ISU vs. Clemson

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

ISU Clemson
Location Ames, IA Clemson, SC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 29,969 28,466
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #352 #133
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iastate.edu clemson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU Clemson
Tuition (In State) $8,678 $14,118
Tuition (Out of State) $25,162 $38,062
Room & Board $9,358 $12,350
Avg Net Price $15,310 $24,577
Avg Grant Aid $11,043 $10,430
% Receiving Grant Aid 80% 79%

Admission

ISU Clemson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,919 52,819
Admitted 19,776 22,704
Acceptance Rate 90.2% 43%
Enrolled % 29% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 28/32
SAT Range 1090/1350 1220/1410
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

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

ISU Clemson
% Men 55% 48%
% Women 45% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 83%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

ISU Clemson
% In-State 52% 52%
% Out-of-State 45% 46%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Iowa State University is larger than than Clemson based on total student enrollment (29,969 students vs. 28,466 students)

ISU vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Clemson?

  • Clemson University is 62.7% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($14,118.00 vs. $8,678.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51.3% higher at Clemson than Iowa State University ($38,062.00 vs. $25,162.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than Clemson ($15,310 vs. $24,577)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 32% lower than costs at Clemson University ($9,358 vs. $12,350)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa State University than Clemson University (80% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 5.9% larger than aid received Clemson University ($11,043 vs. $10,430)

ISU vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 133 points higher than at ISU (1142)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at ISU (25)
  • Accepted 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 (90.2%) than Clemson (43%)

ISU vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or Clemson? 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 Clemson and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than Iowa State University (80% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn on average $3,400 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($57,100 vs. $53,700)
  • Clemson University students graduate with a $2,368 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,868)
  • Clemson graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans 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/