Alabama vs. Clemson

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

Alabama Clemson
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Clemson, SC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 39,622 28,747
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #403 #130
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu clemson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama Clemson
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $14,038
Tuition (Out of State) $32,400 $37,982
Room & Board $14,840 $12,872
Avg Net Price $21,761 $24,408
Avg Grant Aid $16,394 $10,599
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 74%

Admission

Alabama Clemson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,418 60,122
Admitted 44,295 22,879
Acceptance Rate 75.8% 38.1%
Enrolled % 18.7% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 24/31 28/32
SAT Range 1170/1400 1230/1390
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Alabama Clemson
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Alabama Clemson
Graduation Rate 66% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $57,100
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $245 $222

Diversity

Alabama Clemson
% Men 6% 10%
% Women 10% 11%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 83%
% Black 11% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Alabama Clemson
% In-State 36% 51%
% Out-of-State 63% 48%

Campus

Alabama 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

  • The University of Alabama is larger than than Clemson based on total student enrollment (39,622 students vs. 28,747 students)

Alabama vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or Clemson?

  • Clemson University is 26.5% more expensive to attend than Alabama for in-state tuition ($14,038.00 vs. $11,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.2% higher at Clemson than The University of Alabama ($37,982.00 vs. $32,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than Clemson ($21,761 vs. $24,408)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 15.3% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($12,872 vs. $14,840)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clemson University than The University of Alabama (74% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 54.7% larger than aid received Clemson University ($16,394 vs. $10,599)

Alabama vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 94 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Alabama (27)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Clemson (3.75)
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (75.8%) than Clemson (38.1%)

Alabama vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama 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 Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than The University of Alabama (80% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn on average $7,200 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($57,100 vs. $49,900)
  • Clemson University students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,750)
  • Clemson graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($222 vs. $245)
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 59%)

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