Head-to-head comparison
Clayton State University vs Covenant College: which has better ROI?
Option A Morrow, GA
Clayton State University
- Net price / year
- $8,365
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,179
- Payback
- 40.9 yrs
Option B Lookout Mountain, GA
Covenant College
- Net price / year
- $26,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,412
- Payback
- 51.2 yrs
Clayton State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $33,460 in 40.9 years versus 51.2 years at Covenant College, on median earnings of $49,179 vs $50,412 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clayton State University | Covenant College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,365 | $26,265 |
| Total net cost | $33,460 | $105,060 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,179 | $50,412 |
| Median debt | $25,706 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 40.9 yrs | 51.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$17,080 | -$64,020 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clayton State University or Covenant College?
Clayton State University, at $8,365 a year after aid versus $26,265 — a gap of $17,900 a year, or $71,600 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Clayton State University or Covenant College graduates earn more?
Covenant College graduates report a median $50,412 ten years after entry, $1,233 more than the $49,179 at Clayton State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Clayton State University or Covenant College?
Covenant College: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $25,706 at Clayton State University, a difference of $3,206. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Covenant College, against 40% at Clayton State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.