Clemson vs. UT Austin

Deciding between Clemson University and The University of Texas at Austin? 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
The University of Texas at Austin

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • UT Austin Austin, TX
  • Setting
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • UT Austin Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clemson 29,077
  • UT Austin 53,864
  • Type
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • UT Austin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clemson #132
  • UT Austin #105
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clemson -
  • UT Austin -
  • Status
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • UT Austin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clemson
  • UT Austin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clemson $15,554
  • UT Austin $11,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clemson $40,866
  • UT Austin $44,908
  • Room & Board
  • Clemson $13,284
  • UT Austin $14,828
  • Average Net Price
  • Clemson $25,003
  • UT Austin $17,942
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clemson $11,389
  • UT Austin $13,681
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clemson 75%
  • UT Austin 42%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clemson 61,517
  • UT Austin 72,885
  • Admitted
  • Clemson 23,586
  • UT Austin 19,417
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • UT Austin 26.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • UT Austin 47.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clemson 1330
  • UT Austin 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clemson 30
  • UT Austin 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clemson 3.75
  • UT Austin 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clemson A-
  • UT Austin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clemson Very High
  • UT Austin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clemson High
  • UT Austin High
  • ACT Range
  • Clemson 28/32
  • UT Austin 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • UT Austin 1250/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clemson Test optional
  • UT Austin Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Clemson May 1, 2027
  • UT Austin Dec 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clemson 16:1
  • UT Austin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • UT Austin
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clemson 80%
  • UT Austin 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clemson $57,100
  • UT Austin $68,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clemson 78%
  • UT Austin 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clemson $21,500
  • UT Austin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clemson $222
  • UT Austin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clemson 46%
  • UT Austin 44%
  • % Women
  • Clemson 54%
  • UT Austin 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clemson Very Low
  • UT Austin Very High
  • HBCU
  • Clemson No
  • UT Austin No
  • % White
  • Clemson 83%
  • UT Austin 44%
  • % Asian
  • Clemson 2%
  • UT Austin 20%
  • % Black
  • Clemson 7%
  • UT Austin 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clemson 3%
  • UT Austin 22%
  • % Native American
  • Clemson 0%
  • UT Austin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clemson 0%
  • UT Austin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clemson 3%
  • UT Austin 4%
  • % International
  • Clemson 1%
  • UT Austin 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clemson 1%
  • UT Austin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clemson 56%
  • UT Austin 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clemson 43%
  • UT Austin 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clemson University in Clemson, SC with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 29,077 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clemson University is located in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
  • Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clemson University 16:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

Clemson vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or UT Austin? 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 The University of Texas at Austin than Clemson ($17,942 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 10.4% lower than at The University of Texas at Austin ($13,284 vs. $14,828).
  • Clemson University is 33.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $3,866 more per year; $15,554.00 vs. $11,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at UT Austin than at Clemson University (about $4,042 more per year; $44,908.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at The University of Texas at Austin (75% vs. 42%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students is 20.1% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($13,681 vs. $11,389).

Clemson vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clemson or UT Austin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UT Austin and Clemson.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at The University of Texas at Austin (1380) is 50 points higher than at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming Clemson students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 30) as students at UT Austin (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Clemson University 1240/1410; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Clemson University 28/32; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clemson - Test optional; UT Austin - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman UT Austin students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Clemson (3.75).
  • Clemson has a higher acceptance rate (38.3%) than UT Austin (26.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at Clemson vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

Clemson vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clemson and UT Austin? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • The University of Texas at Austin's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Clemson University's (80%).
  • Graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than Clemson graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,600 vs. $57,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($222 vs. $230).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)

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.