Columbus State vs Clayton State

Columbus State University and Clayton State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Georgia, offer unique educational experiences tailored to diverse student aspirations. Columbus State, nestled in the vibrant city of Columbus, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students into its academic fold. Clayton State, situated in the charming city of Morrow, stands out with its smaller class sizes, fostering a more personalized learning environment. While Columbus State's student body reflects a more diverse ethnic makeup, Clayton State's student population leans slightly more female. Both universities offer a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors such as Business, Education, and Nursing featuring prominently at both institutions. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including graduation rates, tuition fees, and additional factors that may influence your choice of university.
Clayton  State University logo

Clayton State University

Columbus State University logo

Columbus State University

Overview

Location Morrow, Georgia Columbus, Georgia
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 65.0% 61.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 62.6% 78.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 870 - 1130
ACT range N/A 18 - 24
Students submitting SAT score 10.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0%
Total number of applicants 1,843 5,275
Total number of admissions given out 1,153 4,142
Admitted students who chose to enroll 673 1,205
Yield rate 58.4% 29.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $20,827

Out of state: $31,549
In state: $23,563

Out of state: $34,617
Average net price $10,088 $13,571
Tuition
In state: $4,064

Out of state: $14,786
In state: $4,371

Out of state: $15,425
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,724

Meal plan: $3,988
Room/dormitory: $6,228

Meal plan: $4,400
Available payment plans

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

86.0%
Average amount $7,579
94.0%
Average amount $7,234
Students receiving federal student loan 53.0%
Average amount $5,246
50.0%
Average amount $4,926
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $5,049
10.0%
Average amount $7,458

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,145
Men 29.4% Women 70.6%
6,403
Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students 672
Men 26.9% Women 73.1%
1,495
Men 32.6% Women 67.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 3.5% 5.6%
International students 1.4% 1.7%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 1,246 1,467
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Georgia Florida New York South Carolina Ohio Georgia Alabama Florida Texas Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Psychology
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 35.5% 42.7%
Dropout rate 30.9% 20.9%
Transferred out 29.1% 32.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,460
  • Year 2: $68,394
  • Year 3: $71,349
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,851
  • Year 2: $53,894
  • Year 3: $58,608
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,337
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $55,755
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,822
  • Year 2: $52,607
  • Year 3: $54,250
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,042
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $50,957
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,264
  • Year 2: $40,492
  • Year 3: $45,334
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,128
  • Year 2: $39,585
  • Year 3: $44,091
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,047
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $42,156
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,155
  • Year 2: $41,937
  • Year 3: $42,152
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,451
  • Year 2: $37,688
  • Year 3: $41,796
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,649
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $76,343
Educational Administration and Supervision (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $67,553
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,327
  • Year 2: $70,009
  • Year 3: $66,828
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,668
  • Year 2: $54,852
  • Year 3: $65,564
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,920
  • Year 2: $56,169
  • Year 3: $61,330
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,251
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $60,599
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,949
  • Year 2: $51,106
  • Year 3: $58,076
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,041
  • Year 3: $51,075
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,483
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $50,572
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,256
  • Year 2: $46,478
  • Year 3: $50,084

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