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Clemson University
Clemson, SC 22,778 Undergrads 84.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$34,494
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,112
After Aid
Median Earnings
$71,513
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$22,112
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$71,513
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate84.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
38.0%
SAT Avg
1,341
SAT Reading
25th: 62065575th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 61066575th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: 283075th: 32
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$604k
+$208k
+$120k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$525k
+$128k
+$40k
Full Cost$34k/yr
+$480k
+$84k
-$4k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
45
51%
Full Cost$34k/yr
Never
-4%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return88%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-32%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,473
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$72,980
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Agricultural Engineering
BachCIP: 1403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Agricultural Production Operations
BachCIP: 0103
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$40,546
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,310
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,405
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$53,870
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,919
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$85,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$72,568
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$98,731
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,912
Earnings (5yr)
$88,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,611
Earnings (5yr)
$117,091
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$26,179
Earnings (5yr)
$98,155
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
$19,962
Earnings (5yr)
$84,606
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,277
Earnings (5yr)
$67,777
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$94,861
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Engineering-Related Fields
BachCIP: 1515
Median Debt
$22,622
Earnings (5yr)
$90,243
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,021
Earnings (5yr)
$47,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
BachCIP: 1414
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$78,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,312
Earnings (5yr)
$85,488
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$17,954
Lifetime Value Added
-$392k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,394
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
BachCIP: 1699
Median Debt
$21,840
Earnings (5yr)
$69,311
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (5yr)
$52,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$96,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Landscape Architecture
BachCIP: 0406
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$40,554
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Materials Engineering
BachCIP: 1418
Median Debt
$25,246
Earnings (5yr)
$82,276
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$85,098
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$21,665
Earnings (5yr)
$88,351
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$23,884
Earnings (5yr)
$77,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$21,200
Earnings (5yr)
$52,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,171
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,063
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,036
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,888
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,015
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,629
Earnings (5yr)
$75,340
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,047
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,638
Earnings (5yr)
$46,988
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,156
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
BachCIP: 5099
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$93,209
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,933
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,929
Earnings (5yr)
$70,731
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
MastCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$18,862
Earnings (2yr)
$67,101
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$39,712
Earnings (5yr)
$105,377
Lifetime Value Added
+$445k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,175
Lifetime Value Added
+$349k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Historic Preservation and Conservation
MastCIP: 3012
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,730
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,312
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Industrial Engineering
MastCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
MastCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$29,250
Earnings (5yr)
$43,992
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$46,000
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$35,034
Earnings (5yr)
$106,513
Lifetime Value Added
+$455k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$14,757
Earnings (5yr)
$53,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,819
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,435
Earnings (5yr)
$79,531
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
DocCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$37,027
Earnings (5yr)
$54,507
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.