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Georgia NC State Tennessee Florida State CofC Alabama Virginia Tech Florida Ohio State Penn State Furman UNC Chapel Hill| Auburn University | Clemson University | University of South Carolina Columbia | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Auburn | Clemson | UofSC | |
| Location | Auburn University, AL | Clemson, SC | Columbia, SC | |
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | Midsize City | |
| Enrollment | 33,015 | 28,747 | 36,579 | |
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | |
| National Ranking | #300 | #130 | #210 | |
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | Non-profit | |
| Website | auburn.edu | clemson.edu | sc.edu | |
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Auburn | Clemson | UofSC | |
| Tuition (In State) | $10,704 | $14,038 | $12,288 | |
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,112 | $37,982 | $34,534 | |
| Room & Board | $15,396 | $12,872 | $12,558 | |
| Avg Net Price | $24,524 | $24,408 | $26,068 | |
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,644 | $10,599 | $6,762 | |
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 75% | 74% | 91% |
Admission |
Auburn | Clemson | UofSC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 48,178 | 60,122 | 46,682 | |
| Admitted | 24,314 | 22,879 | 28,706 | |
| Acceptance Rate | 50.5% | 38.1% | 61.5% | |
| Enrolled % | 24.4% | 19.6% | 25.5% | |
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | 3.75 | 3.69 | |
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | B+ | |
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | Very High | |
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | Low | |
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 28/32 | 26/32 | |
| SAT Range | 1240/1380 | 1230/1390 | 1180/1380 | |
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 | May 1, 2026 | Dec 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Auburn | Clemson | UofSC | |
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 21:1 | 16:1 | 18:1 | |
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Outcomes |
Auburn | Clemson | UofSC | |
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 80% | 70% | |
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,100 | $57,100 | $51,700 | |
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 78% | 69% | |
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $21,500 | $23,250 | |
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $222 | $240 |
Diversity |
Auburn | Clemson | UofSC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 10% | 8% | |
| % Women | 10% | 11% | 14% | |
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | Low | |
| HBCU | No | No | No | |
| % White | 84% | 83% | 77% | |
| % Black | 7% | 7% | 10% | |
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | 4% | |
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | 0% | |
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% | |
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 3% | 4% | |
| % International | 1% | 1% | 1% | |
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Auburn | Clemson | UofSC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 51% | 54% | |
| % Out-of-State | 46% | 48% | 45% | |
Campus |
Auburn | Clemson | UofSC | |
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | No | |
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | Yes | |
| Daycare Facility | No | No | Yes | |
| Learn More | Details | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Auburn University is larger than than Clemson based on total student enrollment (33,015 students vs. 28,747 students)
Auburn vs. Clemson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Auburn or Clemson?
- Clemson University is 31.1% more expensive to attend than Auburn for in-state tuition ($14,038.00 vs. $10,704.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.3% higher at Clemson than Auburn University ($37,982.00 vs. $32,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clemson University than Auburn ($24,408 vs. $24,524)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 19.6% lower than costs at Auburn University ($12,872 vs. $15,396)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Auburn University than Clemson University (75% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Auburn University students is 9.9% larger than aid received Clemson University ($11,644 vs. $10,599)
Auburn vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Auburn or Clemson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clemson or Auburn .
- The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 57 points higher than at Auburn (1218)
- Incoming Clemson students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Auburn (27)
- Accepted freshman Auburn students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Clemson (3.75)
- Auburn has a higher acceptance rate (50.5%) than Clemson (38.1%)
Auburn vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Auburn 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 Auburn.
- The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than Auburn University (80% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Clemson University earn on average $3,000 more per year than Auburn graduates after ten years. ($57,100 vs. $54,100)
- Clemson University and Auburn graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($21,500 vs. $21,500)
- Clemson University and Auburn graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($222 vs. $222)
- More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Auburn 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/