Clayton State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Morrow, Georgia. It enrolls 4,348 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes25
Value94
Affordability91
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 68.5%, Clayton State University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
68.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
860 – 1078
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 19
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Clayton State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
19.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Clayton State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,365 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,365
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
52%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,180
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$16,532
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,226
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,186
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,934
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,934
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,415
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,405
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,032
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,755
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,095
Over $110,000
$14,161
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,71225%percentile
$25,706Medianpercentile
$31,25175%percentile
$45,48490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,879
↓ $7,827
No Pell $12,500
↓ $13,206
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $11,706
Independent students $20,900
↓ $4,806
Female students $16,915
↓ $8,791
Male students $16,000
↓ $9,706
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($25,706), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at Clayton State University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Clayton State University earn a median of $49,179 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,179
Earning > $25K
73%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,000, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
27.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 68% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Clayton State University is home to 4,348 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,348
Part-Time
38%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 65.6%2,851
Hispanic 12.3%533
White 8.5%369
Asian 5.0%219
Other 3.8%164
International 1.3%56
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Clayton State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbMorrow, Georgia
Housing
Partly residential1,246 beds available
Adult Learners
31%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
What You Can Study
Clayton State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
43 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Clayton State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,199
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$20M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,077
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
187 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
68
36%
$88,525
Associate Professors
43
23%
$79,238
Assistant Professors
42
22%
$72,881
Instructors
5
3%
$65,188
Lecturers
28
15%
$62,614
No Rank
1
1%
$55,639
Pros & Cons of Clayton State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Clayton State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Clayton State University is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clayton State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Clayton State University.
Is Clayton State University hard to get into?
Admissions at Clayton State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 68.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Clayton State University?
Clayton State University has an acceptance rate of 68.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Clayton State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Clayton State University scored between 860 and 1078 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Clayton State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Clayton State University scored between 15 and 19 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Clayton State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Clayton State University is $8,365 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Clayton State University worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,179 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,365 per year. That's roughly 5.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Clayton State University known for?
Clayton State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Health Sciences, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Clayton State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Clayton State University are $49,179, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Clayton State University accredited?
Yes. Clayton State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Clayton State University?
Clayton State University enrolls 4,348 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Clayton State University?
Clayton State University graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Clayton State University a public or private college?
Clayton State University is a Public institution.
Where is Clayton State University located?
Clayton State University is located in Morrow, Georgia.
What programs does Clayton State University offer?
Clayton State University offers 43 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Health Sciences, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Clayton State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Clayton State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Clayton State University
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