Clemson vs. Penn State

Deciding between Clemson University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clemson #132
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clemson -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clemson
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clemson $11,389
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clemson 75%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clemson 1330
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clemson 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clemson A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clemson Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clemson High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clemson 28/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clemson Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clemson May 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clemson 80%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clemson 78%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clemson $222
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clemson 46%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Clemson 54%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clemson Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Clemson No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Clemson 83%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Clemson 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Clemson 7%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clemson 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Clemson 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clemson 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clemson 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Clemson 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clemson 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clemson 56%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clemson 43%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clemson University in Clemson, SC with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 29,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clemson University is located in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clemson University 16:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Clemson vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($25,003 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 8.2% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,284 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 32.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clemson (about $5,090 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $15,554.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Penn State than at Clemson University (about $924 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at Penn State Main Campus (75% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 0.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($11,389 vs. $11,336).

Clemson vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clemson University (1330) is the same as at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 1240/1410; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 28/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clemson - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at Clemson vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Clemson vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clemson and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Clemson University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($222 vs. $277).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.