Princeton Review names Clemson a 'top college that pays you back'

Joshua S. Kelly - USA Today Sports

by Press Release - Thu Jan 18 14:37:01 GMT-04:00 2018

CLEMSON — The Princeton Review once again has named Clemson University one of the nation’s best institutions for students seeking a superior education with unparalleled career preparation at an affordable price. The educational service company touts Clemson’s faculty-to-student ratio, co-op and internship programs and campus life as key contributors to student success.

The Princeton Review’s annual guide, “Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck,” is based on institutional and student data from more than 650 colleges in 2016-17. More than 40 data points are reviewed, including academics, cost, financial aid, graduation rates, student debt, alumni salaries and job satisfaction. This survey, now in its 16th year, has polled more than 141,000 college applicants and parents about their college perspectives.

“Students and families increasingly understand the importance of their investment in a strong college experience,” said David Kuskowski, Clemson’s director of undergraduate admissions. “Students are reaping incredible opportunities from the experiences they have at Clemson, both inside of and outside of the classroom. We are proud of them and grateful for the energy and passion they bring toward strengthening this great University and our world one moment at a time.”

In this year’s guide, editors highlight Clemson’s University Professional Internship and Co-op (UPIC) program for being “top-notch” and sayClemson “does an excellent job of giving students opportunities to explore new ideas and take part in new experiences, and to that end, makes plenty of assistance available and easily applied for.” UPIC is managed through Clemson’s career center, which The Princeton Review named best in the country last summer. Editors also credit the center for its events and workshops, career counseling and mock interviews.

“More than 72% of Clemson students engage in internships, cooperative education assignments and other forms of experiential learning, and these students are 20% more likely to have a job waiting for them at graduation,” said Neil Burton, executive director of Clemson’s Center for Career and Professional Development. “To be recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the top internship schools in the country speaks to Clemson’s commitment to equip students for life after college.”

The Princeton Review also assesses information provided by PayScale.com, which states that the median starting salary for a Clemson graduate with a bachelor’s degree is $54,300 and the median mid-career salary is $101,100.

“We salute Clemson and all of our Colleges That Pay You Back schools. They stand out for their outstanding academics and their affordability via generous financial aid to students with need and/or comparatively low sticker prices,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of the book. “Students at these colleges also have access to extraordinary career services from their freshman year on, plus a lifetime of valuable alumni support.”

The Princeton Review publishes multiple publications throughout the year. Clemson has been named one of the 382 best colleges in the country, 10th best for happiest students and 16th best for its alumni network.