Not available | 1 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's Degree | $109,470 | Not available | 0 |
| Information Science/Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $105,646 | $25,964 | Not reported |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $102,762 | $26,955 | Not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | Master's Degree | $102,636 | Not available | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's Degree | $102,502 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Bachelor's Degree | $101,301 | $22,498 | Not reported |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Master's Degree | $100,816 | Not available | Not reported |
| Construction Management | Bachelor's Degree | $98,726 | $22,675 | 1 |
| Marketing | Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | $96,856 | Not available | Not reported |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $96,446 | $26,000 | 0 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | Bachelor's Degree | $94,449 | $25,000 | 0 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $93,705 | $22,500 | 0 |
| Industrial Engineering | Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | $93,702 | Not available | Not reported |
| Industrial Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $92,491 | $26,750 | 0 |
| Public Administration | Master's Degree | $92,184 | Not available | Not reported |
| Chemical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $92,098 | $21,450 | Not reported |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $91,269 | $20,000 | Not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $91,028 | $24,125 | Not reported |
| Civil Engineering | Master's Degree | $89,331 | Not available | Not reported |
| Agricultural Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $88,338 | Not available | Not reported |
| Materials Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $85,883 | $25,243 | Not reported |
| Civil Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $84,873 | $25,750 | 0 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $84,458 | $23,250 | Not reported |
| Mathematics | Bachelor's Degree | $82,450 | $22,500 | Not reported |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $81,714 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | Bachelor's Degree | $81,526 | $25,762 | Not reported |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $81,109 | $23,250 | Not reported |
| Human Resources Management and Services | Master's Degree | $79,651 | Not available | Not reported |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $79,468 | $22,250 | Not reported |
| Architecture | Master's Degree | $76,905 | Not available | Not reported |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Doctoral Degree | $75,417 | Not available | 14 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $74,491 | $23,000 | Not reported |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | Master's Degree | $73,050 | Not available | Not reported |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | Bachelor's Degree | $72,010 | $19,500 | Not reported |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | Bachelor's Degree | $71,968 | $23,375 | Not reported |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | Master's Degree | $71,518 | Not available | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Search every Clemson University program record →Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.