Clayton State University
#5 Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,179 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,365 B+
- 51% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 68% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 36.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $36.0 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia.
Every $1 spent returns $36.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,170,563.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 21% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $36.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Clayton State University Matters
Clayton State University is a public university in Morrow, GA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 4,348
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Humanities
Why students choose Clayton State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 68% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 860–1078. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,365 a year after grants and scholarships — 51% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,179 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $25,706 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 46% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.06 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Clayton State University serves over 4,300 students and has an acceptance rate of 68%. This makes it accessible for many prospective students looking to further their education in a supportive environment. The university is particularly known for strong programs in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science.
Graduates from Clayton State earn a median salary of $49,179 ten years after enrolling. While the graduation rate stands at 38%, the data indicates that students from lower-income backgrounds can find pathways to success. However, specific mobility metrics are not available, making it harder to assess long-term outcomes for all students.
The net price for attending Clayton State is $8,365, which is relatively affordable compared to many institutions. Graduates face a median debt of $25,706, which is manageable for their earning potential. Students who thrive here often seek practical degrees in health and business fields, aiming for careers that directly impact their communities.
Rankings
- #5 Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia
- #5 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Georgia
- #9 Best Computer Science Colleges in Georgia
- #9 Best Data Science Colleges in Georgia
- #10 Best Psychology Colleges in Georgia
- #10 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Georgia
- #10 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Georgia
- #12 Best Online Nursing Programs in Georgia
Can I Get In?
How selective Clayton State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clayton State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Morrow, Georgia, Clayton State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 958. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- SAT Average
- 958
- SAT Range
- 860–1078
- ACT Range
- 15–19
- Full-Time Faculty
- 69%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,662
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.54
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
- Applicants
- 2,255
- Admitted
- 1,270
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clayton State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Clayton State University is $16,532, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,365. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,405 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,706 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,180
- Out-of-State
- $16,532
- Avg Net Price
- $8,365
- Median Debt
- $25,706
- Pell Grant Rate
- 52%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 38%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,405
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,032
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,755
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,161
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Clayton State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Clayton State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Clayton State University earn a median of $49,179, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,633
- 8 Years
- $45,852
- 10 Years
- $49,179
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.52x
- Earning > $25K
- 63%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (48)
- 12%
- 100% (48)
- 12%
- 100% (48)
- 12%
- 100% (48)
- 12%
How Clayton Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Clayton State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Clayton State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,365/year ($33,460 total). Graduates earn $49,179 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,204,023 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,170,563 (36.0× your investment). The median debt is $25,706, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $33,460
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,204,023
- Net Return
- $1,170,563
- ROI Multiple
- 36.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,365
- Median Debt
- $25,706
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Clayton State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Clayton State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.54%, well above the typical college. About 9.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.54%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 15.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $105,431
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,305,255
- Investment Income
- $-2,450
Top Programs
The fields Clayton State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 22% $81,265 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $48,112 early-career
- Psychology 12% $36,562 early-career
- Humanities 11% $42,086 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 9% $55,990 early-career
- Legal Studies 8% $43,569 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $38,577 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Clayton State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clayton State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Morrow, Georgia, Clayton State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 958. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clayton State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Clayton State University is $16,532, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,365. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,405 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,706 in federal student loans.
Is Clayton State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Clayton State University earn a median of $49,179, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Clayton State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Clayton State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.54%, well above the typical college. About 9.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Clayton State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Clayton State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Clayton State University.
- University of Michigan-FlintFlint, MI · Close peer42% grad $53,230 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of South Carolina-UpstateSpartanburg, SC · Close peer43% grad $48,587 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN · Close peer38% grad $44,947 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Indiana University-EastRichmond, IN · Close peer42% grad $47,156 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GA · Close peer42% grad $49,361 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Indiana University-SoutheastNew Albany, IN · Close peer36% grad $47,596 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Clayton State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Clayton State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note