Clemson University (CU)

At Clemson, we believe in the value of hard work, and we pursue that work tirelessly. We believe that our collective calling as a University is to change lives, change perception and, through our work, to change the world. Clemson University, a pu , to change the world. Clemson University, a public land-grant research institution located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Clemson, South Carolina, was founded in 1889 and has since grown into the second-largest university in the state by enrollment. As of fall 2023, it enrolled 22,875 undergraduate and 5,872 graduate students, supported by a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. Spanning 1,400 acres along the shores of Lake Hartwell, Clemson is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” and comprises seven academic colleges: Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Architecture, Arts and Humanities; The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business; Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences; Education; Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences; and Science. The university's roots are tied to Thomas Green Clemson, who married Anna Maria Calhoun—daughter of U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun—and inherited the Fort Hill plantation, which became the heart of the campus. Upon his death in 1888, Clemson bequeathed his estate for the establishment of a college dedicated to scientific agriculture and mechanical arts, inspired by Mississippi State University and supported politically by Benjamin Tillman. Established officially by the South Carolina legislature in 1889, the Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina was built using convict labor and opened in 1893 with 446 students studying a curriculum including English, history, mathematics, agriculture, and sciences. The college operated as a white, all-male military school until 1955. Over time, Clemson expanded its offerings and facilities, despite facing challenges such as the 1894 fire that destroyed the original Tillman Hall, which was quickly rebuilt. The early 20th century saw the addition of programs in textile manufacturing, mechanics, and industrial arts under presidents like Henry Hartzog and Patrick Mell, and Walter Riggs, who also introduced the school’s football program in 1896. The school experienced several student walkouts protesting rigid military discipline, including major events in 1902, 1920, and 1924, leading to structural changes like the formation of the Department of Student Affairs. World War I caused enrollment drops and faculty changes, including the hiring of the first female faculty members. Significant buildings like Holtzendorff Hall and Riggs Field, dedicated to the football coach-turned-president, were built during this period. Fires in the 1920s destroyed key buildings, prompting construction of replacements like Sikes Hall and Freeman Hall. President Enoch Sikes expanded degree programs, established a graduate program, and reorganized the school into six divisions, leading to its 1927 accreditation by the Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges of the Southern States. The Great Depression severely affected enrollment and funding, but federal New Deal programs enabled infrastructure growth through the Works Progress Administration, allowing Clemson to expand its agricultural mission and facilities. Clemson Agricultural Extension programs educated local farmers on modern farming techniques, supporting the university's foundational mission. In 1940, Robert Poole became the first alumnus to lead the university. Clemson Memorial Stadium, now an iconic part of campus, opened in 1942. World War II had a profound impact on the school, with over 6,500 students serving in the military, 5,850 of whom were commissioned as officers through the ROTC, while 376 were killed in action. The postwar period ushered in further transformation, with Clemson continuing to evolve into a comprehensive university. Today, Clemson stands as a major research institution known not only for its academic excellence and expanding graduate programs but also for its rich history, distinctive traditions, and lasting contributions to education, engineering, agriculture, and the military. Clemson University is located in the town of Clemson, a small community which offers the friendliness of a small college town and the advantages of being less than an hour’s drive from the city conveniences of Greenville, SC and two hours from Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; and Columbia, SC. The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) is 45 miles away from Clemson. From Atlanta, GA: Take I-85 North to Exit 14 in South Carolina. Take a left and cross bridge over interstate onto SC Highway 187 until the road runs into U.S. Highway 76 and 28. Make a left at this traffic light. Follow this road past Tri-County Technical College towards Clemson. Take a left onto Perimeter Road. From Greenville, SC: Take I-85 South to Exit 40. Make a right onto SC Highway 153. Follow this road until it runs into SC 123. Take 123 South. Take a left onto College Avenue to downtown Clemson. College Avenue ends at Hwy. 93. Make a sharp right turn onto Old Greenville Hwy. (Hwy. 93). Subway Sandwich Shop will be on your right. The soccer field and the tennis center will be on your left after you turn. For other facilities, take a left at the second light. From Columbia, SC: Take I-26 West and exit onto Interstate 385 West. From 385, take I-85 South and exit at exit 40. Make a right on SC Highway 153. Follow this road until it runs into SC Highway 123. Take 123 South. Take a left onto College Avenue to downtown Clemson. College Avenue ends at Hwy. 93. Make a sharp right turn onto Old Greenville Hwy. (Hwy. 93). Subway Sandwich Shop will be on your right. The soccer field and the tennis center will be on your left after you turn. For other facilities, take a left at the second light. From Asheville: Take I-26 South to Exit 23 (25 South). Follow 25 South into South Carolina and follow the signs to Atlanta. Take 25 into Berea. (Do not follow Business Rt. 25 into Greenville.) Turn right on SC Highway 253. Stay on for about one mile. Turn right on SC Highway 124. Stay on 124 until it merges onto US 123. Take a left onto College Avenue to downtown Clemson. College Avenue ends at Hwy. 93. Make a sharp right turn onto Old Greenville Hwy. (Hwy. 93). Subway Sandwich Shop will be on your right. The soccer field and the tennis center will be on your left after you turn. For other facilities, take a left at the second light. ...view more