Clemson University vs The University of Alabama (UA)

Clemson University and The University of Alabama, both renowned for their academic excellence and vibrant college life, offer distinct experiences to prospective students. Clemson, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate compared to Alabama. With a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, Clemson attracts students seeking a strong foundation in these disciplines. In contrast, Alabama, located in the heart of Tuscaloosa, offers a more diverse range of undergraduate programs, including strong liberal arts and business offerings. Its larger student body creates a lively and energetic campus atmosphere. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about the unique strengths and characteristics of each university, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Clemson University logo

Clemson University

The University of Alabama logo

The University of Alabama

Overview

Location Clemson, South Carolina Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 94.0% 89.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 49.2% 78.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $80
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1220 - 1420 1070 - 1370
ACT range 27 - 32 21 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 40.0% 17.0%
Students submitting ACT score 30.0% 63.0%
Total number of applicants 47,007 42,421
Total number of admissions given out 23,138 33,472
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,593 7,593
Yield rate 19.9% 22.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $34,164

Out of state: $57,156
In state: $31,024

Out of state: $50,494
Average net price $23,732 $21,263
Tuition
In state: $14,118

Out of state: $37,110
In state: $10,780

Out of state: $30,250
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,808

Meal plan: $4,426
Room/dormitory: $5,900

Meal plan: $4,234
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

81.0%
Average amount $9,699
76.0%
Average amount $16,363
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $5,281
37.0%
Average amount $5,221
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $21,664
9.0%
Average amount $23,617

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 21,653
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
31,685
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
Graduate students 5,688
Men 46.8% Women 53.2%
6,631
Men 36.9% Women 63.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 48.4% 62.2%
International students 4.8% 3.0%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 7,800 9,385
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from South Carolina North Carolina Georgia New Jersey New York Alabama Georgia Illinois Texas Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Agriculture
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.5% 72.2%
Dropout rate 2.3% 7.7%
Transferred out 11.3% 18.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,776
  • Year 2: $90,762
  • Year 3: $98,373
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,762
  • Year 2: $69,079
  • Year 3: $82,921
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,898
  • Year 2: $74,262
  • Year 3: $80,104
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,368
  • Year 2: $74,721
  • Year 3: $78,362
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,182
  • Year 2: $68,592
  • Year 3: $76,236
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,048
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $76,070
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,632
  • Year 2: $67,995
  • Year 3: $74,017
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,398
  • Year 2: $66,673
  • Year 3: $73,905
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,136
  • Year 2: $66,206
  • Year 3: $73,720
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,228
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $73,643
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,741
  • Year 2: $119,061
  • Year 3: $121,674
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,175
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $101,082
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,913
  • Year 2: $80,004
  • Year 3: $96,574
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,715
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: $89,742
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,858
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $83,044
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,725
  • Year 2: $75,832
  • Year 3: $82,831
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,975
  • Year 2: $75,921
  • Year 3: $82,382
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,535
  • Year 2: $90,412
  • Year 3: $81,427
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,760
  • Year 2: $65,281
  • Year 3: $76,647
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,913
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $76,479

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