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Student Financial Aid

Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) program that has been in place for over 35 years and allows out-of-state students to pay the equivalent of in-state resident fees in specialized fields. 

All ACM spots have been awarded for 2023-2024.

Application Process 

Prospective students must take the following steps to apply.

  1. After receiving your acceptance letter, go to the Academic Common Market.

  2. You can check participating institutions and states through a search engine. Select your home state.

  3. From the ACM start page, select your home state and select: State Information. The state information will provide a link to the state’s ACM website and state coordinator. This is where you will find all the procedures and forms for application and approval. This process is referred to as the certification process.

  4. Next, search for approved Clemson University programs, but keep the following in mind: Many states do not review and approve programs until a student requests the review. So, if your home state has not reviewed a Clemson degree program, you can request that it be considered for the Academic Common Market by contacting your home state ACM coordinator.

  5. Once you have been approved by your home state ACM Coordinator, Clemson University will be notified of your approval, and you will receive a letter as well.

For additional information, review the frequently asked questions developed by the ACM. 

Eligible Majors 

You can view a list of the current eligible majors for graduate students. 

The following programs are approved for undergraduates:

  1. Graphic communications.
  2. Language and international health: Chinese, French and Spanish.
  3. Parks, recreation and tourism management.
  4. Plant and environmental sciences: soil and water science.
  5. Sports communication.

Scholarships Available  

Currently, any eligible graduate student can receive an ACM waiver pending their acceptance by Clemson University into an eligible ACM major.

First-year student awards are limited and are subject to funding approved by the University.

Participating States 

There are changes made to the ACM every year. North Carolina no longer participates in the ACM, and several states participate at the graduate level only.

[Alabama]   [Arkansas]   [Delaware]   [Florida]   [Georgia]   
[Kentucky]   [Louisiana]   [Maryland]   [Mississippi]   
[Oklahoma]   [South Carolina]   [Tennessee]   [Texas]   
[Virginia]   [West Virginia] 

ACM Contact Information

Student Financial Aid Information
Jeff Holliday
Director of Scholarships 

G-01 Sikes Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
864-656-2280

S.C. Commission on Higher Education
Saundra Carr
South Carolina ACM Coordinator

1122 Lady St., Suite 300
Columbia, SC 29201
803-737-2274
CHE Academic Common Market Information