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EIU Northern Illinois ISU Southern Illinois University VSU Indiana State University of West Georgia Columbus State Fort Valley State University Savannah State University SIUE Georgia State| Clayton State University | Western Illinois University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clayton State University | Western Illinois University | ||
| Location | Morrow, GA | Macomb, IL | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 5,847 | 7,643 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #988 | #579 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clayton.edu | wiu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clayton State University | Western Illinois University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,064 | $9,515 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $14,786 | $9,515 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,980 | $10,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $9,792 | $11,213 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,529 | $15,632 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 94% |
Admission |
Clayton State University | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,255 | 9,219 | ||
| Admitted | 1,270 | 6,914 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 56.3% | 75% | ||
| Enrolled % | 45.6% | 15.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.0 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/22 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 890/1090 | 880/1090 | ||
| 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 | Western Illinois University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clayton State University | Western Illinois University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 27% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,800 | $46,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 35% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,500 | $24,704 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $284 | $255 |
Diversity |
Clayton State University | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 18% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 66% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Clayton State University | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 4% | 10% | ||
Campus |
Clayton State University | Western Illinois University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Illinois University is larger than than Clayton State University based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 5,847 students)
Clayton State University vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clayton State University or Western Illinois University?
- Western Illinois University is 134.1% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($9,515.00 vs. $4,064.00)
- Out of state tuition is 55.4% higher at Clayton State University than Western Illinois University ($14,786.00 vs. $9,515.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than Western Illinois University ($9,792 vs. $11,213)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 4.6% lower than costs at Clayton State University ($10,500 vs. $10,980)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than Western Illinois University (99% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 83.3% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($15,632 vs. $8,529)
Clayton State University vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clayton State University or Western Illinois University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Western Illinois University or Clayton State University .
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
- Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)
Clayton State University vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clayton State University or Western Illinois 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 Western Illinois University and Clayton State University.
- The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Clayton State University (53% vs. 27%)
- Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $4,200 more per year than Clayton State University graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $41,800)
- Western Illinois University students graduate with a $2,796 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($24,704 vs. $27,500)
- Western Illinois University graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($255 vs. $284)
- More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 35%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/