KIPLINGER NAMES CLEMSON A TOP EDUCATIONAL BUY

CLEMSON - Kiplinger magazine editors have picked Clemson University as one of the top public institutions providing the best education for the dollar.

Clemson is 29th in the financial magazine's yearly round-up of institutions providing a top quality education at reasonable prices. Magazine staffers researched more than 500 public colleges and universities across the United States to determine the list of the top 100 best buys.

"Students receive a complete college experience at Clemson that includes quality academics and an environment that allows for individual growth and learning," said Robert Barkley, university admissions director. "This total experience is an advantage for Clemson students as they prepare for their futures and begin to collect a return on their collegiate investment."

In-state students pay $7,841 a semester for tuition, fees and room and board, while the price tag for out-of-state students stands at $13,083 a semester.

No in-state freshman at Clemson this academic year is paying full tuition, said Barkley, thanks to the university's Palmetto Pact, which encourages community service, enhances access to Clemson and increases the pipeline of graduates qualified for a knowledge-based economy. The program significantly increases scholarship and grant opportunities available to South Carolina residents.

Kiplinger researchers balanced the cost of attending an institution with its financial aid availability, student retention rates and graduation rates to determine the top 100.

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