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Public · 4-year

Clayton State University

Morrow, Georgia

42
D
DR Rating
DegreeReturn Rating — Weak value

A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.

Strong return
+$31,693 over 10 years

Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.

Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.

5.7 yrs
Break-even
+74%
10-year ROI
$52,452
Median earnings as of 2024
68% of Clayton State University students earn more than a typical U.S. high-school graduate (about $28,000/yr) ten years after starting — measured from IRS tax records, not surveys.

The numbers behind the verdict

$8,365
Average net price / yr as of 2024
$52,452
Median earnings (5 yr) as of 2024
$37,153
Median earnings (1 yr) as of 2024
$25,706
Median debt at graduation as of 2024
40%
Graduation rate as of 2024
68%
Earn more than a HS grad as of 2024
48%
Repaying their loans (3 yr) as of 2024
71%
Retention rate as of 2024

Lifetime ROI: the long view

Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.

$31,693
After 10 years
$106,213
After 20 years
$180,733
After 30 years
$255,253
After 40 years

Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.

Equity & access

Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.

By gender
Women
$47,536
Men
$53,954

12% gap between the two groups

By family-income background
From lower-income families
$44,634
From higher-income families
$57,670

23% gap between the two groups

By student status (FAFSA)
Dependent students
$46,745
Independent students
$51,712

10% gap between the two groups

38%
First-generation students
38%
Take federal student loans
91%
Born in the U.S.
Who studies here
White 9%Hispanic 12%Asian 5%Black 66%Other 9%

Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.

Net price by family income

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.

Family incomeAverage net price / yr
Family income $0–$30k$7,405
$30k–$48k$7,032
$48k–$75k$9,755
$75k–$110k$12,095
$110k+$14,161

How Clayton State University compares

This college against the Georgia and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.

Graduate earnings over time

Median earnings of Clayton State University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.

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Best-paying majors at Clayton State University

Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.

MajorCredentialEarnings (5 yr)Median debt10-yr ROIVerdict
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAssociate's$93,169$26,500+1,726%Strong return
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralAssociate's$74,126$34,000+900%Strong return
Dental Support Services and Allied ProfessionsAssociate's$60,588$18,375+565%Strong return
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCertificate$69,693$41,000+410%Strong return
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesCertificate$70,117$51,193+382%Strong return
MarketingAssociate's$56,312$22,733+352%Strong return
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsAssociate's$51,292+276%Strong return
Accounting and Related ServicesAssociate's$54,723$28,259+260%Strong return
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate's$54,637$27,787+259%Strong return
HistoryAssociate's$50,838+249%Strong return
Legal Support ServicesAssociate's$53,124$28,842+198%Strong return
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesAssociate's$53,206$31,000+193%Strong return
Business/Commerce, GeneralAssociate's$52,452$29,000+173%Strong return
Biology, GeneralAssociate's$51,651$25,500+156%Strong return
Legal Support ServicesCertificate$48,395$19,000+122%Strong return
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's$50,621$28,500+107%Strong return
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAssociate's$49,418$24,250+73%Strong return
English Language and Literature, GeneralAssociate's$46,084$22,000-56%Poor return
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyAssociate's$45,378$27,000-86%Poor return
Communication and Media StudiesAssociate's$39,837$29,000-289%Poor return
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessAssociate's$41,771-293%Poor return

Calculate your own ROI

Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.

ROI at Clayton State University

Or pick your to set cost

Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.

10-yr net gain
Break-even
10-yr ROI

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Admissions & profile

68%
Admission rate
958
Average SAT
0
Median ACT
4,348
Undergraduates

Location

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.

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