Ohio State vs. Clemson

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus 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.

Ohio State University Main Campus
Clemson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Clemson Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 42%
  • Clemson 48%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 58%
  • Clemson 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 29,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Clemson University is in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Clemson University 16:1.

Ohio State vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State 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 Ohio State University Main Campus than Clemson ($19,783 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 9.9% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($13,284 vs. $14,738).
  • Clemson University is 17.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $2,310 more per year; $15,554.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at Clemson than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $844 more per year; $40,866.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (75% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 15.5% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($13,151 vs. $11,389).

Ohio State vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ohio State 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 Ohio State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 70 points higher than at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming Ohio State 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: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - 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: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Clemson (3.75).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

Ohio State vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State 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).

  • The graduation rate at Ohio State is the same as at Clemson University (80% vs. 80%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University and Ohio State graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Clemson University and Ohio State 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 Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 63%)

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.