[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6296875,"mediaKeyId","2512653-2fe5f5012135ba8db800e063530554cf","parentId",2512653,"title","Clemson touts record applications, high retention and $338 million in research spending to lawmakers","audioSeconds",587,"startMs",1162000,"endMs",1749000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2512653-2fe5f5012135ba8db800e063530554cf&start=1162&end=1749","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2512653-2fe5f5012135ba8db800e063530554cf/thumbnail_1162000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6296875/South-Carolina/Clemson-touts-record-applications-high-retention-and-338-million-in-research-spending-to-lawmakers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296875-b2307d286dfcfef86ff59f76c55d1aab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160755&Signature=KwaQNs19ebPbJtg8A8p34r9mVpSuG0iwTGjOtWcU7Cd6zJBbjalQpsd3kf9qYvAKO4Pn2sk~Vcma80Ki4P-Wh-30d~JzOs1D8yMjL40VVjSQvLM0-cMpzgbzD7vC6hWX8D1LO6xpd0z0D82-g2Kq7uUncAef-WdQ9ESW9yr9l8-steRaKm522TauHdgpneNzoQZ80LwMsGZWuPDx2EdTThAXZUE0GIOcxb18-0~1Wxr3~s-YK7tEqs0ej5KujvTZRG9i094DT3BtaWPDj8dTw8RtSqt7Jgw012p8LgvKFvs53tJY78K6v7jXkNRJjECO3FhXCfZM7Ny-a91lNg6HHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","President James P. Clements, president of Clemson University, briefed the House Education and Public Works Committee and highlighted record application growth, high retention and graduation rates, substantial research expenditures and a veterinary medicine college under construction.

Clements told lawmakers Clemson received nearly 62,000 applications for roughly 4,900 spots last year and that the university expects total applications this year to be about 65,000. “When I arrived at Clemson in 2013, we had 18,000 applications,” Clements said. “That number has more than tripled in the past decade.”

Clements emphasized Clemson’s commitment to in-state students: he said about 62 percent of undergraduates are South Carolina residents and 38 percent are from out of state. He also highlighted academic awards and post-graduation outcomes: retention from freshman to sophomore year is about 93.5 percent, the six-year graduation rate is approximately 87 percent and the four-year graduation rate is about 71 percent.

On research and fundraising, Clements reported $338,000,000 in externally funded research expenditures last year and a record $259,000,000 in private fundraising. He said Clemson has increased private fundraising by more than $150,000,000 a year since 2013. Clements also discussed experiential learning supported by state funding, saying nearly 82 percent of students who received state-funded internships and co-ops were from South Carolina and that almost 70 percent of the employers were located in the state.

Clements thanked the General Assembly for investing in the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He said the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine is under construction and that Clemson plans to welcome its first class in fall 2026.

On athletics and external partnerships, Clements said Clemson’s football program recently won the ACC championship and that the university’s board reached an agreement to remain in the Atlantic Coast Conference under a revenue arrangement Clements called “a really good outcome for us.”

Committee members asked questions and offered congratulations; Representative Johnson and others thanked Clements and invited further engagement. Clements introduced legislative staff present, naming Angie Leidinger, Mark Catherin and Jarrett Breuder as points of contact.

Why it matters: the university’s enrollment, research and career-outcome metrics affect workforce development, state economic partnerships and higher-education planning across South Carolina.

Ending: Clements invited lawmakers to a Clemson reception later that day and said the university will continue to brief state officials on progress including the veterinary college’s development.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 5, 2025 9:00 am House Education and Public Works Committee","oneSentenceSummary","President Jim Clements told the House Education and Public Works Committee that Clemson continues to break records in applications, retention and fundraising, reported $338 million in research expenditures and expects to welcome the first class to its veterinary college in fall 2026.","taxTitle","Education and Public Works, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17503,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6296880,"College of Charleston reports record enrollment, Moody’s upgrade and 2-acre property purchase for student housing",632,159000,791000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2512653-2fe5f5012135ba8db800e063530554cf&start=159&end=791","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2512653-2fe5f5012135ba8db800e063530554cf/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6296880/South-Carolina/College-of-Charleston-reports-record-enrollment-Moodys-upgrade-and-2-acre-property-purchase-for-student-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296880-011a7b8602f6fce6865ea72a9f66be2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160755&Signature=oIGvI7N8-CCqE~VsYLMvs-2-uclYI-RTLSbXcSXQsJtecfYp9CYL~O~-IyMHfCpWzgyG9VgREXa5slSA7usVW~cHZUvEqC3Lkqrc7OKDPZVnm4sZuxsVW3C56izJHsM1kx1085hoXm3Ln7MUlPqBlSSS~6cWiABSGPdadQHL-T5iofnjIiI7KO3KWZNvnknr8GohnSPVgH2-fWNwY~y8FaL4k1u0IAU3JBdrQJIOG~KIoTy7gJ3b-xSTyhvjBeU5hF-E0C-y2Km4ZGcIAGkuK6kI9lehOiaBnh5q60R6xq8TdgB4d~b418sj4XstEv0X-R~CcjFjrEFlAuOFvUGWzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","President Andrew Hsu, president of the College of Charleston, told the South Carolina House Education and Public Works Committee on the morning of the institution’s briefing that the college enrolled its largest student body in the school’s 255-year history and recorded a record level of applications.

Hsu said the college had “close to 12,000 students” last fall and that applications rose from an average of about 11,000 to roughly 32,000 this year. “This rise in applications represents not only the draw of our location in one of the most beautiful cities,” Hsu said, “but our growing academic reputation is what’s also driving this increase.”

The increase in applications and enrollment has been accompanied by other milestones the president highlighted for the lawmakers. Hsu said the Phi Beta Kappa honor society recently approved a chapter on the College of Charleston campus, placing the institution among the roughly 10 percent of U.S. colleges that host a chapter. He also said Moody’s upgraded the college’s institutional rating this winter despite a broadly negative outlook for higher education.

Hsu told the committee the college closed on a 2-acre, contiguous parcel “north of Calhoun, south of Vanderhorst, east of Cummings and west of St. Philip,” formerly the site of a YWCA building and parking lot, and that the land will be used to build a large student housing complex. “With our enrollments where they are, there’s high demand among our students for affordable beds, especially on a nine-month lease,” Hsu said.

During questions, Representative Tom Hartnett asked for the parcel’s location; Hsu provided the block boundaries and added that the acquisition also included a condominium converted to student housing. Hartnett also asked about the Wentworth parking garage; Hsu said the college and the city have agreed on a land swap and that “we owe them $5,000,000 and they’re now willing to move forward and put it in front of the city council in the near future.”

Representative Huff asked what percentage of students are from out of state; Hsu said the student body is “right about fifty-fifty,” and he added that the college admits about 82 to 83 percent of South Carolina applicants. On graduate retention, Hsu said “the first year of graduates, that’s one year after they graduate, 60 percent of them stay in South Carolina.”

Hsu also discussed budget composition and tuition. He said that when he arrived six years ago state support comprised about 8.5 percent of the college’s budget and that figure has risen to roughly 25–28 percent, a change he described as “a tremendous increase” and “extremely appreciative of the support from the state.” He identified legislative staff in attendance, including Paul Patrick (chief of staff) and Shirley Hanson, and offered the college as a point of contact for follow-up questions.

Why it matters: the changes affect campus housing needs, the college’s financial position and workforce development in the region. Committee members thanked Hsu for the briefing and said the panel will hold similar institutional overviews throughout the year.

Ending: The committee moved on to its next presenters after roughly an hour of institutional briefings; Hsu invited members to contact him or his staff for additional data and said the college will continue aligning academic programs with regional workforce needs.","President Andrew Hsu told the Education and Public Works Committee the College of Charleston recorded its largest student body, a record number of applications, a Moody’s rating upgrade and a recent 2-acre property acquisition to expand student housing.","actionData","errors"]

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Clemson touts record applications, high retention and $338 million in research spending to lawmakers

College of Charleston reports record enrollment, Moody’s upgrade and 2-acre property purchase for student housing