CLEMSON, S.C. — The board of trustees at Clemson University has officially sanctioned a new athletic fee of $150 for each semester, which will take effect in the upcoming academic year.

Discussions surrounding this fee took place earlier in the week, culminating in a decision made on Friday.

The anticipated revenue from this initiative is projected to be between $7 million and $8 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Historically, the university has not implemented such fees and has refrained from charging students for individual tickets to athletic events.

In comparison, undergraduates at the University of South Carolina are currently paying an athletic fee of $86 per semester this academic year, as noted on the university’s official website.

Clemson’s administration has stated that this new fee will demonstrate the university’s dedication to maintaining a robust varsity athletic program while also enhancing the overall student experience.

Amidst increasing financial pressures, schools in major athletic conferences have been actively seeking alternative revenue sources. This comes after a substantial settlement agreement, amounting to $2.78 billion, related to claims made by numerous athletes dating back to 2016.

As part of this legal settlement, institutions are obligated to allocate up to $21 million annually in revenue to student-athletes, with distributions expected to commence as early as next fall.