Clemson University vs North Dakota State University-Main Campus (NDSU)
Clemson University, a public research university in South Carolina, and North Dakota State University-Main Campus, a public land-grant research university in North Dakota, offer distinct educational experiences. Clemson boasts a higher acceptance rate (63%) compared to North Dakota State's (88%), indicating a more selective admissions process. While both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, Clemson excels in engineering, agriculture, and life sciences, while North Dakota State is renowned for its programs in engineering, business, and education. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about the differences in student demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors that can help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Clemson University |
![]() North Dakota State University-Main Campus |
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Overview |
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Location | Clemson, South Carolina | Fargo, North Dakota |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Midsize |
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% | 76.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 49.2% | 95.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$80
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Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$35
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SAT range | 1220 - 1420 | 1096 - 1313 |
ACT range | 27 - 32 | 20 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 1.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 30.0% | 63.0% |
Total number of applicants | 47,007 | 8,143 |
Total number of admissions given out | 23,138 | 7,773 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,593 | 2,491 |
Yield rate | 19.9% | 32.0% |
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 | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$34,164
Out of state:
$57,156
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In state:
$23,879
Out of state:
$28,354
|
Average net price | $23,732 | $16,677 |
Tuition |
In state:
$14,118
Out of state:
$37,110
|
In state:
$8,951
Out of state:
$13,426
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,808
Meal plan:
$4,426
|
Room/dormitory:
$4,100
Meal plan:
$4,778
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
81.0%
Average amount $9,699 |
91.0%
Average amount $4,089 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
41.0%
Average amount $5,281 |
60.0%
Average amount $5,226 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $21,664 |
28.0%
Average amount $11,868 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
21,653
Men 48.8% Women 51.2% |
10,199
Men 49.8% Women 50.2% |
Graduate students |
5,688
Men 46.8% Women 53.2% |
2,262
Men 47.4% Women 52.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 48.4% | 64.0% |
International students | 4.8% | 5.5% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 7,800 | 5,563 |
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 | Minnesota North Dakota Wisconsin South Dakota California |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 85.5% | 64.9% |
Dropout rate | 2.3% | 10.7% |
Transferred out | 11.3% | 22.3% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Agricultural Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
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