Clayton State University vs. Georgia Southwestern

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

Clayton State University Georgia Southwestern
Location Morrow, GA Americus, GA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 5,847 3,070
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #908
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu gsw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University Georgia Southwestern
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $4,064
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $14,786
Room & Board $10,980 $8,978
Avg Net Price $9,792 $12,186
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $9,472
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Clayton State University Georgia Southwestern
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 1,939
Admitted 1,270 1,419
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 73.2%
Enrolled % 45.6% 34.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.17
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/22 19/25
SAT Range 890/1090 1010/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 17, 2025 Jul 21, 2025

Academics

Clayton State University Georgia Southwestern
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%)
  • Business (37%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (3%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University Georgia Southwestern
Graduation Rate 27% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $227

Diversity

Clayton State University Georgia Southwestern
% Men 31% 33%
% Women 69% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 18% 62%
% Black 66% 29%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Clayton State University Georgia Southwestern
% In-State 93% 95%
% Out-of-State 4% 4%

Campus

Clayton State University Georgia Southwestern
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 Georgia Southwestern based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 3,070 students)

Clayton State University vs. Georgia Southwestern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or Georgia Southwestern?

  • Clayton State University and Georgia Southwestern 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 Georgia Southwestern 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 Georgia Southwestern ($9,792 vs. $12,186)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia Southwestern State University are 22.3% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($8,978 vs. $10,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Georgia Southwestern State University than Clayton State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Georgia Southwestern State University students is 11.1% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($9,472 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. Georgia Southwestern Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Georgia Southwestern students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Georgia Southwestern has a higher acceptance rate (73.2%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. Georgia Southwestern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or Georgia Southwestern? 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 Georgia Southwestern and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at Georgia Southwestern is higher than Clayton State University (30% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Georgia Southwestern graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $38,100)
  • Georgia Southwestern State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Georgia Southwestern graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($227 vs. $284)
  • More Georgia Southwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 35%)

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