Davidson vs. Clemson

Davidson College and Clemson University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Davidson College
Clemson University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 38.3%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: Clemson. Average net price is $25,003 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs Clemson 80%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs Clemson $57,100 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College Clemson University
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Davidson13.4%
Clemson38.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Davidson higher
Davidson1400-1530
Clemson1240-1410
Average net price
Clemson $2,717 less
Davidson$27,720
Clemson$25,003
In-state tuition
Clemson $48,856 less
Davidson$64,410
Clemson$15,554
Out-of-state tuition
Clemson $23,544 less
Davidson$64,410
Clemson$40,866
Graduation rate
Davidson +12 pts
Davidson92%
Clemson80%
Median earnings (10 years)
Davidson +$6,400
Davidson$63,500
Clemson$57,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • Clemson 30
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • Clemson High
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • Clemson 1240-1410
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Clemson 28-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Clemson Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Clemson May 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • Clemson 75%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • Clemson $222
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • Clemson #132

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Clemson University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (29,077 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Clemson University is in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Clemson University 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 22.3% lower than at Davidson College ($13,284 vs. $17,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.6% higher at Davidson than at Clemson University (about $23,544 more per year; $64,410 vs. $40,866).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at Davidson College (75% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 354.4% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($51,755 vs. $11,389).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Davidson than at Clemson (32 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and Clemson.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Davidson average a 3.81 high school GPA, 0.06 higher than at Clemson (3.75).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Clemson graduates ($17,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clemson graduates ($175 vs. $222).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clemson students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 78%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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