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UofSC Mason Georgia Virginia Tech VCU NC State Auburn UVA CNU Florida Tennessee CofC| Clemson University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Clemson | JMU | ||
| Location | Clemson, SC | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 28,747 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #130 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clemson.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clemson | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,038 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $37,982 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,872 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,408 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,599 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 81% |
Admission |
Clemson | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 60,122 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 22,879 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 38.1% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.6% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.75 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 28/32 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1390 | 1170/1320 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Clemson | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clemson | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 80% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,100 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $216 |
Diversity |
Clemson | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Clemson | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 48% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Clemson | JMU | ||
| 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 JMU based on total student enrollment (28,747 students vs. 22,758 students)
Clemson vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clemson or JMU?
- Clemson University is 77.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($14,038.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 51.2% higher at Clemson than James Madison University ($37,982.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clemson University than JMU ($24,408 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 2.3% lower than costs at Clemson University ($12,584 vs. $12,872)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Clemson University (81% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 137.9% larger than aid received James Madison University ($10,599 vs. $4,456)
Clemson vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clemson or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Clemson .
- The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 141 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming Clemson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at JMU (3.57)
- JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than Clemson (38.1%)
Clemson vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clemson or JMU? 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 JMU and Clemson.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Clemson University (81% vs. 80%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $3,200 more per year than Clemson graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $57,100)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $601 lower median federal student loan debt than Clemson graduates. ($20,899 vs. $21,500)
- JMU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Clemson graduates. ($216 vs. $222)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clemson students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/