Rutgers vs. Clemson

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Clemson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Clemson Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 36%
  • Clemson 48%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 64%
  • Clemson 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 29,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Rutgers vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Clemson ($20,522 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 15.5% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($13,284 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 15.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clemson (about $2,375 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $15,554.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at Clemson than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $3,425 more per year; $40,866.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (75% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 47% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($16,742 vs. $11,389).

Rutgers vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 80 points higher than at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming Rutgers 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: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - 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 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

Rutgers vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Clemson graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $57,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clemson University graduates have a $715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Clemson graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($222 vs. $229).
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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.