Key differences on Getting in
- 1
U. South Carolina-Columbia's yield is 5 pts higher than Clemson's
Yield rate - 2
Clemson's SAT midpoint is 45 points higher than U. South Carolina-Columbia's
SAT midpoint - 3
Clemson admits 42% vs. 57% at U. South Carolina-Columbia
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- ClemsonVery selective
- U. South Carolina-ColumbiaSelectivefrom South CarolinaVery selectivefrom other states
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1100–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 22–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- ClemsonTest-optional
- U. South Carolina-ColumbiaTest-optional
How they read a record
Clemson
GPA, the high school record, and a college-prep program are required; class rank is considered.
U. South Carolina-Columbia
GPA is very important; , class rank, and tests are all important. 48% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher.
What they look at
| Factor | Clemson | U. South Carolina-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Required | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Considered |
| Class rank | Considered | Important |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Considered | Considered |
| Essay | Considered | Considered |
| Legacy status | Considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:Clemson University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent release;University of South Carolina-Columbia (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why