UMBC vs. Clemson

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County 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 Maryland Baltimore County
Clemson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Clemson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Clemson 46%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Clemson 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clemson University is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (29,077 students vs. 13,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Clemson University is in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Clemson University 16:1.

UMBC vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC 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 University of Maryland Baltimore County than Clemson ($18,770 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 12.3% lower than at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($13,284 vs. $15,146).
  • Clemson University is 17.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $2,298 more per year; $15,554.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.7% higher at Clemson than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $9,591 more per year; $40,866.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Clemson University (88% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 11.6% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($11,389 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC 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 UMBC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is the same as at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Clemson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Clemson (3.75).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

UMBC vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC 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 Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Clemson graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $57,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $303 lower median loan debt than Clemson graduates ($21,197 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clemson graduates ($219 vs. $222).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 67%)

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.