Clayton State University

Morrow, GA · SoutheastQuad's selectivityAccessible

Known forLow average costTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

7 in 10 applicants admitted

Clayton State admits about 7 in 10 applicants (68%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 66% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

68%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

1,870

Admitted

1,280

Yield

40%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

860–1078

8001600

ACT middle 50%

15–19

1236

Applications −14% since fall 2014 · admit rate 42% → 68%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 4,348 undergrads, where 52% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

4.3K

undergrads · larger than 75% of colleges

Diversity index

0.54

Pell Grant

52%

above the median

First generation

38%

above the median

Large suburbNCAA D-II · Peach Belt ConferenceStudy abroad

Steady · index 0.53 → 0.54 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Community Psychology (14% of graduates). 20 students for every faculty member, more than at 90% of colleges. 69% of faculty are full-time. Spends $7,880 a year on instruction per student.

20 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 90% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $13,355 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $10.9K less than the national median. The 92% who received grants paid $8,192 on average; the other 8% paid the full sticker price of $21,369 in-state / $32,091 out-of-state.

39%

$13.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $10.9K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $21,369 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 39% of full price

Federal loans

38%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −29% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $49,179 ten years after enrolling, more than at 36% of colleges; 45% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.1 years of that salary.

45%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$49.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25.7K

≈ $273/month for 10 years

Retention

71%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 33% → 40% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 14% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 29%, because grants grew faster. Applications fell 14% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 42% to 68%.

Cost
Falling
−29% after inflation
Applications
Shrinking
−14%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 42% → 68%
Diversity
Steady
index 0.53 → 0.54

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Dalton State College

4.6K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso SoutheastAlso public

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Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

75% admit · SAT 990 · 2.7K undergrads

Similar scoresAlso SoutheastAlso public

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University of Guam

2.5K undergrads

Also public

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Elizabeth City State University

64% admit · SAT 1000 · 2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso Southeast

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Clayton State University (2026)
Clayton State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 139311 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything