AU vs. Clemson

Deciding between Anderson University and Clemson University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Anderson University
Clemson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • AU Small City
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 4,710
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #662
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU Baptist
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $34,970
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $34,970
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • AU $12,720
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $24,434
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $25,969
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 98%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 4,548
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • AU 2,488
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 54.7%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 32.5%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1190
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 25
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.72
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Challenging
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • AU 22/29
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1100/1280
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Clemson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 13:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 48%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $37,500
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 60%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $26,862
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $277
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 42%
  • Clemson 46%
  • % Women
  • AU 58%
  • Clemson 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU Very Low
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • AU 83%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • AU 1%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • AU 8%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 3%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 2%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • AU 1%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 2%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 69%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 30%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Clemson Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Clemson No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Clemson Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Clemson No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU No
  • Clemson No

Comparable Facts

Compare Anderson University in Anderson, SC with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clemson University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (29,077 students vs. 4,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Anderson University is located in Anderson, SC (Small City setting); Clemson University is in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Anderson University 13:1; Clemson University 16:1.

AU vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Clemson? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Anderson University than Clemson ($24,434 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 4.2% lower than at Clemson University ($12,720 vs. $13,284).
  • Anderson University is 124.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clemson (about $19,416 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $15,554.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.9% higher at Clemson than at Anderson University (about $5,896 more per year; $40,866.00 vs. $34,970.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at Clemson University (98% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 128% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($25,969 vs. $11,389).

AU vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Clemson? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Clemson and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clemson University (1330) is 140 points higher than at AU (1190).
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Anderson University 1100/1280; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Anderson University 22/29; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Clemson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at AU (3.72).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (54.7%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at AU vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

AU vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Clemson? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Clemson University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $5,362 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($222 vs. $277).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.