Clayton State University vs. Francis Marion University

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

Clayton State University Francis Marion University
Location Morrow, GA Florence, SC
Setting Large Suburban Small Suburban
Enrollment 5,847 4,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #942
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu fmarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University Francis Marion University
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $10,384
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $20,768
Room & Board $10,980 $8,230
Avg Net Price $9,792 $12,614
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $10,108
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

Clayton State University Francis Marion University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 3,523
Admitted 1,270 2,921
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 82.9%
Enrolled % 45.6% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.89
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 15/22
SAT Range 890/1090 890/1123
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 Francis Marion University
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%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University Francis Marion University
Graduation Rate 27% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $320

Diversity

Clayton State University Francis Marion University
% Men 31% 33%
% Women 69% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 18% 46%
% Black 66% 47%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Clayton State University Francis Marion University
% In-State 93% 95%
% Out-of-State 4% 4%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clayton State University is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 4,045 students)

Clayton State University vs. Francis Marion University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or Francis Marion University?

  • Francis Marion University is 155.5% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.5% higher at Francis Marion University than Clayton State University ($20,768.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Francis Marion University ($9,792 vs. $12,614)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 33.4% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($8,230 vs. $10,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than Francis Marion University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 18.5% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($10,108 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. Francis Marion University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.89 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Francis Marion University has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. Francis Marion University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or Francis Marion 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 Francis Marion University and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than Clayton State University (42% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $5,600 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $36,200)
  • Clayton State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($27,500 vs. $31,000)
  • Clayton State University graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($284 vs. $320)
  • More Francis Marion University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 35%)

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