Clemson vs. Purdue

Deciding between Clemson University and Purdue University Main Campus? 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.

Clemson University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clemson #132
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clemson -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clemson
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clemson $11,389
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clemson 75%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clemson 1330
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clemson 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clemson A-
  • Purdue B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clemson Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clemson High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clemson 28/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clemson Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Purdue Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Clemson May 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clemson 80%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clemson 78%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clemson $222
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clemson 48%
  • Purdue 61%
  • % Women
  • Clemson 52%
  • Purdue 39%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clemson Very Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Clemson No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Clemson 83%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Clemson 2%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Clemson 7%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clemson 3%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Clemson 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clemson 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clemson 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Clemson 1%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clemson 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clemson 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clemson 43%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clemson University in Clemson, SC with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 29,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clemson University is located in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clemson University 16:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Clemson vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus than Clemson ($13,722 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 3.5% lower than at Clemson University ($12,820 vs. $13,284).
  • Clemson University is 55.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $5,562 more per year; $15,554.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.9% higher at Clemson than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $12,072 more per year; $40,866.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at Purdue University Main Campus (75% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($11,389 vs. $11,294).

Clemson vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clemson or Purdue? 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 Purdue and Clemson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 10 points higher than at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming Clemson students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 1240/1410; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 28/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clemson - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Purdue - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at Clemson vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Clemson vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clemson and Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Clemson graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $57,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus and Clemson graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Purdue University Main Campus and Clemson graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 78%)

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.