Clemson vs. Furman

Deciding between Clemson University and Furman 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.

Clemson University
Furman University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Furman Greenville, SC
  • Setting
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Furman Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Furman 2,554
  • Type
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • Furman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clemson #132
  • Furman #104
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clemson -
  • Furman -
  • Status
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Furman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clemson
  • Furman
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Furman $59,770
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Furman $59,770
  • Room & Board
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Furman $16,504
  • Average Net Price
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Furman $34,086
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clemson $11,389
  • Furman $42,811
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clemson 75%
  • Furman 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Furman 10,813
  • Admitted
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Furman 4,644
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Furman 42.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Furman 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clemson 1330
  • Furman 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clemson 30
  • Furman 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Furman 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clemson A-
  • Furman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clemson Very High
  • Furman Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clemson High
  • Furman Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clemson 28/32
  • Furman 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Furman 1260/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clemson Test optional
  • Furman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clemson May 1, 2027
  • Furman Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Furman 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Furman
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clemson 80%
  • Furman 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Furman $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clemson 78%
  • Furman 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Furman $25,443
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clemson $222
  • Furman $263
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clemson 46%
  • Furman 41%
  • % Women
  • Clemson 54%
  • Furman 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clemson Very Low
  • Furman Low
  • HBCU
  • Clemson No
  • Furman No
  • % White
  • Clemson 83%
  • Furman 78%
  • % Asian
  • Clemson 2%
  • Furman 2%
  • % Black
  • Clemson 7%
  • Furman 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clemson 3%
  • Furman 4%
  • % Native American
  • Clemson 0%
  • Furman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clemson 0%
  • Furman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clemson 3%
  • Furman 2%
  • % International
  • Clemson 1%
  • Furman 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clemson 1%
  • Furman 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clemson 56%
  • Furman 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clemson 43%
  • Furman 62%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Clemson University is larger than Furman based on total student enrollment (29,077 students vs. 2,554 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clemson University is located in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting); Furman University is in Greenville, SC (Large Suburban setting).
  • Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Furman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clemson University 16:1; Furman University 10:1.

Clemson vs. Furman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or Furman? 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 Clemson University than Furman ($25,003 vs. $34,086).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 19.5% lower than at Furman University ($13,284 vs. $16,504).
  • Furman University is 284.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clemson (about $44,216 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $15,554.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.3% higher at Furman than at Clemson University (about $18,904 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Furman University than at Clemson University (100% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Furman University students is 275.9% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($42,811 vs. $11,389).

Clemson vs. Furman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clemson or Furman? 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 Furman and Clemson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Furman University (1350) is 20 points higher than at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming Clemson students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Furman (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 1240/1410; Furman University 1260/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 28/32; Furman University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clemson - Test optional; Furman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027; Furman Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Furman (3.61).
  • Furman has a higher acceptance rate (42.9%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at Clemson vs. 13.1% at Furman.

Clemson vs. Furman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clemson and Furman? 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).

  • Furman University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Clemson University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Furman graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $3,943 lower median loan debt than Furman graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,443).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Furman graduates ($222 vs. $263).
  • More Furman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clemson students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

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.