Clayton State University vs. CSU

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

Clayton State University CSU
Location Morrow, GA Charleston, SC
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,847 3,418
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #918
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu csuniv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University CSU
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $29,490
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $29,490
Room & Board $10,980 $11,250
Avg Net Price $9,792 $17,536
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $26,417
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

Clayton State University CSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 4,967
Admitted 1,270 4,309
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 86.8%
Enrolled % 45.6% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.24
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 18/23
SAT Range 890/1090 940/1170
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 CSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University CSU
Graduation Rate 27% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $39,800
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $279

Diversity

Clayton State University CSU
% Men 31% 36%
% Women 69% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 18% 61%
% Black 66% 26%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Clayton State University CSU
% In-State 93% 76%
% Out-of-State 4% 23%

Campus

Clayton State University CSU
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 CSU based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 3,418 students)

Clayton State University vs. CSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Charleston Southern University is 625.6% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($29,490.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99.4% higher at CSU than Clayton State University ($29,490.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than CSU ($9,792 vs. $17,536)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 2.5% lower than costs at Charleston Southern University ($10,980 vs. $11,250)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University as Charleston Southern University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 209.7% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($26,417 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. CSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or CSU? 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 CSU and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Clayton State University (38% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $2,000 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $39,800)
  • Charleston Southern University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • CSU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 35%)

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