Clemson vs. Coastal Carolina

Should I go to Clemson University or Coastal Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clemson or Coastal Carolina is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Clemson University vs. Coastal Carolina University comparison
Clemson University Coastal Carolina University College 3 College 4
Clemson University Coastal Carolina University
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Overview

Clemson Coastal Carolina
Location Clemson, SC Conway, SC
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 28,747 10,829
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #130 #767
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clemson.edu coastal.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clemson Coastal Carolina
Tuition (In State) $14,038 $11,460
Tuition (Out of State) $37,982 $29,448
Room & Board $12,872 $11,418
Avg Net Price $24,408 $14,453
Avg Grant Aid $10,599 $9,939
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 87%

Admission

Clemson Coastal Carolina
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,122 18,223
Admitted 22,879 14,613
Acceptance Rate 38.1% 80.2%
Enrolled % 19.6% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.72
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 28/32 20/26
SAT Range 1230/1390 1050/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

Clemson Coastal Carolina
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Clemson Coastal Carolina
Graduation Rate 80% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,100 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $24,930
Median Loan Payment $222 $257

Diversity

Clemson Coastal Carolina
% Men 10% 2%
% Women 11% 3%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 83% 68%
% Black 7% 20%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Clemson Coastal Carolina
% In-State 51% 31%
% Out-of-State 48% 68%

Campus

Clemson Coastal Carolina
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Clemson University is larger than than Coastal Carolina based on total student enrollment (28,747 students vs. 10,829 students)

Clemson vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or Coastal Carolina?

  • Clemson University is 22.5% more expensive to attend than Coastal Carolina for in-state tuition ($14,038.00 vs. $11,460.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29% higher at Clemson than Coastal Carolina University ($37,982.00 vs. $29,448.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Coastal Carolina University than Clemson ($14,453 vs. $24,408)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 12.7% lower than costs at Clemson University ($11,418 vs. $12,872)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Coastal Carolina University than Clemson University (87% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 6.6% larger than aid received Coastal Carolina University ($10,599 vs. $9,939)

Clemson vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clemson or Coastal Carolina? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Coastal Carolina or Clemson .

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 266 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1009)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Coastal Carolina (22)
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Coastal Carolina (3.72)
  • Coastal Carolina has a higher acceptance rate (80.2%) than Clemson (38.1%)

Clemson vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clemson or Coastal Carolina? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Coastal Carolina and Clemson.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than Coastal Carolina University (80% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn on average $14,900 more per year than Coastal Carolina graduates after ten years. ($57,100 vs. $42,200)
  • Clemson University students graduate with a $3,430 lower median federal student loan debt than Coastal Carolina graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,930)
  • Clemson graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than Coastal Carolina graduates. ($222 vs. $257)
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/