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UT Arlington VSU KSU Mississippi State UL Lafayette University of West Georgia Columbus State Fort Valley State University Savannah State University GS Georgia State Ole Miss| Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | ||
| Location | Morrow, GA | Hattiesburg, MS | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,847 | 13,526 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #988 | #874 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clayton.edu | usm.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,064 | $9,340 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $14,786 | $11,340 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,980 | $11,338 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $9,792 | $14,427 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,529 | $9,296 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 91% |
Admission |
Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,255 | 9,051 | ||
| Admitted | 1,270 | 8,946 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 56.3% | 98.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 45.6% | 18.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.0 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/22 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 890/1090 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 17, 2025 |
Academics |
Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | ||
| Graduation Rate | 27% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,800 | $41,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 35% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,500 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $284 | $258 |
Diversity |
Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 35% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 65% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 18% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 66% | 30% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | ||
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| % In-State | 93% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 4% | 27% | ||
Campus |
Clayton State University | University of Southern Mississippi | ||
| 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
- University of Southern Mississippi is larger than than Clayton State University based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 5,847 students)
Clayton State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or University of Southern Mississippi?
- University of Southern Mississippi is 129.8% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $4,064.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.4% higher at Clayton State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($14,786.00 vs. $11,340.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($9,792 vs. $14,427)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 3.3% lower than costs at University of Southern Mississippi ($10,980 vs. $11,338)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than University of Southern Mississippi (99% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 9% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($9,296 vs. $8,529)
Clayton State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clayton State University or University of Southern Mississippi? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Southern Mississippi or Clayton State University .
- Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
- University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)
Clayton State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clayton State University or University of Southern Mississippi? 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 University of Southern Mississippi and Clayton State University.
- The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Clayton State University (47% vs. 27%)
- Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $100 more per year than University of Southern Mississippi graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $41,700)
- University of Southern Mississippi students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,500)
- University of Southern Mississippi graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($258 vs. $284)
- More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 35%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/