Clayton State University vs. GSU

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

Clayton State University GSU
Location Morrow, GA University Park, IL
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 5,847 4,427
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu govst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University GSU
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $7,512
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $15,024
Room & Board $10,980 $11,000
Avg Net Price $9,792 $9,833
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $11,987
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Clayton State University GSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 1,865
Admitted 1,270 1,072
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 57.5%
Enrolled % 45.6% 29.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 4.0
Typical High School Grades B A/A+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 890/1090 830/1060
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 Apr 1, 2025

Academics

Clayton State University GSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University GSU
Graduation Rate 27% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $17,250
Median Loan Payment $284 $178

Diversity

Clayton State University GSU
% Men 31% 36%
% Women 69% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 18% 36%
% Black 66% 38%
% Hispanic 3% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 9%

Students

Clayton State University GSU
% In-State 93% 95%
% Out-of-State 4% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clayton State University is larger than than GSU based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 4,427 students)

Clayton State University vs. GSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Governors State University is 84.8% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($7,512.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at GSU than Clayton State University ($15,024.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than GSU ($9,792 vs. $9,833)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 0.2% lower than costs at Governors State University ($10,980 vs. $11,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University than Clayton State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 40.5% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($11,987 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. GSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 1 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • GSU has a higher acceptance rate (57.5%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $800 more per year than Clayton State University graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $41,800)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $10,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($17,250 vs. $27,500)
  • GSU graduates are paying $106 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($178 vs. $284)
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 35%)

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