Clayton State University vs. Fort Valley State University

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

Clayton State University Fort Valley State University
Location Morrow, GA Fort Valley, GA
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 5,842 2,763
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1001 #1014
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu fvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University Fort Valley State University
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $4,064
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $14,786
Room & Board $11,104 $8,372
Avg Net Price $9,397 $11,457
Avg Grant Aid $8,505 $9,432
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 95%

Admission

Clayton State University Fort Valley State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,782 5,080
Admitted 1,258 3,190
Acceptance Rate 70.6% 62.8%
Enrolled % 40.1% 23.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 2.87
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/20 16/19
SAT Range 868/1070 795/920
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 17, 2026 Jun 15, 2026

Academics

Clayton State University Fort Valley State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University Fort Valley State University
Graduation Rate 27% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $32,000
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 19%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $36,500
Median Loan Payment $284 $377

Diversity

Clayton State University Fort Valley State University
% Men 3% 2%
% Women 6% 6%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 18% 2%
% Black 66% 94%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Clayton State University Fort Valley State University
% In-State 96% 94%
% Out-of-State 3% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clayton State University is larger than than Fort Valley State University based on total student enrollment (5,842 students vs. 2,763 students)

Clayton State University vs. Fort Valley State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or Fort Valley State University?

  • Clayton State University and Fort Valley State University cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($4,064.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is the same at Clayton State University as Fort Valley State University ($14,786.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Fort Valley State University ($9,397 vs. $11,457)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fort Valley State University are 32.6% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($8,372 vs. $11,104)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fort Valley State University than Clayton State University (95% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fort Valley State University students is 10.9% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($9,432 vs. $8,505)

Clayton State University vs. Fort Valley State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Clayton State University students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.0) than students at Fort Valley State University (2.87)
  • Clayton State University has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Fort Valley State University (62.8%)

Clayton State University vs. Fort Valley State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or Fort Valley 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 Fort Valley State University and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at Fort Valley State University is higher than Clayton State University (33% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Fort Valley State University graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $32,000)
  • Clayton State University students graduate with a $9,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fort Valley State University graduates. ($27,500 vs. $36,500)
  • Clayton State University graduates are paying $93 less per month on federal student loans than Fort Valley State University graduates. ($284 vs. $377)
  • More Clayton State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fort Valley State University students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 19%)

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