Clayton State University vs. Bethel

Should I go to Clayton State University or Bethel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clayton State University or Bethel is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Clayton State University vs. Bethel University comparison
Clayton State University Bethel University College 3 College 4
Clayton State University
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Overview

 Clayton State University Bethel
Location Morrow, GA McKenzie, TN
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 5,847 4,686
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #1002
Religious Affiliation - Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Clayton State University Bethel
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $16,222
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $16,222
Room & Board $10,980 $13,446
Avg Net Price $9,792 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $13,396
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

 Clayton State University Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 2,489
Admitted 1,270 2,210
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 88.8%
Enrolled % 45.6% 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 16/22
SAT Range 890/1090 928/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 17, 2025

Academics

 Clayton State University Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 Clayton State University Bethel
Graduation Rate 27% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $284 $292

Diversity

 Clayton State University Bethel
% Men 31% 46%
% Women 69% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 18% 46%
% Black 66% 40%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

 Clayton State University Bethel
% In-State 93% 80%
% Out-of-State 4% 19%

Campus

 Clayton State University Bethel
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Clayton State University is larger than than Bethel based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 4,686 students)

Clayton State University vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or Bethel?

  • Bethel University is 299.2% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($16,222.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.7% higher at Bethel than Clayton State University ($16,222.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Bethel ($9,792 vs. $13,858)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 22.5% lower than costs at Bethel University ($10,980 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than Bethel University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 57.1% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($13,396 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. Bethel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clayton State University or Bethel? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bethel or Clayton State University .

  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Bethel has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or Bethel? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bethel and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at Bethel is higher than Clayton State University (32% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $900 more per year than Clayton State University graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $41,800)
  • Clayton State University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($27,500 vs. $28,250)
  • Clayton State University graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($284 vs. $292)
  • More Clayton State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/