Student Affairs

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FINANCES
Clemson University’s financial team
comprises Student Financial Aid,
Scholarships and Student Financial
Services. The offices of Student Financial
Aid and Scholarships award scholarships,
grants, loans and work-study and are
available to answer questions regarding
eligibility and applications, including the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). The Office of Student Financial
Services is responsible for the university’s
billing process and can assist families with
inquiries about payment plans, payment
methods, university charges and refunds.
These offices work closely with students and
their families to provide the most up-to-date
information and resources. We recommend
visiting each office’s website often for
important deadlines and announcements.
Applying for Aid
Need-based aid, such as grants, student loans and work-study, requires the submission of the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Each year, students and families should
complete the FAFSA to secure aid for the next academic year. The FAFSA priority deadline
is Jan. 2 for incoming first-year students. Continuing students should renew the FAFSA
annually by April 1. For families who need additional assistance, applications for parent
PLUS loans and private loans should be submitted annually by June 15.
In cooperation with the Office of Admissions, recruiting scholarships are awarded on the
basis of the student’s admissions application, high school transcript and official test scores
received by Dec. 31. South Carolina residents are considered for state merit-based scholarships,
including the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE and Hope scholarships. Continuing students are
automatically considered for general and departmental scholarships on the basis of their
college work.
When financial aid is awarded, students will receive an email alerting them to view their
awards in iROAR. Students must review and accept the terms and conditions of their awards
before they can individually accept or decline their financial aid. Available funds will be
credited to the student bill, except for work-study stipends, which are paid bi-weekly based on
the hours worked. Arrange for direct deposit of financial aid refunds to avoid handling large
sums of cash and discuss with your student ways to budget funds for the entire semester.
BILL PAYMENT
Final tuition rates are typically set in July before the fall semester. Tuition and fees are
based on the average costs for full-time students (12 or more credit hours per semester for
undergraduates). Fees include all required charges for full-time enrollment plus average lab
fees. This figure does not include differential fees, such as for behavioral science or business
majors. It also does not include optional fees, such as for the Clemson University Honors
College. Books and supplies are based on a survey of student expenses for books and required
coursework material for all majors. These expenses will vary by major and other factors (new
versus used, bookstore versus online, hard copy versus electronic, purchase versus rental,
etc.). Room and board estimates are based on average bed costs for on-campus housing and
the full-access meal plan. In addition to the items outlined above, students will have varied
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
Bookmark each of the following websites
to stay up-to-date and informed on
important deadlines and announcements:
•
•
•
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
• Encourage your student to apply
for Federal Work-Study, a program
that provides jobs for students with
established financial need through
submission of the FAFSA. Students
not qualifying for Federal Work-Study
can look for part-time jobs through
• Encourage your student to get
connected. The Office of Financial
Aid disseminates program and event
information and helpful advice on
and
• Encourage your student to be
proactive. Clemson University’s Office
of Student Financial Aid periodically
presents a Financial Awareness
Week filled with seminars focused
on teaching students how to fill
out the FASFA, connect with open
scholarships and budget for the future.
• Encourage your student to plan in
advance. Some scholarships are
awarded for only the first year of
college, while others are open for
application throughout the year.
The Office of Student Financial Aid
provides resources and search engines
on their website to connect students to
open scholarships.
• Encourage your student to familiarize
themselves with these resources to
make the financial aid process less
stressful.