NC State vs. Clemson

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

NC State Clemson
Location Raleigh, NC Clemson, SC
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 36,700 28,466
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #123 #133
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ncsu.edu clemson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NC State Clemson
Tuition (In State) $6,535 $14,118
Tuition (Out of State) $28,276 $38,062
Room & Board $12,748 $12,350
Avg Net Price $14,852 $24,577
Avg Grant Aid $9,181 $10,430
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 79%

Admission

NC State Clemson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 35,568 52,819
Admitted 16,779 22,704
Acceptance Rate 47.2% 43%
Enrolled % 33.5% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/33 28/32
SAT Range 1280/1460 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 Jan 15, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

NC State Clemson
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (22%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

NC State Clemson
Graduation Rate 72% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,200 $57,100
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,782 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $214 $222

Diversity

NC State Clemson
% Men 51% 48%
% Women 49% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 83%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

NC State Clemson
% In-State 83% 52%
% Out-of-State 14% 46%

Campus

NC State Clemson
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

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than than Clemson based on total student enrollment (36,700 students vs. 28,466 students)

NC State vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State or Clemson?

  • Clemson University is 116% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($14,118.00 vs. $6,535.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.6% higher at Clemson than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($38,062.00 vs. $28,276.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Clemson ($14,852 vs. $24,577)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 3.2% lower than costs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($12,350 vs. $12,748)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clemson University than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (79% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 13.6% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($10,430 vs. $9,181)

NC State vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 11 points higher than at NC State (1264)
  • Incoming NC State students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at Clemson (29)
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Clemson (3.75)
  • NC State has a higher acceptance rate (47.2%) than Clemson (43%)

NC State vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NC State 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 NC State.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (80% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $100 more per year than Clemson graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $57,100)
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh students graduate with a $718 lower median federal student loan debt than Clemson graduates. ($20,782 vs. $21,500)
  • NC State graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Clemson graduates. ($214 vs. $222)
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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