Location
- University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Columbia, SC
- Clemson University
- Clemson, SC
University of South Carolina-Columbia vs Clemson University
Columbia, SC · Clemson, SC · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair SC:SC
PUBLIC-PAIR · SAME-STATE · ACCEPT-GAP · NET-PAR · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PUBLIC-PAIR Public pair
- SAME-STATE Same state · SC
- ACCEPT-GAP Admission gap
- NET-PAR Net near-par
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-PAR Debt near-par
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · wide · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both grew, one campus expanded much faster
ENROLL-RACE · wide · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both University of South Carolina-Columbia and Clemson University across 2013–2023, but one fitted annual pace pulls far ahead of the other. Treat them as size peers on different slopes, not interchangeable large campuses.
- Clemson University: enrollment grew +35.6% over 2013–2023; fitted +624 students/yr fitted, r² 0.99.
- University of South Carolina-Columbia: enrollment grew +17.2% over 2013–2023; fitted +360 students/yr fitted, r² 0.89.
- University of South Carolina-Columbia: acceptance-rate path 2013–2023 stays non-directional here (r² 0.01).
- Clemson University: acceptance-rate path 2013–2023 stays non-directional here (r² 0.27).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Clemson University
- 23,300
Acceptance Rate
- Clemson University
- 38.3%
In-State Tuition
- Clemson University
- $15,554
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Clemson University
- $58,311
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Clemson University
- $71,513
Out-of-State Tuition
- Clemson University
- $40,866
150%-Time Completion
- Clemson University
- 87.2%
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Clemson University
- 83.9%
SAT Average
- Clemson University
- 1,353
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair · 1 tied metrics omitted. Teal = better side.
| Metric | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC | Clemson University Clemson, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Columbia, SC | Clemson, SC |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 29,820 | 23,300 |
| Acceptance Rate | 60.2% | 38.3% |
| In-State Tuition | $12,688 | $15,554 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $50,621 | $58,311 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $62,177 | $71,513 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $35,972 | $40,866 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 78.3% | 87.2% |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 75.9% | 83.9% |
| SAT Average | 1,297 | 1,353 |
Largest gaps: University of South Carolina-Columbia vs Clemson University
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Clemson University leads on acceptance rate (38.3% vs 60.2% at University of South Carolina-Columbia)
- IN-STATE-TUITION University of South Carolina-Columbia leads on in-state tuition ($12,688 vs $15,554 at Clemson University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Clemson University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($58,311 vs $50,621 at University of South Carolina-Columbia)
University of South Carolina-Columbia profile · Clemson University profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between University of South Carolina-Columbia and Clemson University?▼
Clemson University leads on acceptance rate at 38.3% versus 60.2% at University of South Carolina-Columbia. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between University of South Carolina-Columbia and Clemson University?▼
University of South Carolina-Columbia leads on in-state tuition at $12,688 versus $15,554 at Clemson University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between University of South Carolina-Columbia and Clemson University?▼
Clemson University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $58,311 versus $50,621 at University of South Carolina-Columbia. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025