Maryland vs. Clemson

Deciding between University of Maryland College Park 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.

University of Maryland College Park
Clemson University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Maryland College Park, MD
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • Setting
  • Maryland Large Suburban
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Maryland 41,725
  • Clemson 29,077
  • Type
  • Maryland Public 4 Year
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Maryland #85
  • Clemson #132
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Maryland -
  • Clemson -
  • Status
  • Maryland Non-profit
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Maryland
  • Clemson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Maryland $11,809
  • Clemson $15,554
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Maryland $41,186
  • Clemson $40,866
  • Room & Board
  • Maryland $15,958
  • Clemson $13,284
  • Average Net Price
  • Maryland $16,581
  • Clemson $25,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Maryland $12,867
  • Clemson $11,389
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Maryland 55%
  • Clemson 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Maryland 60,056
  • Clemson 61,517
  • Admitted
  • Maryland 26,902
  • Clemson 23,586
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Maryland 44.8%
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Maryland 21.6%
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Maryland 1470
  • Clemson 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Maryland 33
  • Clemson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Maryland 3.84
  • Clemson 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Maryland A-
  • Clemson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Maryland Elite
  • Clemson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Maryland Low
  • Clemson High
  • ACT Range
  • Maryland 32/35
  • Clemson 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Maryland 1400/1530
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Maryland Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Clemson Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Maryland
  • Clemson May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Maryland 17:1
  • Clemson 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Maryland
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Maryland 82%
  • Clemson 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Maryland $68,300
  • Clemson $57,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Maryland 80%
  • Clemson 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Maryland $19,500
  • Clemson $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Maryland $201
  • Clemson $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Maryland 51%
  • Clemson 48%
  • % Women
  • Maryland 49%
  • Clemson 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Maryland High
  • Clemson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Maryland No
  • Clemson No
  • % White
  • Maryland 52%
  • Clemson 83%
  • % Asian
  • Maryland 16%
  • Clemson 2%
  • % Black
  • Maryland 13%
  • Clemson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Maryland 9%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % Native American
  • Maryland 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Maryland 0%
  • Clemson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Maryland 4%
  • Clemson 3%
  • % International
  • Maryland 4%
  • Clemson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Maryland 1%
  • Clemson 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Maryland 70%
  • Clemson 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Maryland 28%
  • Clemson 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland College Park in College Park, MD with Clemson University in Clemson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland College Park is larger than Clemson based on total student enrollment (41,725 students vs. 29,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland College Park is located in College Park, MD (Large Suburban setting); Clemson University is in Clemson, SC (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Maryland College Park is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Clemson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland College Park 17:1; Clemson University 16:1.

Maryland vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland 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 University of Maryland College Park than Clemson ($16,581 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 16.8% lower than at University of Maryland College Park ($13,284 vs. $15,958).
  • Clemson University is 31.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maryland (about $3,745 more per year; $15,554.00 vs. $11,809.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Maryland than at Clemson University (about $320 more per year; $41,186.00 vs. $40,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at University of Maryland College Park (75% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland College Park students is 13% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($12,867 vs. $11,389).

Maryland vs. Clemson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maryland 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 Maryland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland College Park (1470) is 140 points higher than at Clemson (1330).
  • Incoming Maryland students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Clemson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530; Clemson University 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 32/35; Clemson University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maryland - 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 Maryland students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Clemson (3.75).
  • Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.8%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Maryland vs. 20.7% at Clemson.

Maryland vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maryland 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).

  • University of Maryland College Park's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Clemson University's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Clemson graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,300 vs. $57,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland College Park graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Clemson graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Maryland graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clemson graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More Maryland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clemson students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 78%)

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.