Quality and Value Combine at Clemson University
David Stone is a managing director/investments at Stifel and an experienced financial advisor. He created the David Stone Family Endowment to provide scholarships to students at Clemson University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and MBA. He also mentors Clemson students and alumni who are interested in pursuing careers in finance.
Regularly listed as one of the best public universities in the United States, Clemson University is located in South Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Founded in 1889, it is the second-largest university in the state, with over 23,000 undergraduate students and nearly 6,000 graduate students. It is known for its prolific research activity (particularly in health, agriculture, and engineering), beautiful campus, focus on experiential education, successful football team, and academic excellence.
Top-Notch Education and Exceptional Value
Clemson is known for providing excellent education at great value. The Niche, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal have named it the best university in South Carolina, while The Princeton Review ranked it among the best colleges in the South and the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked it within the top 25 public universities in the country. Just as importantly for students who are studying on a budget, Clemson University was listed as a Best Value College in 2024 by The Princeton Review. It also scored four out of five stars for value from Money magazine.
In-state tuition at Clemson University in 2025 was $15,554, making it an extremely affordable school for the quality of education provided. The average student has additional housing and food costs of around $13,284 per year and spends approximately $1,456 on books, supplies, and course materials, bringing their total annual cost to $30,294—still a bargain when compared to the cost of a private university education, which totals about twice that much.
That being said, 99% of first-time in-state students receive state scholarships, which greatly reduce their out-of-pocket expenses. In the fall 2024 semester, the average in-state student paid only 37% of tuition and fees out of pocket. In-state students receive an average of $13,000 in state and federal aid and scholarships, bringing their total expenses down considerably.
The affordable tuition at Clemson, combined with the readily available financial aid and scholarships provided by the university and endowments such as that created by David Stone have extremely positive results for students when it comes to completing their education without amassing a major debt burden. An impressive 56% of all Clemson graduates earn their degrees without carrying forward any debt at all. When compared to the state average in South Carolina (40%) and the national average (39%), this is a clear indication that the school actively seeks to provide high-quality education at a price that is affordable and accessible for families at a wide range of income levels.
Besides the reasonable costs, one of the main factors that makes Clemson such a good value for the price is its focus on “hands-on” experience in addition to traditional classroom instruction. Clemson’s career services have been notably successful at helping students land paid internships on campus and off, while many academic programs include opportunities to pursue fieldwork. Students also have the chance to learn and work abroad via international research and field studies, service-learning trips, and programs with partner institutions in other countries.
Clemson also focuses on providing an interdisciplinary education that cross the traditional boundaries between different industries and academic fields. Its Creative Inquiry program allows students to participate in team-based projects that involve research, service-learning, entrepreneurship, and community outreach—opportunities that result in accomplishments that impress future employers, like presentations at professional conferences and research published in peer-reviewed journals.
Small Town, World-Class University
Clemson’s campus is a big draw for many students as well. The campus covers 1,400 acres and provides a wide variety of amenities and comforts, with the school ranking 18th in The Princeton Review for best quality of life. Its relaxed atmosphere is also reflected by the university’s ranking as 10th for friendliest students.
The campus’ many natural features include Lake Hartwell, the South Carolina Botanical Garden, and a 17,500-acre Experimental Forest home to more than 90 species of trees and wildlife like eagles, hawks, bobcats, deer, foxes, and black bears. Approximately equidistant between Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the school sits within the small town of Clemson, which has been ranked among the best college towns in the country by outlets such as Travel + Leisure magazine.
High school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are interested in learning more about Clemson University are invited to visit the school at https://www.clemson.edu, where they can access comprehensive information about degree programs, financial aid, tuition, faculty, and all aspects of campus life and education.