Clayton State University vs. Black Hills State University

Should I go to Clayton State University or Black Hills State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clayton State University or Black Hills State University 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. Black Hills State University comparison
Clayton State University Black Hills State University College 3 College 4
Clayton  State University Black Hills State University
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Overview

Clayton State University Black Hills State University
Location Morrow, GA Spearfish, SD
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 5,847 3,425
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #1006
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu bhsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University Black Hills State University
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $7,700
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $10,800
Room & Board $10,980 $7,528
Avg Net Price $9,792 $16,782
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $4,986
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Clayton State University Black Hills State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 1,579
Admitted 1,270 1,526
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 96.6%
Enrolled % 45.6% 31.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.22
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 18/24
SAT Range 890/1090 970/1085
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 Black Hills State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University Black Hills State University
Graduation Rate 27% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $38,800
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $25,478
Median Loan Payment $284 $263

Diversity

Clayton State University Black Hills State University
% Men 31% 37%
% Women 69% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 18% 83%
% Black 66% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Clayton State University Black Hills State University
% In-State 93% 57%
% Out-of-State 4% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clayton State University is larger than than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 3,425 students)

Clayton State University vs. Black Hills State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or Black Hills State University?

  • Black Hills State University is 89.5% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($7,700.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.9% higher at Clayton State University than Black Hills State University ($14,786.00 vs. $10,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Black Hills State University ($9,792 vs. $16,782)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black Hills State University are 45.9% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($7,528 vs. $10,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Black Hills State University than Clayton State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clayton State University students is 71.1% larger than aid received Black Hills State University ($8,529 vs. $4,986)

Clayton State University vs. Black Hills State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Black Hills State University students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. Black Hills State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or Black Hills State University? 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 Black Hills State University and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at Black Hills State University is higher than Clayton State University (28% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $3,000 more per year than Black Hills State University graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $38,800)
  • Black Hills State University students graduate with a $2,022 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($25,478 vs. $27,500)
  • Black Hills State University graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($263 vs. $284)
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 35%)

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