Kentucky vs. Clemson

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

Kentucky Clemson
Location Lexington, KY Clemson, SC
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 31,547 28,466
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #408 #133
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uky.edu clemson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kentucky Clemson
Tuition (In State) $11,496 $14,118
Tuition (Out of State) $30,913 $38,062
Room & Board $14,676 $12,350
Avg Net Price $18,693 $24,577
Avg Grant Aid $14,114 $10,430
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 79%

Admission

Kentucky Clemson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,109 52,819
Admitted 20,979 22,704
Acceptance Rate 94.9% 43%
Enrolled % 28.9% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 28/32
SAT Range 1070/1290 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 Feb 15, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

Kentucky Clemson
Graduation Rate 59% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $57,100
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,750 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $235 $222

Diversity

Kentucky Clemson
% Men 40% 48%
% Women 60% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 83%
% Black 8% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Kentucky Clemson
% In-State 61% 52%
% Out-of-State 37% 46%

Campus

Kentucky 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

  • University of Kentucky is larger than than Clemson based on total student enrollment (31,547 students vs. 28,466 students)

Kentucky vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky or Clemson?

  • Clemson University is 22.8% more expensive to attend than Kentucky for in-state tuition ($14,118.00 vs. $11,496.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.1% higher at Clemson than University of Kentucky ($38,062.00 vs. $30,913.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kentucky than Clemson ($18,693 vs. $24,577)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 18.8% lower than costs at University of Kentucky ($12,350 vs. $14,676)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kentucky than Clemson University (94% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 35.3% larger than aid received Clemson University ($14,114 vs. $10,430)

Kentucky vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 132 points higher than at Kentucky (1143)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Kentucky (25)
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Kentucky (3.59)
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than Clemson (43%)

Kentucky vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than University of Kentucky (80% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn on average $6,100 more per year than Kentucky graduates after ten years. ($57,100 vs. $51,000)
  • Clemson University students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Kentucky graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,750)
  • Clemson graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Kentucky graduates. ($222 vs. $235)
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 62%)

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