How Do National Championship Foes Alabama and Clemson Really Compare?
There’s been a lot of talk about whether the Alabama Crimson Tide or the Clemson Tigers will walk away with the coveted National College Football Championship Trophy tonight in Tampa, Fla.
Most analysts compare defensive lines, secondaries, quarterbacks and ground games. But the Southern Education Desk decided to look at other facts about these two Southern universities.
When it comes to the size of the student body, Alabama is the biggest with an enrollment of 37,098. Clemson’s enrollment is 22,698.
It costs more to attend Clemson – whether you are a state resident or come from out state. In-state tuition at Clemson is $14,240, compared with $10,470 in-state tuition at the University of Alabama.
Class sizes overall are smaller at Clemson, with a student/faculty ratio of 18:1 compared with a 24:1 ratio at Alabama.
What really makes a difference at most schools is the amount of money in the bank. Alabama wins that category with an endowment of $658,672,567 compared with Clemson’s $648,610,563 endowment.
Football players are recruited as student-athletes, which means going to classes and getting a degree should weigh into the equation for success. The NCAA monitors academics for athletes. Colleges and universities must supply data every year to show that their student-athletes are maintaining their eligibility to compete while earning degrees.
Alabama graduates 80 percent of its football players within six years. Clemson graduates 84 percent of its football players within the same period. The national rate of graduation for all students seeking undergraduate degrees is 60 percent, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. So the two universities are not that different at all!
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump’s attorney general nominee
Allegations of sex trafficking and drug use had stirred controversy over Matt Gaetz's nomination as attorney general.
This year’s FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it’s ‘a piece of cake’
The FAFSA form is now open to students hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 academic year. Students can expect a much smoother process compared to the last cycle.
He was stuck in a hospital for 8 months. How states can fail people with disabilities
In Georgia and other states, the federal government oversees the treatment of people with mental illness and developmental disabilities, because the states have been unable to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the subsequent Olmstead ruling.
Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that
The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Are you a caregiver for an adult? How has it changed you?
Many who care for family members and loved ones at home say it can be very stressful but also rich in meaning. Share your story and insights.
