Clayton State University
Morrow, Georgia · Public · 68.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 46/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Clayton State University is a public institution in Morrow, Georgia, in the southern Atlanta suburbs, enrolling approximately 4,348 students. Its ROI score of 46 places it in the Below Average Value tier - a complex picture given in-state tuition of $5,180. The average net price of $8,365 and four-year cost estimate of $33,460 are exceptionally low. However, the outcomes data reveals serious structural challenges: the completion rate is just 39.9%, meaning six in ten students do not finish their degree. The three-year repayment rate is 48.0% - meaning more than half of borrowers are not making standard payments on their loans three years after entering repayment. Six-year average earnings of $35,900 and median ten-year earnings of $49,179 are modest. Median debt of $25,706 is high relative to net price, suggesting many students borrow significantly more than their annual tuition. The earnings premium score of 84 is strong - graduates who complete do outperform baseline expectations - but aggregate outcomes are dragged down by incomplete attainment and repayment difficulties. Pell Grant recipients represent 52.2% of the student body, reflecting a predominantly Pell-eligible, first-generation, and working-adult population with limited financial safety nets.
How Clayton State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate39.9% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Clayton State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,180/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,532/yr |
| Average net price | $8,365/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $33,460 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,179 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,706 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $273 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,348 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $5,180/year ($16,532/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $8,365/year, or roughly $33,460 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,405/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $14,161/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,706, which works out to about $273 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,900) and comes to 0.72, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students with family incomes below $30,000 pay an average net price of $7,405 per year - roughly $29,600 over four years. However, the 39.9% completion rate and 48.0% repayment rate signal that low-income students face serious barriers to capturing that value. Proactive advising and support engagement are essential from day one.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001 - $75,000) face net prices of $7,032 - $9,755. The value is real if a student completes: nursing and CS graduates at this cost recover investment rapidly. The challenge is that program-level debt often far exceeds tuition, suggesting students are borrowing aggressively for living costs - a risk that middle-income families should address through cash contributions to reduce total debt.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($75,001 and above) pay $12,095 - $14,161.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Clayton State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $40,140 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $58,740 | D |
| Clinical Psychology | $42,032 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $96,160 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,110 | F |
| Biology | $57,400 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $50,131 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $67,899 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $33,735 | F |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $36,510 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (75 graduates) is Clayton State's clearest strength, earning a C+ grade. Year-one earnings of $82,714 and four-year earnings of $96,160 are strong. At $5,180 in-state tuition, nursing remains a good-value health credential.
Computer Science
Computer Science (23 graduates) earns a C grade with year-one earnings of $56,328 and four-year earnings of $94,876. Median debt of $31,000 and a ratio of 0.550 are elevated. The four-year earnings growth is substantial. CS graduates with access to Atlanta's growing tech market can capitalize significantly on this credential despite higher-than-expected debt.
Dental Support Services
Dental Support Services (31 graduates) earns a C+ grade with year-one earnings of $54,559 and four-year earnings of $63,402. Median debt of $25,000 and a ratio of 0.458 are reasonable. This specialty program feeds Atlanta's dental healthcare market and offers a clear, occupationally specific career entry with manageable debt relative to earnings.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business (90 graduates) earns a D grade with year-one earnings of $46,721 and four-year earnings of $58,740. The debt burden here suggests many students borrow for living expenses beyond tuition. The earnings trajectory is modest relative to debt load.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health and Medical Administrative Services (38 graduates) earns an F grade with year-one earnings of $35,248 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.388 - graduates owe nearly 1.4 years of income at entry. Median debt of $48,925 is more than nine times the annual in-state tuition, indicating extensive borrowing for non-tuition expenses.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 40.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 48.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 42.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 51.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Clayton State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 68.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 410-520 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 450-558 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-19 |
| Enrollment | 4,348 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 52.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,662 |
Clayton State admits 68.5% of applicants. SAT math scores range from 410 to 520, and SAT reading from 450 to 558; ACT composites fall between 15 and 19. The admissions profile reflects a substantially open-access model serving students across a wide preparation spectrum.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton State University (this school) | 46 | $8,365 | $49,179 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| Washburn University | 51 | $15,280 | $49,774 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | 46 | $14,459 | $45,744 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
Who Thrives Here
Clayton State may suit Georgia residents with a clear career goal in nursing, computer science, or dental support who can access the university's low in-state tuition and have strong personal and academic support structures to aid completion. The very low cost means that even modest career outcomes can justify the investment for students who complete - but the 39.9% completion rate demands an honest self-assessment about readiness and support systems before enrolling.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Clayton State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $8,365 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $49,179 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.2 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 39.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 48.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $25,706 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Clayton State University: Common Questions
Is Clayton State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Clayton State University scores 46/100 on our ROI scale. At $8,365 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $49,179 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.2 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Clayton State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $8,365 a year, or roughly $33,460 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Clayton State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,179 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,379 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Clayton State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.2 years for Clayton State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Clayton State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,706, against average earnings of $35,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Clayton State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 39.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.