Clemson University vs Purdue University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Net Price

Clemson University is the more selective of the two, admitting 38.3% of applicants versus 49.8% at Purdue University. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $18,851 per year at Clemson University versus $12,890 at Purdue University. Admitted students post SAT middle-50% ranges of 1250–1410 at Clemson University and 1210–1470 at Purdue University.

Clemson University vs Purdue University: admissions and cost statistics from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard
MetricClemson UniversityPurdue University
Overall acceptance rate38.3%49.8%
Early acceptance rate35.7%54.0%
SAT middle 50%1250–14101210–1470
Avg unweighted GPA3.83.76
Yield rate20.0%29.0%
Class size4,88010,628
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income$18,851$12,890
Net price, over $110,000 income$27,922$24,567

Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.

Frequently asked questions

Is Clemson University harder to get into than Purdue University?

Yes. Clemson University admits 38.3% of applicants, compared with 49.8% at Purdue University, making it the harder school to get into, based on the most recent Common Data Set.

Which is cheaper for a middle-income family, Clemson University or Purdue University?

For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $18,851 per year at Clemson University and $12,890 at Purdue University, so Purdue University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

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