Clayton State University vs. Fairmont State

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

Clayton State University Fairmont State
Location Morrow, GA Fairmont, WV
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 5,847 3,498
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #979
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $15,638
Room & Board $10,980 $10,022
Avg Net Price $9,792 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 94%

Admission

Clayton State University Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 1,926
Admitted 1,270 1,897
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 98.5%
Enrolled % 45.6% 37%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.36
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 18/23
SAT Range 890/1090 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 17, 2025

Academics

Clayton State University Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 27% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $227

Diversity

Clayton State University Fairmont State
% Men 31% 41%
% Women 69% 59%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 18% 86%
% Black 66% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Clayton State University Fairmont State
% In-State 93% 88%
% Out-of-State 4% 11%

Campus

Clayton State University Fairmont State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
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 Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 3,498 students)

Clayton State University vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

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

  • Fairmont State University is 48.2% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($6,022.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.8% higher at Fairmont State than Clayton State University ($15,638.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Fairmont State ($9,792 vs. $10,794)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 9.6% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($10,022 vs. $10,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than Fairmont State University (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clayton State University students is 30.3% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($8,529 vs. $6,547)

Clayton State University vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Fairmont State is higher than Clayton State University (33% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $4,200 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $37,600)
  • Fairmont State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Fairmont State graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($227 vs. $284)
  • More Fairmont State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 35%)

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