Clayton State University vs. Bowie State University

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

Clayton State University Bowie State University
Location Morrow, GA Bowie, MD
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,842 6,408
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1001 #943
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu bowiestate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University Bowie State University
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $5,993
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $16,883
Room & Board $11,104 $13,272
Avg Net Price $9,397 $16,117
Avg Grant Aid $8,505 $8,730
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 62%

Admission

Clayton State University Bowie State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,782 6,245
Admitted 1,258 5,217
Acceptance Rate 70.6% 83.5%
Enrolled % 40.1% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.12
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20
SAT Range 868/1070 796/1083
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 May 15, 2025

Academics

Clayton State University Bowie State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University Bowie State University
Graduation Rate 27% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $50,500
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 29%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $24,391
Median Loan Payment $284 $252

Diversity

Clayton State University Bowie State University
% Men 3% 5%
% Women 6% 12%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 18% 3%
% Black 66% 86%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Clayton State University Bowie State University
% In-State 96% 78%
% Out-of-State 3% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowie State University is larger than than Clayton State University based on total student enrollment (6,408 students vs. 5,842 students)

Clayton State University vs. Bowie State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Bowie State University is 47.5% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($5,993.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.2% higher at Bowie State University than Clayton State University ($16,883.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Bowie State University ($9,397 vs. $16,117)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 19.5% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($11,104 vs. $13,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than Bowie State University (89% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 2.6% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($8,730 vs. $8,505)

Clayton State University vs. Bowie State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Bowie State University students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Bowie State University has a higher acceptance rate (83.5%) than Clayton State University (70.6%)

Clayton State University vs. Bowie State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or Bowie 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 Bowie State University and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than Clayton State University (41% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $8,700 more per year than Clayton State University graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $41,800)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $3,109 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($24,391 vs. $27,500)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($252 vs. $284)
  • More Clayton State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 29%)

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