Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Clayton State University

Clayton State's liberal arts program achieves something notable: it outearns 60% of similar programs in Georgia while serving a predominantly working-class student body (52% receive Pell grants). Graduates start at $37,898—above both the state median of $34,576 and the national median of $36,340—and reach $41,898 by year four, landing near the 75th percentile nationally. For a school with a 71% admission rate and modest academic profile, these outcomes suggest effective career preparation.

The challenge is debt. At $45,202, graduates carry significantly more than the Georgia median ($39,693) and nearly double the national median ($27,000). This puts Clayton State in the 5th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 95% of similar programs graduate students with less borrowing. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.19 means first-year graduates owe more than they earn annually, though steady 11% earnings growth helps close this gap over time.

For Georgia families considering in-state options, Clayton State delivers competitive earnings that surpass University of North Georgia and Georgia Southern. Whether the extra debt burden justifies this outcome depends on your child's alternative options and their ability to manage payments during those critical early years when earnings are still building toward the low-$40,000s.