Clayton State University vs. Lenoir-Rhyne University

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

Clayton State University Lenoir-Rhyne University
Location Morrow, GA Hickory, NC
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,847 2,354
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #988
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu lr.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University Lenoir-Rhyne University
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $43,000
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $43,000
Room & Board $10,980 $12,900
Avg Net Price $9,792 $21,843
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $35,641
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Clayton State University Lenoir-Rhyne University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 5,452
Admitted 1,270 4,519
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 82.9%
Enrolled % 45.6% 8.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 890/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 17, 2025

Academics

Clayton State University Lenoir-Rhyne University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University Lenoir-Rhyne University
Graduation Rate 27% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $279

Diversity

Clayton State University Lenoir-Rhyne University
% Men 31% 37%
% Women 69% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 18% 69%
% Black 66% 15%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Clayton State University Lenoir-Rhyne University
% In-State 93% 69%
% Out-of-State 4% 28%

Campus

Clayton State University Lenoir-Rhyne University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
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 Lenoir-Rhyne University based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 2,354 students)

Clayton State University vs. Lenoir-Rhyne University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or Lenoir-Rhyne University?

  • Lenoir Rhyne University is 958.1% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($43,000.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 190.8% higher at Lenoir-Rhyne University than Clayton State University ($43,000.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Lenoir-Rhyne University ($9,792 vs. $21,843)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 17.5% lower than costs at Lenoir Rhyne University ($10,980 vs. $12,900)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lenoir Rhyne University than Clayton State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lenoir Rhyne University students is 317.9% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($35,641 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. Lenoir-Rhyne University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Lenoir-Rhyne University students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Lenoir-Rhyne University has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. Lenoir-Rhyne University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or Lenoir-Rhyne 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 Lenoir-Rhyne University and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at Lenoir-Rhyne University is higher than Clayton State University (47% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Lenoir Rhyne University earn on average $200 more per year than Clayton State University graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $41,800)
  • Lenoir Rhyne University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Lenoir-Rhyne University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
  • More Lenoir-Rhyne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 35%)

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