Clayton State University vs. South Carolina State University

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

Clayton State University South Carolina State University
Location Morrow, GA Orangeburg, SC
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 5,847 2,649
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #1011
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu scsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University South Carolina State University
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $9,528
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $20,218
Room & Board $10,980 $9,000
Avg Net Price $9,792 $17,435
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $15,873
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

Clayton State University South Carolina State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 6,833
Admitted 1,270 5,733
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 83.9%
Enrolled % 45.6% 15.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.17
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 15/19
SAT Range 890/1090 800/1050
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 Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Clayton State University South Carolina State University
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 (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University South Carolina State University
Graduation Rate 27% 35%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $31,000
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $33,205
Median Loan Payment $284 $343

Diversity

Clayton State University South Carolina State University
% Men 31% 44%
% Women 69% 56%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 18% 2%
% Black 66% 96%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Clayton State University South Carolina State University
% In-State 93% 77%
% Out-of-State 4% 23%

Campus

Clayton State University South Carolina State 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 South Carolina State University based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 2,649 students)

Clayton State University vs. South Carolina State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or South Carolina State University?

  • South Carolina State University is 134.4% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($9,528.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.7% higher at South Carolina State University than Clayton State University ($20,218.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than South Carolina State University ($9,792 vs. $17,435)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Carolina State University are 22% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($9,000 vs. $10,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than South Carolina State University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Carolina State University students is 86.1% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($15,873 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. South Carolina State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman South Carolina State University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • South Carolina State University has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. South Carolina State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or South Carolina 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 South Carolina State University and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at South Carolina State University is higher than Clayton State University (35% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $10,800 more per year than South Carolina State University graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $31,000)
  • Clayton State University students graduate with a $5,705 lower median federal student loan debt than South Carolina State University graduates. ($27,500 vs. $33,205)
  • Clayton State University graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than South Carolina State University graduates. ($284 vs. $343)
  • More Clayton State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Carolina State University students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 27%)

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