Clayton State University vs. WKU

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

 Clayton State University WKU
Location Morrow, GA Bowling Green, KY
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,847 16,493
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #875
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clayton.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Clayton State University WKU
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $27,000
Room & Board $10,980 $11,072
Avg Net Price $9,792 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $8,529 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

 Clayton State University WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,255 7,505
Admitted 1,270 7,276
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 96.9%
Enrolled % 45.6% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 18/25
SAT Range 890/1090 980/1170
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 1, 2025

Academics

 Clayton State University WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

 Clayton State University WKU
Graduation Rate 27% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $284 $250

Diversity

 Clayton State University WKU
% Men 31% 37%
% Women 69% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 18% 76%
% Black 66% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 Clayton State University WKU
% In-State 93% 70%
% Out-of-State 4% 29%

Campus

 Clayton State University WKU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than Clayton State University based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 5,847 students)

Clayton State University vs. WKU Cost Comparison

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

  • Western Kentucky University is 173.4% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 82.6% higher at WKU than Clayton State University ($27,000.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than WKU ($9,792 vs. $12,625)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 0.8% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,980 vs. $11,072)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University as Western Kentucky University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 20.3% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($10,260 vs. $8,529)

Clayton State University vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Clayton State University (56.3%)

Clayton State University vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Clayton State University (50% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $4,700 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $37,100)
  • Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Clayton State University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,500)
  • WKU graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Clayton State University graduates. ($250 vs. $284)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clayton State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 35%)

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