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VSU Minnesota State University-Mankato University of West Georgia Columbus State Fort Valley State University Savannah State University Georgia State KU Albany State University KSU Winona State University Georgia Gwinnett College| Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Location | Morrow, GA | Marshall, MN | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 5,847 | 6,930 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #988 | #948 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clayton.edu | smsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,064 | $8,840 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $14,786 | $8,840 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,980 | $9,258 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $9,792 | $15,004 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,529 | $7,389 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 94% |
Admission |
Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,255 | 1,558 | ||
| Admitted | 1,270 | 1,427 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 56.3% | 91.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 45.6% | 22.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.0 | 3.21 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/22 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 890/1090 | 935/1102 | ||
| 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 | Aug 18, 2025 |
Academics |
Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 27% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,800 | $41,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 35% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,500 | $21,678 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $284 | $224 |
Diversity |
Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 18% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 66% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 4% | 20% | ||
Campus |
Clayton State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than Clayton State University based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 5,847 students)
Clayton State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or Southwest Minnesota State University?
- Southwest Minnesota State University is 117.5% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $4,064.00)
- Out of state tuition is 67.3% higher at Clayton State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,786.00 vs. $8,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($9,792 vs. $15,004)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 18.6% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($9,258 vs. $10,980)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than Southwest Minnesota State University (99% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clayton State University students is 15.4% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,529 vs. $7,389)
Clayton State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clayton State University or Southwest Minnesota State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southwest Minnesota State University or Clayton State University .
- Accepted freshman Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
- Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)
Clayton State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clayton State University or Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State University and Clayton State University.
- The graduation rate at Southwest Minnesota State University is higher than Clayton State University (39% vs. 27%)
- Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $600 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $41,200)
- Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $5,822 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($21,678 vs. $27,500)
- Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($224 vs. $284)
- More Southwest Minnesota State 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/