Clemson University has the fourth-best honors college in the country and the best in South Carolina, according to a list of the 50 Best Honors Colleges in 2026.
The report, published by College Transitions as a resource for high school students and college counselors, evaluates and ranks hundreds of honors colleges and programs throughout the U.S. using three criteria: selectivity, benefits offered and program rigor.
“We are incredibly proud to be ranked among the top honors colleges in the nation—an achievement that reflects the excellence and dedication of our students, staff and faculty,” said Sarah Winslow, dean of the Honors College. “Through interdisciplinary learning, research and intentional mentorship, our Honors College cultivates a vibrant community of learners and leaders who grow through connection and purpose.”
A key goal of the Honors College is to recruit the highest-achieving and highest-potential undergraduates to Clemson. The median student in the college’s Fall 2025 incoming class was ranked in the top 2% of their high school graduating class. These students were also deeply engaged outside the classroom in service, volunteer and extracurricular activities, often holding leadership positions.
At Clemson, Honors students join and create a community designed to foster both academic excellence and personal growth. The nationally recognized Honors Residential College offers a state-of-the-art environment for collaboration and learning. Students also have access to high-impact academic and research opportunities, including professional and academic development grants, specialized cohort-based programs, peer mentorship and leadership-focused experiences.
As a result, Honors students go on to earn major college and University-level awards as well as national and international recognition, including Rhodes, Churchill, Truman and Fulbright scholarships.
When they graduate, almost 96% of Honors students report immediate post-graduation plans. Some join leading employers, such as Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA and the Bank of America. Others pursue graduate studies at prestigious institutions like Yale University, Stanford University, Cornell University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Honors College’s national prominence mirrors Clemson’s continued rise as a leader in undergraduate education and student experience. The value of a Clemson degree has never been higher. The University was recently recognized as the best national and public university in South Carolina in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 rankings. Forbes also named Clemson as the best university in the state and No. 33 nationally among public colleges.
