Clayton State University vs. Columbus State

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

Clayton State University Columbus State
Location Morrow, GA Columbus, GA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 5,847 7,479
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #995
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu columbusstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University Columbus State
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $15,425
Room & Board $10,980 $12,080
Avg Net Price $9,792 $12,902
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $9,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

Clayton State University Columbus State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 3,870
Admitted 1,270 3,398
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 87.8%
Enrolled % 45.6% 30.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.07
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 16/23
SAT Range 890/1090 900/1130
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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Clayton State University Columbus State
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%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University Columbus State
Graduation Rate 27% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $268

Diversity

Clayton State University Columbus State
% Men 31% 40%
% Women 69% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 18% 51%
% Black 66% 37%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Clayton State University Columbus State
% In-State 93% 92%
% Out-of-State 4% 5%

Campus

Clayton State University Columbus State
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

  • Columbus State University is larger than than Clayton State University based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 5,847 students)

Clayton State University vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

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

  • Columbus State University is 7.6% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($4,371.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at Columbus State than Clayton State University ($15,425.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Columbus State ($9,792 vs. $12,902)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 10% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($10,980 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than Columbus State University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus State University students is 7.2% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($9,147 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. Columbus State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbus State students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.07) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. Columbus State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbus State is higher than Clayton State University (31% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $4,400 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $37,400)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($268 vs. $284)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 35%)

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