Clayton State University vs. CU

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

 Clayton State University CU
Location Morrow, GA Lebanon, TN
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 5,847 2,588
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #988
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu cumberland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Clayton State University CU
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $25,200
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $25,200
Room & Board $10,980 $8,990
Avg Net Price $9,792 $18,528
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $22,145
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

 Clayton State University CU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 2,137
Admitted 1,270 1,415
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 66.2%
Enrolled % 45.6% 44.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 890/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 17, 2025

Academics

 Clayton State University CU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

Outcomes

 Clayton State University CU
Graduation Rate 27% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $39,900
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $21,729
Median Loan Payment $284 $224

Diversity

 Clayton State University CU
% Men 31% 42%
% Women 69% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 18% 63%
% Black 66% 12%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 16%

Students

 Clayton State University CU
% In-State 93% 88%
% Out-of-State 4% 8%

Campus

 Clayton State University CU
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

  • Clayton State University is larger than than CU based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 2,588 students)

Clayton State University vs. CU Cost Comparison

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

  • Cumberland University is 520.1% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($25,200.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 70.4% higher at CU than Clayton State University ($25,200.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than CU ($9,792 vs. $18,528)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 22.1% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($8,990 vs. $10,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cumberland University than Clayton State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 159.6% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($22,145 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • CU has a higher acceptance rate (66.2%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at CU is higher than Clayton State University (34% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $1,900 more per year than CU graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $39,900)
  • Cumberland University students graduate with a $5,771 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($21,729 vs. $27,500)
  • CU graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($224 vs. $284)
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 35%)

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