Clemson University is the more selective of the two, admitting 42.4% of applicants versus 60.6% at Pennsylvania State University, University Park. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $18,851 per year at Clemson University versus $25,667 at Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Clemson University's yield rate is 18.5%, versus 15.0% at Pennsylvania State University, University Park.
| Metric | Clemson University | Pennsylvania State University, University Park |
|---|---|---|
| Overall acceptance rate | 42.4% | 60.6% |
| Early acceptance rate | 35.7% | 71.0% |
| SAT middle 50% | 1250–1400 | 1250–1410 |
| Avg unweighted GPA | 3.8 | 3.84 |
| Yield rate | 18.5% | 15.0% |
| Class size | 5,084 | 9,169 |
| Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income | $18,851 | $25,667 |
| Net price, over $110,000 income | $27,922 | $37,831 |
Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2025–26 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.
Yes. Clemson University admits 42.4% of applicants, compared with 60.6% at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, making it the harder school to get into, based on the most recent Common Data Set.
For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $18,851 per year at Clemson University and $25,667 at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, so Clemson University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).
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