Clayton State University vs. USC Beaufort

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

Clayton State University USC Beaufort
Location Morrow, GA Bluffton, SC
Setting Large Suburban Distant Rural
Enrollment 5,847 2,124
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #977
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu uscb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University USC Beaufort
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $10,344
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $21,390
Room & Board $10,980 $8,722
Avg Net Price $9,792 $16,113
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $8,452
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

Clayton State University USC Beaufort
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 2,479
Admitted 1,270 1,984
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 80%
Enrolled % 45.6% 24%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.82
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 17/22
SAT Range 890/1090 940/1110
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 USC Beaufort
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Business (37%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University USC Beaufort
Graduation Rate 27% 21%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $24,474
Median Loan Payment $284 $253

Diversity

Clayton State University USC Beaufort
% Men 31% 32%
% Women 69% 68%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 18% 57%
% Black 66% 22%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

Clayton State University USC Beaufort
% In-State 93% 79%
% Out-of-State 4% 18%

Campus

Clayton State University USC Beaufort
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 USC Beaufort based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 2,124 students)

Clayton State University vs. USC Beaufort Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or USC Beaufort?

  • University of South Carolina Beaufort is 154.5% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($10,344.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.7% higher at USC Beaufort than Clayton State University ($21,390.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than USC Beaufort ($9,792 vs. $16,113)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Beaufort are 25.9% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($8,722 vs. $10,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than University of South Carolina Beaufort (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clayton State University students is 0.9% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Beaufort ($8,529 vs. $8,452)

Clayton State University vs. USC Beaufort Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman USC Beaufort students have a 0.82 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • USC Beaufort has a higher acceptance rate (80%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. USC Beaufort Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or USC Beaufort? 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 USC Beaufort and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at Clayton State University is higher than University of South Carolina Beaufort (27% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $5,100 more per year than USC Beaufort graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $36,700)
  • University of South Carolina Beaufort students graduate with a $3,026 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($24,474 vs. $27,500)
  • USC Beaufort graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($253 vs. $284)
  • More USC Beaufort graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 35%)

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