IU vs. Clemson

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Clemson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Clemson Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Clemson 48%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Clemson 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 29,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Clemson University is in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Clemson University 16:1.

IU vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Clemson ($17,270 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 5% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($13,284 vs. $13,984).
  • Clemson University is 28.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $3,410 more per year; $15,554.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at IU than at Clemson University (about $1,025 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at Indiana University Bloomington (75% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 8.6% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($11,389 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clemson University (1330) is 40 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming IU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Clemson (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Clemson - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

IU vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $900 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($222 vs. $232).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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.