Penn State vs. Clemson

Deciding between Penn State 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.

Penn State Main Campus
Clemson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Clemson Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • Clemson 48%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • Clemson 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 29,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn 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 Clemson University than Penn State ($25,003 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 8.2% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,284 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 32.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clemson (about $5,090 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $15,554.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Penn State than at Clemson University (about $924 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at Penn State Main Campus (75% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 0.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($11,389 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is the same as at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn 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: Clemson May 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

Penn State vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Clemson University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Clemson University earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($222 vs. $277).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.