College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Clemson University

Clemson, SC 23,300 Undergrads 84.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$35,015
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,253
After Aid
Median Earnings
$75,142
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,253
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$75,142
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$71,513
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate84.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
38.3%
SAT Avg
1,353
SAT Reading
25th: 62065575th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 62066575th: 710
ACT Composite
25th: 283075th: 32

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$653k
+$186k
+$169k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$573k
+$106k
+$89k
Full Cost$35k/yr
+$527k
+$60k
+$43k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
38
111%
Full Cost$35k/yr
47
34%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return158%

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-11%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,458
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,050
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,338
Natl Median: $84,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$51,582
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,853
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,494
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,892
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$60,988
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,577
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$93,705
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,059
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$92,098
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,996
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,912
Earnings (4yr)
$84,873
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Median Debt
$21,611
Earnings (4yr)
$101,301
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Median Debt
$26,179
Earnings (4yr)
$102,762
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
Median Debt
$19,962
Earnings (4yr)
$98,726
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$19,570
Earnings (4yr)
$50,133
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,150
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,277
Earnings (4yr)
$79,468
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$96,446
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Median Debt
$22,622
Earnings (4yr)
$94,449
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Median Debt
$21,021
Earnings (4yr)
$50,582
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,714
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,312
Earnings (4yr)
$91,269
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,526
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,501
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
-$907
Median Debt
$21,840
Earnings (4yr)
$69,274
Natl Median: $50,580
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (4yr)
$63,764
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Genetics
BachCIP: 2608
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,121
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,010
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,125
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,491
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Median Debt
$25,225
Earnings (4yr)
$105,646
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,469
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,044
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,109
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Median Debt
$25,246
Earnings (4yr)
$85,883
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,450
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$21,665
Earnings (4yr)
$91,028
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Median Debt
$23,884
Earnings (4yr)
$81,526
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Median Debt
$21,200
Earnings (4yr)
$40,266
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,898
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,063
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,844
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,822
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,126
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$71,968
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Median Debt
$18,629
Earnings (4yr)
$74,491
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$67,102
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (4yr)
$70,584
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,780
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,047
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Median Debt
$23,638
Earnings (4yr)
$49,861
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,212
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,735
Natl Median: $47,629
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$102,502
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,454
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,653
Earnings (4yr)
$73,050
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,905
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,929
Earnings (4yr)
$66,752
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
$18,862
Earnings (4yr)
$100,816
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Median Debt
$39,712
Earnings (4yr)
$114,399
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,971
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,331
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $148,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,075
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,716
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,455
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$403k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,518
Natl Median: $64,496
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,312
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,651
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$136,058
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$513k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,636
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,250
Earnings (4yr)
$64,371
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,184
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,115
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$366k
Median Debt
$35,034
Earnings (4yr)
$109,470
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,517
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,286
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,583
Earnings (4yr)
$60,461
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
$14,757
Earnings (4yr)
$58,602
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,818
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,402
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,772
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $195,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Animal Sciences
DocCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,778
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $167,302
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,435
Earnings (4yr)
$75,417
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $171,574
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,003
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
DocCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $137,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
DocCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
DocCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,857
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,027
Earnings (4yr)
$57,641
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,702
Natl Median: $95,128
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Marketing
DegCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,856
Natl Median: $65,915
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.