ISU vs. Clemson

Deciding between Iowa State 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.

Iowa State University
Clemson University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • Clemson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • Clemson 46%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • Clemson 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 29,077 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Clemson University is in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Clemson University 16:1.

ISU vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU 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 Iowa State University than Clemson ($17,779 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 18.6% lower than at Clemson University ($10,808 vs. $13,284).
  • Clemson University is 44.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $4,767 more per year; $15,554.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.5% higher at Clemson than at Iowa State University (about $11,985 more per year; $40,866.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at Clemson University (77% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 5.5% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($11,389 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Clemson? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Clemson and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Clemson University (1330) is 90 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (30 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Iowa State University 1120/1360; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Iowa State University 21/28; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; Clemson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Clemson students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

ISU vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Clemson? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Clemson University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $2,368 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($222 vs. $246).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.