How to apply to Clemson University for engineering: every engineering freshman starts in General Engineering and declares a major after the core courses with a major-specific GPA (2.60 for mechanical); admission routes and prerequisites for U.S., international (including Chinese) and transfer students

At Clemson University, engineering is taught in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS). The college’s majors page says its engineering and computer science programs are ABET-accredited. This guide covers fall 2027 entry, based on Clemson’s official information, for U.S. students, international students, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Engineering majors

• Engineering B.S. degrees: automotive, biomedical, biosystems, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental and industrial engineering, materials science and engineering, and mechanical engineering.
• Other degrees in the college: computer science (B.S./B.A.), computer information systems (B.S.) and geology (B.S.). Computer science has its own guide on this site.

2. How admission works, and prerequisites

• General Engineering first: the college’s advising page says all engineering students begin in General Engineering (GE), explore the engineering fields and complete introductory requirements, then declare a major. The transfer FAQ adds that GE is the first-year program for everyone who wants to study engineering, so being admitted to GE rather than an intended major is normal. Computing and geology students can start in their major.
• GE core courses to declare a major (C or better in each): CH 1010 General Chemistry, ENGL 1030 Composition and Rhetoric, ENGR 1020 Engineering Disciplines and Skills, ENGR 1410 Programming and Problem-Solving (chemical engineering students may take CHE 1300 plus CHE 1350 instead), MATH 1060 Calculus of One Variable I and PHYS 1220 Physics with Calculus I; industrial engineering also requires MATH 1080 Calculus of One Variable II.
• Minimum cumulative GPA by major:
  • mechanical engineering 2.60;
  • biomedical engineering 2.50;
  • civil engineering 2.60, which the page says becomes 2.4 from fall 2026;
  • automotive engineering 2.00, with a separate application process until fall 2026, according to the page;
  • biosystems, chemical, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, and materials science and engineering: 2.00.
  The page says admission is influenced by GPA and students with extenuating circumstances may appeal to the department. The pages read do not say whether majors are capped.
• Moving in from a non-engineering major: students first change into General Engineering, which requires a Clemson cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a meeting with a GE advisor.
• High school courses: Admissions recommends 4 credits of English, 3 of mathematics, 3 of laboratory science, 2 of one foreign language, 3 of social science, 2 other, 1 of PE or ROTC and 1 of fine arts for all first-year applicants. The pages read give no separate high-school maths or science requirement for engineering.
• AP and IB credit: the pages read do not say which engineering core courses AP or IB can replace; check Clemson’s Undergraduate Announcements or ask a GE advisor.

3. Dates and application materials

• Two intended majors: Admissions says choice of major and residency play an important part in the review, requirements vary where majors are popular or space is limited, and as a public institution Clemson gives South Carolina residents priority. Applicants choose two different intended majors; if the first is not possible the second is considered automatically, and listing the same major twice is not recommended.
• Dates (no year shown; for fall entry): the application opens 1 August; Early Action closes 15 October, with materials due 1 November and decisions in mid-December; Regular Decision closes 1 January (also the scholarship deadline), with materials due 10 January and decisions in mid-February; admitted students reply by 1 May.
• Materials: a $70 non-refundable fee; high school courses and grades are self-reported in STARS, and official transcripts are sent after admission. Personal statements, recommendation letters and résumés are not required but can be uploaded.
• Test-optional: applicants are reviewed without SAT or ACT scores; scores that are sent must come from the testing agency, and both tests are superscored.

4. U.S. students

• Costs (2026-27): South Carolina residents pay $15,870 in tuition and fees; with $14,880 for housing and dining and about $1,576 for books, the total is $32,326. Non-residents pay $42,852 in tuition and fees, for a total of $60,308. Tuition and fees include average lab fees; some majors add enrichment fees of up to $2,500, and the cost page does not list the amount for each engineering major.
• Scholarships: Admissions reviews every applicant for scholarships with no separate application. Apply by 1 January and complete the file by 10 January to be considered; students who do not submit test scores are still considered for merit scholarships. Need-based scholarships also require the FAFSA by 1 January.
• South Carolina state scholarships: the LIFE Scholarship needs no separate application; Palmetto Fellows applications go through each high school. The college’s change-of-major page notes that in-state students with LIFE or Palmetto Fellows may need to change major to qualify for the STEM enhancement.

5. International students

• Deadlines: for fall entry, apply and complete all credentials by 1 May; documents for the I-20 or DS-2019 must arrive by 1 June. Spring entry closes 1 October. The international page does not mention Early Action or Regular Decision, so ask Admissions whether they apply.
• English: TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band) or Duolingo 105; the test can be waived where English is the primary language or one of the official languages.
• Funding: the international page says there are no scholarships for international undergraduates at Clemson. After admission students must show funds for their entire time at Clemson, costs are paid at the start of each term and payment cannot be deferred. International students need health insurance with at least $50,000 of coverage.
• Co-op: the international page says international undergraduates may take part in Clemson’s Cooperative Education program if their academic program requires it, alternating semesters of work and study.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: Clemson does not publish how Gaokao results are used; ask Admissions.
• Records: like every first-year applicant, students self-report high school courses and grades in STARS and send official transcripts after admission. The international page lists no China-specific documents and does not mention an interview.
• English scores, proof of funds and the rule that there are no international undergraduate scholarships are as in section 5.

7. Transfer students

• Thresholds: 30 semester (or 45 quarter) hours after high school; for engineering, a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 to be reviewed for General Engineering, with 3.0 preferred; computing and geology need 2.5.
• Prerequisites: the college prefers that transfers have completed first-year maths and science, and ideally engineering or computing courses. Transfers also start in General Engineering; if they have finished the GE core and meet the intended major’s GPA at orientation, they move straight into the major. Automotive engineering has an additional application.
• Credit: check the Transfer Course Equivalency List (TCEL); engineering courses not listed are reviewed by the department from a full syllabus sent to the CECAS transfer coordinator, which takes 2–3 weeks. Most engineering degrees have no electives, so courses outside the curriculum count as excess.
• Deadlines: 1 December for spring and 1 July for fall. Students can apply before reaching 30 hours as long as they complete them before enrolling.
• International transfers: all college transcripts must be evaluated by a U.S. credential agency; Admissions accepts WES and Josef Silny. Students who passed English composition I and II equivalent to ENGL 1030 with a B or better at a U.S. institution are exempt from the English test.
• Dual education: the college partners with several liberal arts schools in and around South Carolina; students typically spend about three years there before transferring to Clemson for engineering.

8. Checklist

U.S. students:

• Apply by 15 October (EA) or 1 January (RD) with two different intended majors; for scholarships, apply by 1 January and complete the file by 10 January
• File the FAFSA by 1 January for need-based aid; South Carolina students should check LIFE and Palmetto Fellows

International students (including applicants from China):

• Complete the file by 1 May for fall; TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5 (6.0 per band) or Duolingo 105
• Prepare proof of funds for the whole degree; there are no international undergraduate scholarships

All engineering freshmen:

• Start in General Engineering; earn a C or better in the core courses such as chemistry, Calculus I and Physics with Calculus I, and reach the intended major’s GPA (2.60 for mechanical)

Transfer students:

• 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.7 or higher (3.0 preferred); finish first-year maths and science and follow the GE curriculum at your current school
• Fall deadline 1 July; have non-U.S. transcripts evaluated by WES or Josef Silny

Sources: Clemson University, CECAS undergraduate majors; CECAS first-year students; CECAS undergraduate advising; CECAS change of major; Transferring to CECAS; CECAS transfer FAQ; First-year application and deadlines; College preparation; International undergraduate applicants; Transfer applicants; Cost and aid 2026-27. Information is for fall 2027 entry (the deadline pages show no year; costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Clemson for the latest details.