Clemson University vs. University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) 2024 (2024)

FAQs

Should I go to the University of South Carolina or Clemson? ›

Academics: While both schools offer a wide range of majors, Clemson is known for its strong engineering, business, and agriculture programs. USC, on the other hand, is well-regarded for its business, public health, and journalism programs.

Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then Clemson University is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.

As of the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, Clemson University's acceptance rate hovers around 43%.

It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,864, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 62%.

#1 Clemson University - Clemson, South Carolina. As a public land-grant research university, Clemson University serves over 26,000 students and offers 80+ undergraduate programs and 130+ graduate degree programs.

Set in a college town with a beautiful backdrop of lakeshore and mountains, Clemson University attracts students looking for a rigorous academic experience, world-class research opportunities, strong sense of community and vibrant school spirit.

Price - This is a HUGE factor. Without receiving any sort of financial aid or scholarship, USC is not very affordable for most students and families. USC's cost of attendance is upward of ~$80,000 per year, which is almost three times the cost of attendance for a UC school. USC has too many fees on top of tuition.

Including tuition, fees and living expenses, attending USC can cost in-state students more than $30,000 per year, and attending Clemson can cost more than $37,000 per year, according the universities' estimates. A year at a state technical college could cost around $5,000 or $6,000.

Clemson University places a strong emphasis on academic performance in high school when evaluating applicants. Factors like GPA, class rank, and the rigor of coursework are considered. Clemson will typically prioritize students with a GPA of 3.3 or above.

What is the most accepted major at Clemson? ›

The most popular majors at Clemson University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Health Professions and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Psychology; Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields; Computer and ...

South Carolina admissions is somewhat selective with an acceptance rate of 64%. Students that get into South Carolina have an average SAT score between 1180-1380 or an average ACT score of 27-32.

The acceptance rate at University of South Carolina is 64.1%. For every 100 applicants, 64 are admitted.

University of South Carolina Rankings

University of South Carolina is ranked #124 out of 439 National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

Applicants must have a 2.0 GPA (4.0 scale) or higher for admission. Applicants with a GPA less than 2.0 or with missing College Preparatory Course Prerequisite Requirements will be reviewed by the designated admissions committee for a determination on admission to the institution.

Including tuition, fees and living expenses, attending USC can cost in-state students more than $30,000 per year, and attending Clemson can cost more than $37,000 per year, according the universities' estimates. A year at a state technical college could cost around $5,000 or $6,000.

Clemson holds a 73–43–4 lead in the series, a 44–30–2 lead in the modern era (post-WWII), and a 14–8 lead in the 21st century. Clemson's 73 wins against South Carolina is more than any other program has, and Carolina's 43 wins against Clemson is third behind Georgia's 44 wins and Georgia Tech's 51 wins.

With thriving academic and research excellence and a lively, welcoming student experience, the University of South Carolina brings the opportunities of higher education to new generations.