Clayton State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Clayton State University is a public research university in Morrow, Georgia, serving roughly 4,348 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 68.45% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,179 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $5,180
- 2024 Average Net Price: $8,365 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 68.45% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,348 62.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 39.86%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
- First-Generation Students: 37.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 3.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 68.8%
- Average SAT Score: 958
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,748
- Applicants (IPEDS): 1,782
- Room & Board: $12,226 annual estimate
Clayton State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Clayton State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Clayton State University?
Clayton State University is located in Morrow, GA (ZIP 30260-0285).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Clayton State University public or private?
Clayton State University is a Public institution.
How much does Clayton State University cost?
Published tuition: $5,180 in-state, $16,532 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $8,365.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $7,405 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $7,032 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,755 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,095 |
| $110,001+ | $14,161 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $20,720.
How hard is it to get into Clayton State University?
Admission rate: 68.45%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 958.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Clayton State University?
Total enrollment: 4,348 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,748 students.
Graduate enrollment: 612 students.
About 62% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Clayton State University?
150%-time completion rate: 39.86%.
First-year retention: 70.9%.
What do graduates of Clayton State University earn?
Median earnings: $41,633 six years after entry; $49,179 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,706.
52.17% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Clayton State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (116 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (114 completions)
- Community Psychology (96 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (84 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (56 completions)
- Organizational Leadership (51 completions)
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal (47 completions)
- Business/Commerce, General (38 completions)
- Information Technology (34 completions)
- Computer Science (30 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Clayton State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 68.45%; completion rate 39.86%; median earnings $49,179 at 10 years; net price $8,365. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$5,180
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Clayton State University was $5,180.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$8,365
2024 Value
In 2024 Clayton State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $8,365.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$33,460 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$8,365 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$20,720 4-Year In-State Tuition
$66,128 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$12,226 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,250 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$18,656 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$74,624 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Clayton State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
52.17% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
38.04% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Clayton State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Clayton State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,153 | $14,915 | $12,015 |
| 2014 | $5,246 | $15,251 | $11,519 |
| 2015 | $5,340 | $15,596 | $11,397 |
| 2016 | $5,340 | $15,596 | $10,969 |
| 2017 | $5,419 | $15,880 | $11,071 |
| 2018 | $5,419 | $15,880 | $11,160 |
| 2019 | $5,538 | $16,260 | $10,918 |
| 2020 | $5,568 | $16,290 | $11,663 |
| 2021 | $5,568 | $16,290 | $10,635 |
| 2022 | $5,068 | $15,790 | $10,514 |
| 2023 | $5,068 | $15,790 | $10,145 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
68.45% Acceptance Rate
1,782 Total Applicants
1,258 Students Admitted
504 First-Time Students Enrolled
40.06% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 958
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Clayton State University reported total enrollment of about 4,348 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 30% male and 70% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (65.6%), Hispanic or Latino (12.3%), and White (8.5%). About 52.17% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 37.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
62.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Clayton State University in 2024 is 4,348 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 6,748 students. Graduate enrollment is about 612 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
70.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Black or African American at 65.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
18.02% 100% Completion Time
39.86% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 18.02% of students graduating from Clayton State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 22% male / 78% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 38% male / 62% female
- Community Psychology: 14% male / 86% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Black or African American.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Clayton State University.
Return on Investment
$25,706 Median Student Debt
$49,179 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
52.27% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1369.78% Return on Investment
5.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Clayton State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 42 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 116 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 114 completions
3. Community Psychology: 96 completions
4. Health Professions and Related Programs: 84 completions
5. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 56 completions
6. Organizational Leadership: 51 completions
7. Legal Assistant/Paralegal: 47 completions
8. Business/Commerce, General: 38 completions
9. Information Technology: 34 completions
Most popular programs at Clayton State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Clayton State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Clayton State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 68.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,662
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,880
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Clayton State University is a public institution located in Morrow, GA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, Community Psychology. Enrollment is approximately 4,348 students. Student body composition includes Black or African American (65.6%), Hispanic or Latino (12.3%), White (8.5%). The admission rate is 68.45%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 958. The 150%-time completion rate is 39.86%. Approximately 52.17% of students receive Pell Grants. About 37.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Location
Morrow, GA 30260-0285
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 39.86% graduation rate at Clayton State University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clayton State University located?
Clayton State University is located in Morrow, GA.
What is Clayton State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Clayton State University is 68.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,782 applicants and 1,258 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Clayton State University cost?
Reported tuition is $5,180 and average net price is $8,365 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,226 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Clayton State University?
Clayton State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,748 students, Black or African American (65.6%), Hispanic or Latino (12.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Clayton State University?
About 37.9% of students at Clayton State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Clayton State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Clayton State University reports midpoint SAT about 958.
What do graduates of Clayton State University earn?
Median earnings are $41,633 six years after entry and $49,179 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Clayton State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 39.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Clayton State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,706.
Is Clayton State University public or private?
Clayton State University is a public institution located in Morrow, GA.
Is Clayton State University an HBCU?
No. Clayton State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Clayton State University a tribal college?
No. Clayton State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Georgia college costs
- Georgia colleges by ROI
- Morrow, Georgia city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Georgia
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.