CU Boulder vs. Clemson

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder 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.

University of Colorado Boulder
Clemson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • Clemson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Clemson 46%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • Clemson 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 29,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); Clemson University is in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; Clemson University 16:1.

CU Boulder vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder ($25,003 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 28.1% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($13,284 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clemson (about $112 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $15,554.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at CU Boulder than at Clemson University (about $4,052 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at University of Colorado Boulder (75% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 1.5% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($11,389 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 10 points higher than at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Clemson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; Clemson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

CU Boulder vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder 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).

  • Clemson University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $200 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Clemson graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clemson graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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.