Clemson University vs University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass)

Clemson University and University of Massachusetts-Amherst, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Clemson, nestled in the vibrant city of Clemson, South Carolina, boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating its selectivity. UMass-Amherst, located in the charming town of Amherst, Massachusetts, offers a more accessible admissions process. While both universities excel in various academic disciplines, Clemson is renowned for its engineering and agricultural programs, while UMass-Amherst shines in the fields of social sciences and humanities. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and popular majors, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Clemson University logo

Clemson University

University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Overview

Location Clemson, South Carolina Amherst, Massachusetts
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
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% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 49.2% 65.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $80
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $85
SAT range 1220 - 1420 1250 - 1460
ACT range 27 - 32 28 - 33
Students submitting SAT score 40.0% 26.0%
Students submitting ACT score 30.0% 5.0%
Total number of applicants 47,007 42,540
Total number of admissions given out 23,138 27,877
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,593 4,872
Yield rate 19.9% 17.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required 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: $32,434

Out of state: $52,959
Average net price $23,732 $17,291
Tuition
In state: $14,118

Out of state: $37,110
In state: $15,791

Out of state: $36,316
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,808

Meal plan: $4,426
Room/dormitory: $7,611

Meal plan: $5,984
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

81.0%
Average amount $9,699
86.0%
Average amount $10,662
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $5,281
39.0%
Average amount $5,123
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $21,664
7.0%
Average amount $15,924

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 21,653
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
24,231
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
Graduate students 5,688
Men 46.8% Women 53.2%
7,814
Men 47.9% Women 52.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 48.4% N/A
International students 4.8% 11.1%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 7,800 13,582
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 New York New Jersey Connecticut California New Hampshire

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.5% 83.7%
Dropout rate 2.3% 5.1%
Transferred out 11.3% 10.5%
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,236
  • Year 2: $99,741
  • Year 3: $118,959
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,497
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $105,578
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,216
  • Year 2: $78,232
  • Year 3: $95,030
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,683
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $94,055
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,391
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $79,970
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,906
  • Year 2: $67,202
  • Year 3: $79,007
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,222
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,636
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,607
  • Year 2: $68,647
  • Year 3: $74,913
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,719
  • Year 2: $65,594
  • Year 3: $74,578
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,571
  • Year 2: $63,646
  • Year 3: $73,746

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