How to Apply to Mathematics at Clemson University: Mathematical Sciences in the College of Science, a B.A. and a B.S. With Seven Emphasis Areas, Two Intended Majors on the Application, for US Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At Clemson University the mathematics degree is called Mathematical Sciences. It is offered by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in the College of Science. This guide follows Clemson’s website, with sections for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, and a final section for transfer students. Computer science is not covered here; this site has a separate article on Clemson computer science. The school’s B.S. in Data Science is mentioned only in passing.

1. Degrees and options in mathematics

• Two degrees: the school offers a B.A. and a B.S. in mathematical sciences, and both programs take the same core mathematics courses. The B.A. adds liberal-arts requirements: a four-semester sequence of a modern language, two semesters of lab sciences and either an approved minor or a second B.A. in another department. The school says this is a common path for students who want to teach high school mathematics, and lists business administration, history, philosophy and international science and engineering among common minors.
• Seven emphasis areas for the B.S.: B.S. students choose an emphasis no later than the spring of the sophomore year; until then they are “undeclared” and advised by general advisers in the school. The areas are abstract mathematics; applied and computational mathematics; a biology concentration (which the school says is designed to prepare students for medical school and MD/PhD programs); actuarial science and financial mathematics; computer science (students earn a computer science minor and many complete a full dual degree); operations research and management science; and statistics.
• Common core (listed on the school’s page): MATH 1060 and 1080 (single-variable calculus I and II), 2060 (several variables), 2080 (introduction to ordinary differential equations), 2500 (introduction to mathematical sciences), 3020 (statistics for science and engineering), 3110 (linear algebra), 3190 (introduction to proof), 3600 (intermediate mathematical computing), 4120 (modern algebra), 4530 (advanced calculus I), 4920 (professional development) and a six-unit senior capstone. The undergraduate announcements are the final word on requirements; the course-catalog links the school gives point to a third-party catalog that was not read.
• Other options: the B.S. in Data Science (a separate multidisciplinary degree, not covered here); a minor in mathematical sciences (MATH 2080 plus 12 credits of 3000-level or higher MATH or STAT courses); and a combined B.S./M.S. (overall GPR of at least 3.5 and at least 90 semester hours completed, two recommendations, normally applied for by the end of junior year, with up to 12 semester hours of graduate math courses counting toward the bachelor’s degree).

2. How admission works: you apply to the University with two intended majors

• At application: Clemson says some majors attract many applicants or have limited classroom space, so requirements vary, and as a public institution it gives South Carolina residents priority in evaluation. Applicants are therefore asked to choose two intended majors; if they are not admitted to the first choice, the second is considered automatically, and Clemson strongly encourages two different majors rather than the same one twice.
• Is mathematics restricted? The transfer page prints lists of space-restricted majors (architecture, communication, criminal justice, health science, landscape architecture, nursing and others) and GPA-restricted majors (construction science and management 3.0, education programmes 2.75, general engineering 2.7, graphic communications 2.8 and others). Mathematical sciences is not on them. The first-year page prints no list of restricted majors.
• Changing majors later: the pages read do not state the GPA or course conditions for moving into mathematical sciences from another major; ask the undergraduate coordinator (ugcmath@clemson.edu).
• High school preparation: Clemson recommends for all first-year applicants 4 credits of English, 3 of mathematics, 3 of laboratory science, 2 of the same foreign language, 3 of social science and others. It states no mathematics-specific high school requirement (such as precalculus or calculus) for the major. For placement, the school says placement into introductory mathematics courses is primarily based on the math portion of the SAT or ACT, and a student may take the Clemson Mathematics Placement Test (CMPT) to try to improve placement.
• AP and IB credit: the admissions pages say to use the AP and IB credit charts to see how much credit converts; those charts sit on a site that was not read, so the specific math courses are not stated here. Check Clemson.
• Honors: the school’s pages describe no math honors programme; the University-level scholar and honors programme pages were not read, so ask the school and admissions.
• Math competitions: the pages read do not say how they are viewed in admission.
• Support: incoming freshmen are assigned to peer-mentor teams of three to five students; the MATH/STAT Help Center (Martin M-1) offers drop-in tutoring in fall and spring; the College of Science also runs the COSMIC peer-mentoring programme, on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. Rounds, materials and testing (fall 2027 entry)

• First-year fall/summer entry: the application opens 1 August; Early Action application deadline 15 October with required materials by 1 November and decisions in mid-December; Regular Decision application deadline 1 January with materials by 10 January and decisions in mid-February; 1 May is the final date to apply. For scholarship consideration, apply by 1 January and complete the file by 10 January. The pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027.
• How to apply: the Clemson Application, the Coalition Application (Scoir) or the Common Application, with no preference given to any; $70 nonrefundable fee.
• Transcript: first-year applicants self-report courses and grades in the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS); admitted students send official transcripts before enrollment.
• Testing: optional. Clemson super-scores the SAT and ACT, applicants who do not submit scores are still considered for merit scholarships, and no SAT/ACT essay is required.
• Essay and recommendations: a personal statement, letters of recommendation and a resume are optional uploads after applying. The website does not say whether mathematics applicants need a math teacher’s letter.
• What is weighed: the international page says high school performance (GPA, class rank, rigor) is the most important factor for first-year applicants, together with activities and background.
• Decision types: besides fall admission, applicants may be offered summer entry, Bridge to Clemson (first year at Tri-County Technical College), January entry or a place on the waitlist.

4. US domestic applicants

• In-state and out-of-state costs (2026-27 estimates): South Carolina residents pay $15,870 in tuition and fees, $14,880 for housing and food and about $1,576 for books, a total of $32,326; non-residents pay $42,852 in tuition and fees, for a total of $60,308; personal/transportation expenses are estimated at $5,804 and a laptop at $2,524. Fees include average lab fees, and major enrichment fees of up to $2,500 apply to some majors.
• Residency: Clemson independently verifies residency under South Carolina law; applicants who have lived in the state for less than four years must go through the residency process.
• Aid and scholarships: the Office of Admissions reviews each applicant for scholarships with no separate application, considering high school performance, test scores (optional) and financial need. Need-based federal and state aid requires the FAFSA by 1 January. The South Carolina LIFE Scholarship needs no application and Palmetto Fellows applications go through each high school.
• Testing: optional. The website states no guaranteed admission for residents, only priority in evaluation.

5. International applicants

• Deadlines: for fall entry, apply and have all credentials in by 1 May, with the I-20 or DS-2019 received by 1 June; for spring entry, 1 October and 1 November. The application opens 1 August.
• English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 80 or higher; IELTS 6.5 or higher (minimum 6.0 in each sub-score); Duolingo 105 or higher; or (for transfer applicants) English Composition I and II from an accredited US college with a B or better. The test can be waived where English is the primary language or one of the official languages.
• Transcripts: first-year applicants self-report in STARS and send official transcripts after admission. The pages read do not state academic requirements or credential evaluation for international first-year applicants.
• Funding and aid: after admission the Office of International Services works with students to verify funds for their entire studies at Clemson; all costs are paid at the beginning of each term (August, January and May) and deferred payment is not available. The website says plainly that Clemson has no scholarships for international undergraduates.
• Other: international students and their dependents need at least $50,000 of health insurance coverage including medical evacuation and repatriation; US immigration rules generally prohibit working while studying, though students may take part in co-op programmes if their degree requires it.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: not mentioned on the pages read. Whether and how it is used is not published; ask the admissions office.
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: first-year international applicants self-report in STARS; requirements for huikao or similar materials are not published. Transfer applicants’ college records must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny & Associates.
• China-specific guidance: not published in the pages read.

7. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 4. The website does not give a separate tuition figure for international students; its residency notes list “not a United States citizen” as one reason residency is questioned, so ask the financial aid office for the amount. The sister-state in-state tuition benefit on the international page lists citizens of three German states, Queensland and Taiwan; mainland China is not listed.
• School scholarships: scholarships for entering students are handled by the University’s financial aid office. Continuing mathematical sciences undergraduates can receive annual awards, including the Jennifer “Joyce” Young Annual Memorial Scholarship for rising juniors and seniors (apply before 1 March with a short essay of up to 300 words; the recipient must be a US citizen), the Mathematical Sciences Freshman Award, the Faculty Sophomore Award and the Faculty Senior Award.
• Research and internships: the school’s emphasis descriptions say students in abstract mathematics, applied and computational mathematics and operations research often take part in funded summer undergraduate research, actuarial students often complete paid internships, and the University’s UPIC programme offers over 900 paid on-campus internships.
• Outcomes: the school says graduates can enter industry, health care, life sciences or academic research, and that mathematical sciences majors score very well on exams such as the LSAT, MCAT and GRE and have higher-than-average starting salaries. It prints no specific employment data here.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines: spring entry 1 December (the application opens 1 August); fall entry 1 July (opens 1 February). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until classroom space is committed, and Clemson says transfer admission is increasingly competitive. The fee is $70 and applicants use the Clemson Application.
• Requirements: 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of transferable credit after high school, with AP, IB and dual-enrollment credit not counting toward the 30; a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher (3.0 preferred); freshman-level English, science and mathematics courses for the intended major; and good standing at the last institution. Applicants with fewer than 30 hours must also submit a high school transcript.
• Mathematics: the transfer page lists extra course requirements only for programmes such as nursing, construction science and management, and prebusiness; for mathematical sciences it lists none, advising only the freshman-level courses above. Use the Transfer Course Equivalency List (TCEL) to check courses. The school’s page also mentions a “New and Transfer Students” resource, which was not read.
• International transfer applicants: English results (waived with a B or better in English Composition I and II at a US college), college transcripts verified by WES or Josef Silny & Associates, and translated course descriptions for credit evaluation.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Early Action 15 October (materials 1 November) or Regular Decision 1 January (materials 10 January); $70; STARS; testing optional
• Choose two different intended majors; FAFSA by 1 January

International applicants (including China):

• Fall: everything in by 1 May; TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5 (6.0 per section) or Duolingo 105, or a waiver; STARS
• After admission: verify funds for the whole programme and receive the I-20 by 1 June; no scholarships for international undergraduates

Transfer students:

• Fall 1 July; 30 transferable hours and a 2.5 GPA at least; freshman English, science and mathematics
• International transfer: credential evaluation and translated course descriptions

Sources: Clemson University, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences: undergraduate; BS emphasis areas; BS in Data Science; Minor in Mathematical Sciences; Combined BS/MS; Undergraduate scholarships; First-year application and deadlines; International undergraduate applicants; Transfer applicants; High school preparation; 2026-27 costs and scholarships. The deadline pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures) and see Clemson for the latest.