Elon vs. Clemson

Deciding between Elon University and Clemson University? 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.

Elon University
Clemson University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • Clemson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • Clemson 46%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • Clemson 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Clemson University is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (29,077 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Elon vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or Clemson? 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 Elon ($25,003 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 11.4% lower than at Elon University ($13,284 vs. $14,985).
  • Elon University is 201.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clemson (about $31,404 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $15,554.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.9% higher at Elon than at Clemson University (about $6,092 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at Clemson University (77% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 56.9% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($17,867 vs. $11,389).

Elon vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clemson University (1330) is 120 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Elon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 1130/1280; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; Clemson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027; Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Elon (3.65).
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

Elon vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon and Clemson? 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).

  • Elon University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Clemson University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $900 more per year than Elon graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elon graduates ($222 vs. $240).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clemson students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 78%)

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.