Finance and Financial Management Services at Clemson University

Clemson's finance program outperforms most national competitors while keeping debt notably lower than average—though among South Carolina finance programs, it lands solidly in the middle of the pack. Graduates earn $58,876 in their first year, putting them ahead of 71% of finance programs nationwide and $5,300 above the national median. More importantly, they carry just $20,000 in debt, about $3,300 less than typical finance graduates and $5,000 less than the South Carolina average.

The real differentiator here is the combination of above-average starting salaries with below-average debt. That 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly four months of their first year's salary—a manageable burden that leaves room for saving and investing early in their careers. Earnings also grow at a healthy 22% pace over the first four years, reaching $71,621. Within South Carolina, Clemson trails only USC-Columbia's finance program, which starts grads at $62,000, but Clemson students likely pay less to attend since USC carries significantly higher average debt loads for in-state programs.

For South Carolina families, this represents a straightforward value proposition: a respected finance degree from a competitive university that won't saddle your child with outsized debt. The earnings won't set records, but they're consistently strong, and the financial foundation this program provides is sound from day one.