Head-to-head comparison
Clayton State University vs Morehouse 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 Atlanta, GA
Morehouse College
- Net price / year
- $39,013
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,889
- Payback
- 34.5 yrs
Morehouse College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $156,052 in 34.5 years versus 40.9 years at Clayton State University, on median earnings of $52,889 vs $49,179 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clayton State University | Morehouse College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,365 | $39,013 |
| Total net cost | $33,460 | $156,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,179 | $52,889 |
| Median debt | $25,706 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 40.9 yrs | 34.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$17,080 | -$65,472 |
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 Morehouse College?
Clayton State University, at $8,365 a year after aid versus $39,013 — a gap of $30,648 a year, or $122,592 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 Morehouse College graduates earn more?
Morehouse College graduates report a median $52,889 ten years after entry, $3,710 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 Morehouse College?
Morehouse College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,706 at Clayton State University, a difference of $706. 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?
59% of students finish at Morehouse 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.