Head-to-head comparison
Clayton State University vs Piedmont University: 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 Demorest, GA
Piedmont University
- Net price / year
- $20,599
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,130
- Payback
- 107 yrs
Clayton State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $33,460 in 40.9 years versus 107 years at Piedmont University, on median earnings of $49,179 vs $49,130 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clayton State University | Piedmont University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,365 | $20,599 |
| Total net cost | $33,460 | $82,396 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,179 | $49,130 |
| Median debt | $25,706 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 40.9 yrs | 107 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$17,080 | -$66,996 |
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 Piedmont University?
Clayton State University, at $8,365 a year after aid versus $20,599 — a gap of $12,234 a year, or $48,936 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 Piedmont University graduates earn more?
Clayton State University graduates report a median $49,179 ten years after entry, $49 more than the $49,130 at Piedmont 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 Piedmont University?
Piedmont University: 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?
47% of students finish at Piedmont University, 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.