Clemson vs. PC

Deciding between Clemson University and Presbyterian College? 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
Presbyterian College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • PC Clinton, SC
  • Setting
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • PC Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Clemson 29,077
  • PC 1,095
  • Type
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • PC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clemson #132
  • PC #430
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clemson -
  • PC Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • PC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clemson
  • PC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clemson $15,554
  • PC $44,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clemson $40,866
  • PC $44,910
  • Room & Board
  • Clemson $13,284
  • PC $13,579
  • Average Net Price
  • Clemson $25,003
  • PC $20,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clemson $11,389
  • PC $39,345
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clemson 75%
  • PC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clemson 61,517
  • PC 3,297
  • Admitted
  • Clemson 23,586
  • PC 2,254
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • PC 68.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • PC 11.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clemson 1330
  • PC 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clemson 30
  • PC 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clemson 3.75
  • PC 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clemson A-
  • PC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clemson Very High
  • PC Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clemson High
  • PC Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clemson 28/32
  • PC 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • PC 980/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clemson Test optional
  • PC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clemson May 1, 2027
  • PC Sep 21, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clemson 16:1
  • PC 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • PC
    • Business (26%)
    • History (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clemson 80%
  • PC 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clemson $57,100
  • PC $47,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clemson 78%
  • PC 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clemson $21,500
  • PC $26,108
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clemson $222
  • PC $269

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clemson 46%
  • PC 43%
  • % Women
  • Clemson 54%
  • PC 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clemson Very Low
  • PC Low
  • HBCU
  • Clemson No
  • PC No
  • % White
  • Clemson 83%
  • PC 77%
  • % Asian
  • Clemson 2%
  • PC 1%
  • % Black
  • Clemson 7%
  • PC 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clemson 3%
  • PC 3%
  • % Native American
  • Clemson 0%
  • PC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clemson 0%
  • PC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clemson 3%
  • PC 2%
  • % International
  • Clemson 1%
  • PC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clemson 1%
  • PC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clemson 56%
  • PC 60%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clemson 43%
  • PC 36%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Clemson University is larger than PC based on total student enrollment (29,077 students vs. 1,095 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clemson University is located in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting); Presbyterian College is in Clinton, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Presbyterian College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clemson University 16:1; Presbyterian College 11:1.

Clemson vs. PC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or PC? 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 Presbyterian College than Clemson ($20,840 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 2.2% lower than at Presbyterian College ($13,284 vs. $13,579).
  • Presbyterian College is 188.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clemson (about $29,356 more per year; $44,910.00 vs. $15,554.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at PC than at Clemson University (about $4,044 more per year; $44,910.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Presbyterian College than at Clemson University (100% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Presbyterian College students is 245.5% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($39,345 vs. $11,389).

Clemson vs. PC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clemson University (1330) is 240 points higher than at PC (1090).
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 23 at PC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 1240/1410; Presbyterian College 980/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 28/32; Presbyterian College 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clemson - Test optional; PC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027; PC Sep 21, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at PC (3.6).
  • PC has a higher acceptance rate (68.4%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at Clemson vs. 11.6% at PC.

Clemson vs. PC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clemson and PC? 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 Presbyterian College's (68%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than PC graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $47,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $4,608 lower median loan debt than PC graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,108).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PC graduates ($222 vs. $269).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.