Clemson vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Clemson University or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clemson or USC Aiken 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. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Clemson University University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
Clemson University
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Overview

Clemson USC Aiken
Location Clemson, SC Aiken, SC
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 28,747 3,855
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #130 #883
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clemson.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clemson USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $14,038 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $37,982 $20,856
Room & Board $12,872 $8,736
Avg Net Price $24,408 $11,697
Avg Grant Aid $10,599 $9,701
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 98%

Admission

Clemson USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,122 2,905
Admitted 22,879 2,316
Acceptance Rate 38.1% 79.7%
Enrolled % 19.6% 26.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.19
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very High Very Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 28/32 17/23
SAT Range 1230/1390 970/1200
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, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Clemson USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Clemson USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 80% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,100 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $268

Diversity

Clemson USC Aiken
% Men 10% 6%
% Women 11% 13%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 58%
% Black 7% 27%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Clemson USC Aiken
% In-State 51% 88%
% Out-of-State 48% 11%

Campus

Clemson USC Aiken
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Clemson University is larger than than USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (28,747 students vs. 3,855 students)

Clemson vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or USC Aiken?

  • Clemson University is 35% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($14,038.00 vs. $10,398.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 82.1% higher at Clemson than University of South Carolina Aiken ($37,982.00 vs. $20,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Clemson ($11,697 vs. $24,408)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 47.3% lower than costs at Clemson University ($8,736 vs. $12,872)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Aiken than Clemson University (98% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 9.3% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($10,599 vs. $9,701)

Clemson vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 299 points higher than at USC Aiken (976)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at USC Aiken (21)
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • USC Aiken has a higher acceptance rate (79.7%) than Clemson (38.1%)

Clemson vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clemson or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and Clemson.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (80% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn on average $17,500 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($57,100 vs. $39,600)
  • Clemson University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Clemson graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Aiken students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 54%)

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