Clemson University is a public institution located in Clemson, South Carolina. The beautiful campus set on 17,000 acres is home to just under 18,000 full time undergraduate students. Despite the large size, the central part of campus is easily walkable, and the town is one mile away, well known as a friendly college town with restaurants, bars, and shops serving students and their families. Sports are a big part of life at Clemson; fans bleed orange for their beloved Tigers. While approximately 60 percent of the students are from South Carolina, in the last few years Clemson has seen a healthy uptick in popularity from students across the U.S.
SHORTCUTS
Stay: James F. Martin Inn | Breakfast: Sunnyside Cafe
Lunch: Esso Club | Dinner: Blue Heron
Visitor Information: Tour Clemson
Transportation: Greenville-Spartanburg Airport is the nearest international airport, 45 miles from campus. Other regional airports include Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, N.C., and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, both 2.5 hours from campus. Amtrak has a station in Clemson. The Crescent Route travels through Clemson with stops connecting New Orleans and New York City. Need a shuttle from the airport or train? Call Airport Shuttle of Clemson or Anderson-Clemson Shuttle Services.
Around Campus: Parking is metered and limited. The best way to get around campus (and the surrounding area) is by riding the Clemson Area Transit bus. Free, the CAT bus has several on-campus as well as downtown routes.
Stay: Ask most alum, and they will steer you towards the James F. Martin Inn, centrally located about a mile from downtown and on the edge of the University’s campus, overlooking Hartwell Lake and next to the Walker Golf Course. They say you can hear the Tillman Bells from the brand new Abernathy, just across the road from the football stadium, super convenient on game days. Parents also recommend the Hampton Inn and the Clemson Courtyard by Marriott.
Coffee: Join the students getting their morning fix at one of the two Starbucks on campus, either on the 5th floor of Cooper Library or in Building B of Core Campus. (Core campus is a significant new addition to campus life, a 260,000 square foot mixed-use facility that includes student housing, retail, and residential dining.) In town, everyone’s favorite coffee shop is All In Coffee Shop, also serving baked goods and light fare.
Breakfast: Don’t have much time, grab a freshly made bagel at Einstein Bros in the Hendrix Student Center, open early at 7 am on weekdays. Ask any student for the best breakfast spot and you’ll hear Sunnyside Café over and over again. Sunnyside describes itself as farmhouse chic and one look at the menu of biscuit sandwiches, make your own omelets, polenta hot cakes and praline french toast, and you’ll pencil it in for your itinerary. (Closed Mondays.)
Lunch: Students swear The Pot Belly Deli serves the best sandwiches in the city and is a popular gathering place for locals and students alike. One parent told us: "We ate at Palmetto's Smokehouse and Oyster Bar and really liked it. We also enjoyed 356 Sushi and BGR the Burger Joint during our visit." If you’re in town Thursday-Saturday a restaurant not to miss is the Smokin’ Pig for the best BBQ around.
Traditions: You can’t visit Clemson without at least a pit stop at the Esso Club, celebrating 83 years as one of the top sports bars in the country and a big part of the university’s history. Especially popular on game days, students and faculty rave about their meat and three specials and often enjoy a mid-week lunch on the patio.
Dinner
Casual: For a quick bite, perfect after a long day touring, head to Brioso Fresh Pasta, you order at the counter, but then it’s all waitress service from there. The baby back ribs are a must try dish at Sardi’s Den, a favorite amongst Clemson students. Just a short drive in nearby Pendleton 1826 On The Green is a casual, eclectic bistro located in Farmer’s Hall, a beautiful building dating back to 1826.
A Step Up: Students love to book a table at Blue Heron when their parents are visiting, serving an eclectic mix of seafood, steaks and the best sushi in town. Rustic steakhouse, Pixie & Bill’s is regarded as one of city’s original fine-dining establishments known for its lobster bisque and prime rib, but save room for their ‘famous’ ice cream filled crepes. Calhoun Corners is another popular local restaurant with a colorful history. Built in 1893 as a community civic center, later incarnations included a church and a general store, before opening as a restaurant in 1979. Go early to have a pre-dinner drink in their lovely courtyard garden, shaded by one of South Carolina’s oldest oak trees. Adding new blood to the restaurant scene, Rick Erwin’s Clemson serves traditional American fare in chic surroundings in Clemson’s Patrick Square.
Sweet Tooth: Located just outside the Clemson University campus, lovers of ice cream congregate at Spill The Beans of Clemson, which leads a double life as a coffee house as well. Stop by, and you’re sure to see students studying while enjoying a hot Clemson mocha.
Gear Up: Don’t leave Clemson without a stop at Judge Keller’s store, a Clemson institution for over 70 years. They have plenty of school apparel, and die-hard fans can order overalls in bright orange. Also on College Avenue, Tigertown Graphics has everything to satisfy a Tiger fan.
Local Attractions: There are many interesting sights to see right on Clemson’s campus. Tillman Hall is an icon of the University. The clock tower houses the 48-bell Clemson Memorial Carillon, and hopefully, you will hear the bells ring during your visit. Keep your eye out for the Centennial Oak, the largest bur oak in South Carolina, believed to be more than 100 years old and given its name when Clemson celebrated its centennial in 1989. Fort Hill is a registered National Historic Landmark located in the center of campus, the home of University founder Thomas Green Clemson. Campus borders the 900-plus-mile shoreline of Hartwell Lake where swimming, skiing, and sailing are favorite pastimes of students. Other attractions include the South Carolina Botanical Garden and Bob Campbell Geology Museum. Try and time it to be in town for a football game, nothing beats an afternoon watching a Tigers game at Memorial Stadium, also known as “Death Valley.” For why the stadium is called Death Valley, read all about it and the controversy with LSU here.
TOURING CLEMSON
— Quotes From Campus —
“Clemson has many traditions that make college life enriching and engaging. On Fridays, students, and faculty often wear orange to show their pride for the Clemson Tigers teams, and if you’re walking around campus any day of the week, keep your eyes open for the names of seniors engraved in the sidewalks. Remember once you are a Tiger your blood always runs orange!
”
“Yes, Clemson has great academics, but what makes Clemson unique is the people. All tigers are Clemson family for life.”
“When we visited this summer, we went to a bar called TD’s right across from campus. It was very serviceable bar food, but the cool thing was that kids have carved messages, names and initials into every inch of the booths there. It would be so fun to go back and see your autograph!”
CLEMSON FAST FACTS
Established
1889
Mascot
The Tiger
School Colors
White, Purple & Orange
Acceptance Rate
51%
Common Application
No
Supplement Essays
N/A
Early Action/Decision
Rolling
SAT
Average - 1320
ACT
Average - 29
Type
Public
Size
Big - 17,840 Undergraduates
Website
Region
Admissions Office
105 Sikes Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-5124
(p) 864-656-2287
(f) 864-656-2464
cuadmissions@clemson.edu
Sports Divisions
NCAA Division I
Greek Life
Yes
Noteworthy Alumni
Nikki Haley
Strom Thurmond
SHOP
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
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