Clemson, SC · Clery Act 2023 · Public

Clemson University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 28,747-student campus.

1.39
Incidents / 1k students
#1,764
Rank of 3,050
#34
SC rank
28,747
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

Clemson University reports 1.39 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #1,764 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 55% of ranked campuses its size.

1.39
incidents / 1,000 students
#1,764
of 3,050 ranked nationally
55%
report fewer incidents than this campus
40
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

+8 reported incidents

Clemson University increased from 32 to 40 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Clemson University is a Public institution located in Clemson, SC, enrolling approximately 28,747 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 104 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within SC, it ranks #34 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 28,747 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at Clemson University is "Motor Vehicle Theft" with 51 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in SC averaging 0.44 incidents per 1,000 students, Clemson University reports 213% more incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 4 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 90 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

1.39 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#1764

See peer comparison

State Rank (SC)

#34

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

40

across 11 crime categories

Where Clemson University sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

1 safer than 45% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). This entry sits in this band. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). Above this entry. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Above this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). Above this entry. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

Clemson University percentile rank 42.2%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #1764 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

Clemson University reports 213% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$15,554
Out-of-State Tuition
$40,866
Avg Net Price
$22,253
Median Debt
$21,500
Pell Grant Recipients
15%
How does this cost rank in SC? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
38%
SAT Average
1353
SAT Math Range
620–710
ACT Average
30
ACT Range
28–32

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
87%
Retention Rate
93%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$58,311
Median Earnings (10yr)
$71,513
Loan Repayment (3yr)
84%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Enrollment scale

How campus size shapes the safety figures

With 28,747 enrolled students, Clemson University is in the largest 2% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Clemson University: on-campus incidents by year

Rising 25% (32 → 40 incidents)

30354045 202120222023 32 40 ▲ +25.0%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 323
Arson 300
Burglary 1235
Fondling 153
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 181815
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 346
Robbery 000
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 4 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

90 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
90 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 57 40
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 162 407

Clemson University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

SC

Clemson University

1.39 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,764
Enrollment
28,747
Data year
2023

CA

Mt San Antonio College

0.35 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,199
Enrollment
28,742
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA · 28,742 enrolled
Safety Score 0.35
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · 28,711 enrolled
Safety Score 1.43
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO · 28,852 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Chamberlain University-Illinois
Addison, IL · 28,897 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
College of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas, NV · 29,081 enrolled
Safety Score 0.45

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest Clemson University nationally (rank #1764), regardless of size or state.

Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, PA
National Rank #1763
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, OK
National Rank #1765
Central Ohio Technical College
Newark, OH
National Rank #1762
Indiana Institute of Technology
Fort Wayne, IN
National Rank #1766
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA
National Rank #1761

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clemson University safe?
Clemson University has a safety score of 1.39 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,764 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Clemson University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Clemson University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in SC.
Does Clemson University have fire safety data?
Yes. Clemson University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 4 fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding Clemson University's Safety Profile

Clemson University in Clemson, SC enrolls 28,747 students and has a safety score of 1.39 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #1764 nationally. This relatively low score indicates fewer reported on-campus incidents relative to enrollment size.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 32 in 2022 to 40 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 4 fires were reported in the most recent year.

What this means for you

Clemson University's 1.39 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.