Undergraduate admissions selectivity generally favors Clemson University as the more difficult institution to gain admission into compared to the University of South Carolina. Clemson has experienced a dramatic rise in applications, resulting in a lower overall acceptance rate, higher average high school grade point requirements, and increased competition for incoming freshman seats. Both premier in-state institutions evaluate applicants through rigorous holistic reviews, but Clemson's tightening admissions window makes it marginally harder to secure an acceptance letter.