Clemson University vs UC Santa Barbara

Odds, test scores, cost, aid and graduation rates, side by side from each school's own Common Data Set. Add more schools

CUClemson University38%admitted · 2024-25

UC Santa Barbara38%admitted · 2025-26

Getting in

Acceptance rate38.3%38.2%

Early decision rateNo EDNo ED

SAT middle 50%1250–1400—

ACT middle 50%28–32—

Applicant reports on our site56673

Cost and aid

Tuition$14,038 in-state$14,202 in-state

Tuition, out-of-state$39,350$53,472

Food and housing—$23,974

Sticker price per year—$80,887

Average need-based grant$13,154$32,900

Average % of need met49%82.4%

Outcomes

First-year retention93.5%93.5%

6-year graduation rate86.6%84%

Undergraduates23,40123,091

Best value in each row is highlighted. Sticker price uses out-of-state tuition for public universities and leaves out books, travel and aid. "—" means the school left the item blank in its Common Data Set.

Clemson University or UC Santa Barbara?

Is Clemson University harder to get into than UC Santa Barbara?

They are about equally selective: Clemson University admitted 38.3% of first-year applicants (2024-25) and UC Santa Barbara admitted 38.2% (2025-26).

Does Clemson University or UC Santa Barbara have a higher graduation rate?

86.6% of Clemson University students graduate within six years, compared with 84% at UC Santa Barbara.