Clayton State University vs. VSU

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

Clayton State University VSU
Location Morrow, GA Valdosta, GA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,847 10,209
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #982
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu valdosta.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clayton State University VSU
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $15,426
Room & Board $10,980 $8,922
Avg Net Price $9,792 $12,836
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $9,875
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

Clayton State University VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 4,975
Admitted 1,270 4,451
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 89.5%
Enrolled % 45.6% 25.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.23
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 17/21
SAT Range 890/1090 950/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 17, 2025 Jun 15, 2025

Academics

Clayton State University VSU
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 (21%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Clayton State University VSU
Graduation Rate 27% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $40,300
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 41%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $258

Diversity

Clayton State University VSU
% Men 31% 31%
% Women 69% 69%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 18% 51%
% Black 66% 36%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Clayton State University VSU
% In-State 93% 69%
% Out-of-State 4% 30%

Campus

Clayton State University VSU
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

  • Valdosta State University is larger than than Clayton State University based on total student enrollment (10,209 students vs. 5,847 students)

Clayton State University vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or VSU?

  • Valdosta State University is 7.6% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($4,371.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at VSU than Clayton State University ($15,426.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than VSU ($9,792 vs. $12,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valdosta State University are 23.1% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($8,922 vs. $10,980)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University as Valdosta State University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valdosta State University students is 15.8% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($9,875 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. VSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman VSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clayton State University or VSU? 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 VSU and Clayton State University.

  • The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Clayton State University (43% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $1,500 more per year than VSU graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $40,300)
  • Valdosta State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,500)
  • VSU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($258 vs. $284)
  • More VSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 35%)

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