UCI vs. Clemson

Should I go to University of California Irvine or Clemson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UCI or Clemson is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

UofSC Georgia UCLA UCSD NC State UCSB Auburn Virginia Tech Florida UC Davis UC Riverside Tennessee
University of California Irvine vs. Clemson University comparison
University of California Irvine Clemson University College 3 College 4
University of California Irvine Clemson University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

UCI Clemson
Location Irvine, CA Clemson, SC
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 35,937 28,466
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #91 #133
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uci.edu clemson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UCI Clemson
Tuition (In State) $11,564 $14,118
Tuition (Out of State) $41,636 $38,062
Room & Board $17,699 $12,350
Avg Net Price $14,033 $24,577
Avg Grant Aid $17,411 $10,430
% Receiving Grant Aid 80% 79%

Admission

UCI Clemson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 119,191 52,819
Admitted 25,212 22,704
Acceptance Rate 21.2% 43%
Enrolled % 22.5% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 26/33 28/32
SAT Range 1230/1430 1220/1410
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023 May 1, 2024

Academics

UCI Clemson
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Biology (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

UCI Clemson
Graduation Rate 85% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $61,800 $57,100
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $175 $222

Diversity

UCI Clemson
% Men 45% 48%
% Women 55% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 15% 83%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 25% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 16% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

UCI Clemson
% In-State 81% 52%
% Out-of-State 7% 46%

Campus

UCI Clemson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of California Irvine is larger than than Clemson based on total student enrollment (35,937 students vs. 28,466 students)

UCI vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or Clemson?

  • Clemson University is 22.1% more expensive to attend than UCI for in-state tuition ($14,118.00 vs. $11,564.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.4% higher at UCI than Clemson University ($41,636.00 vs. $38,062.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Irvine than Clemson ($14,033 vs. $24,577)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 43.3% lower than costs at University of California Irvine ($12,350 vs. $17,699)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Irvine than Clemson University (80% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 66.9% larger than aid received Clemson University ($17,411 vs. $10,430)

UCI vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI or Clemson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clemson or UCI .

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 100 points higher than at UCI (1175)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UCI (27)
  • Accepted freshman UCI students have at the same average high school GPA (3.75) as students at Clemson (3.75)
  • Clemson has a higher acceptance rate (43%) than UCI (21.2%)

UCI vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UCI or Clemson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Clemson and UCI.

  • The graduation rate at UCI is higher than Clemson University (85% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from University of California Irvine earn on average $4,700 more per year than Clemson graduates after ten years. ($61,800 vs. $57,100)
  • University of California Irvine students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clemson graduates. ($17,000 vs. $21,500)
  • UCI graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Clemson graduates. ($175 vs. $222)
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/