Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at Clemson

174.68%

Applicants - since 2015

-12.93%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at Clemson over the past 10 years is 47.78%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 38.34%.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 24.90%, and the 2025 yield is 20.69%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 31.07% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of Clemson applicants increased by 2.32% (1,395 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 174.68% overall.

Key Takeaways: Clemson Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 38.34%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Clemson has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 20.69%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Clemson. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, Clemson received approximately 61,517 applications, admitted 23,586 students, and enrolled 4,880 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Clemson is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

Clemson 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Clemson over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 47.78%, while the most recent rate stands at 38.34%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 38.34%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 46.36% and for women is 48.88%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Clemson have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 51.27% 50.83% 51.65%
2016-17 50.54%
-0.73%
48.38%
-2.45%
52.40%
0.75%
2017-18 47.18%
-3.37%
44.96%
-3.43%
49.09%
-3.31%
2018-19 47.19%
0.02%
46.66%
1.71%
47.63%
-1.46%
2019-20 51.26%
4.06%
49.29%
2.63%
52.82%
5.19%
2020-21 61.94%
10.69%
62.50%
13.21%
61.52%
8.70%
2021-22 49.00%
-12.94%
47.00%
-15.50%
51.00%
-10.52%
2022-23 42.98%
-6.01%
41.16%
-5.84%
44.16%
-6.84%
2023-24 38.05%
-4.93%
36.74%
-4.42%
38.89%
-5.28%
2024-25 38.34%
0.29%
36.11%
-0.63%
39.64%
0.76%
Average 47.78% 46.36% 48.88%
Clemson University Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

Clemson has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 30.02% in 2015 to 20.69% in 2025, representing a 31.07% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 24.90%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Clemson from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 31.07% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 30.02% 32.17% 28.21%
2016-17 31.01%
0.99%
33.32%
1.15%
29.17%
0.96%
2017-18 29.48%
-1.52%
31.15%
-2.17%
28.17%
-1.00%
2018-19 27.86%
-1.63%
29.37%
-1.78%
26.64%
-1.52%
2019-20 26.39%
-1.47%
28.09%
-1.28%
25.13%
-1.52%
2020-21 23.70%
-2.69%
25.62%
-2.47%
22.24%
-2.88%
2021-22 20.00%
-3.70%
23.00%
-2.62%
18.00%
-4.24%
2022-23 20.21%
0.21%
22.50%
-0.50%
18.84%
0.83%
2023-24 19.64%
-0.57%
21.71%
-0.79%
18.42%
-0.41%
2024-25 20.69%
1.05%
22.43%
0.72%
19.88%
1.46%
Average 24.90% 26.94% 23.47%
Clemson University enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 38,012, the average number of admitted is 17,417, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 4,127.

The number of Clemson applicants increased by 2.32% (1,395 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 174.68% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Clemson University from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 22,396 11,483 3,447
2016-17 23,506
4.96%
11,881
3.47%
3,684
6.88%
2017-18 26,242
11.64%
12,380
4.20%
3,650
-0.92%
2018-19 28,845
9.92%
13,613
9.96%
3,792
3.89%
2019-20 29,070
0.78%
14,900
9.45%
3,932
3.69%
2020-21 28,600
-1.62%
17,715
18.89%
4,199
6.79%
2021-22 47,007
64.36%
23,033
30.02%
4,607
9.72%
2022-23 52,819
12.36%
22,704
-1.43%
4,588
-0.41%
2023-24 60,122
13.83%
22,879
0.77%
4,494
-2.05%
2024-25 61,517
2.32%
23,586
3.09%
4,880
8.59%
Average 38,012 17,417 4,127
Clemson University - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Clemson University' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Clemson University38.05%38.34%0.76%
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus58.08%49.70%16.86%
Florida State University24.22%25.38%-4.57%
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus14.07%16.46%-14.52%
University of Notre Dame11.27%12.38%-8.97%
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University54.78%57.03%-3.95%

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