Clemson vs. Sweet Briar College

Should I go to Clemson University or Sweet Briar College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clemson or Sweet Briar College 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. Sweet Briar College comparison
Clemson University Sweet Briar College College 3 College 4
Clemson University
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Overview

Clemson Sweet Briar College
Location Clemson, SC Sweet Briar, VA
Setting Distant Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 28,747 464
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #130
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clemson.edu sbc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clemson Sweet Briar College
Tuition (In State) $14,038 $23,730
Tuition (Out of State) $37,982 $23,730
Room & Board $12,872 $14,720
Avg Net Price $24,408 $25,598
Avg Grant Aid $10,599 $15,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 99%

Admission

Clemson Sweet Briar College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,122 1,136
Admitted 22,879 815
Acceptance Rate 38.1% 71.7%
Enrolled % 19.6% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.54
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 28/32 21/27
SAT Range 1230/1390 1100/1310
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

Academics

Clemson Sweet Briar College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

Clemson Sweet Briar College
Graduation Rate 80% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,100 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Clemson Sweet Briar College
% Men 10% 0%
% Women 11% 0%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 71%
% Black 7% 9%
% Hispanic 3% 9%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Clemson Sweet Briar College
% In-State 51% 43%
% Out-of-State 48% 49%

Campus

Clemson Sweet Briar College
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 Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (28,747 students vs. 464 students)

Clemson vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or Sweet Briar College?

  • Sweet Briar College is 69% more expensive to attend than Clemson for in-state tuition ($23,730.00 vs. $14,038.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 60.1% higher at Clemson than Sweet Briar College ($37,982.00 vs. $23,730.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clemson University than Sweet Briar College ($24,408 vs. $25,598)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 14.4% lower than costs at Sweet Briar College ($12,872 vs. $14,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sweet Briar College than Clemson University (99% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sweet Briar College students is 49.8% larger than aid received Clemson University ($15,880 vs. $10,599)

Clemson vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 177 points higher than at Sweet Briar College (1098)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Sweet Briar College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Sweet Briar College (3.54)
  • Sweet Briar College has a higher acceptance rate (71.7%) than Clemson (38.1%)

Clemson vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clemson or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College and Clemson.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than Sweet Briar College (80% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn on average $15,400 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates after ten years. ($57,100 vs. $41,700)
  • Clemson University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Clemson graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Sweet Briar College graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sweet Briar College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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