Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Admissions

Q: Where is Clayton State located?
A:  Clayton State is located in Morrow, GA about 20 minutes south of Atlanta. Take exit 233 off of I-75 or exit 5 off of I-675 and follow the signs. Once on the campus, follow the signs directing you to the admissions office. We are located in the lower level of the Student Center, in room 150.  Click here for a campus map and more directions.

Q: Do you have campus tours?
A: Yes, we do offer student led campus tours. Schedule a tour of our campus today!

Q: What are the application deadlines?
A: Fall - July 15, Spring - November 15, Summer - April 15.

Q: Do you prefer that I apply online or with a paper application?
A: We prefer that you submit an on-line application. (Apply Online or get a paper application)

Q: What do I need to submit to complete my admissions application?
A: All applicants must complete an application for admission and submit a $40 application fee, and a Clayton State Immunization Form (you can download the form here) filled out by your doctor or health department. The supporting documents you will need depend upon your student type:

Q: What are the immunization requirements?
A: In order to satisfy the immunization requirements mandated by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, students will need the following:

  • Students 18 years of age or under: 2 MMRs, Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD/DTP) within the last 10 years, 2 Varicella (or history of chicken pox) and the three dose series of Hepatitis B.
  • Students over the age of 18: 2 MMRs, Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD/DTP) within the last 10 years and 2 Varicella (or history of chicken pox).
  • Students born before 1957: Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD/DTP) within the last 10 years and 2 Varicella (or history of chicken pox).

Q: How do I complete the immunization form?
A: A Physician, qualified medical provider or Health Department official will need to complete/transfer your immunization record onto Clayton State Immunization Form. If you do not have a medical provider, the University Health Services provides immunization services at a fee (click here for more information).

Q: What if I just accidentally marked myself as a nonresident on my application, can that be resolved without filling out the petition?

A: Yes. Please contact the Office of Recruitment and Admissions at (678) 466 - 4115.

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Financial Aid

Q: How do I apply for financial aid?
A: You should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1. You can complete the FAFSA online at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. This web version guides you through the application and assists you in providing the right responses. Consequently, there are fewer errors with this method and therefore, fewer delays in processing your student aid. Clayton State University’s school code is 008976.

Q: How long does the financial aid process take?
A: Awards are made in the order in which files are completed. The Financial Aid Office has no way of predicting how many people may complete their files in any given week. As a result, no prediction can be made as to how long it will take for you to receive an award once your file is complete. Some students are randomly selected for verification by the Department of Education and will be required to submit other documents (i.e. parent/student tax returns, verification worksheet, etc). The additional time required will also depend on how quickly the additional documents requested are submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

Please keep a copy of any documents that you submit to the Financial Aid Office as copies cannot be provided for you at a later date.

Q: Can I use my W-2 to fill out the FAFSA?
A: No. You should complete your tax forms (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, etc) first and use that information to complete your FAFSA.


Q: How can I get a copy of my federal tax return?
A: You have two easy and convenient options for getting copies of your federal tax return information (tax return transcript) by phone or by mail. Request transcripts by calling 1-800-829-1040, or order by mail using IRS Form 4506T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return). The IRS does not charge a fee for transcripts. Allow two weeks for delivery.

All tax returns, including the Tax Return Transcript, must be signed before submitting to the Financial Aid Office.

Q: Must I be enrolled full-time to receive financial aid?
A: No. HOPE Grant and HOPE Scholarship will pay 90% of the tuition regardless of the number of hours a student is enrolled, with the Zell Miller Scholarship paying 100% of tuition regardless of the number of hours enrolled. The Pell Grant and other federal grants will be prorated according to Department of Education’s calculation if a student is less than full-time. Student loan eligibility mandates that a student be enrolled for at least half-time (6 semester hours). Please note that financial aid will only pay for classes required for your major as identified on the DUCK. Refer to your course outline before you register for classes. When you register for classes, verify that the classes are in your major listed on the DUCK.


Q: Are student loans considered financial aid?
A: Yes, loans are a form of financial aid. You must complete the FAFSA and go through the regular application process. You should indicate on the FAFSA that you are interested in loans. Notification of your eligibility for loans will be on your award letter. You must complete the online loan acceptance form after you are awarded if you decide to accept a loan. However, you must be enrolled in at least 6 hours for an undergraduate student to be eligible for a student loan and at least 5 hours for a graduate.


Q: If I am not living at home with my parents, can I be considered independent for financial aid purposes?
A: 2011-2012 (Fall 2011, Spring 2012, and Summer 2012)
For 2011-2012, a student's dependency status is determined by questions #45 - #57 in Step 3 of the Student Portion of the 2011-2012 FAFSA Form. It does not matter if you live with your parents, if you claimed yourself on your tax returns, or if you pay your own bills.

You will be considered a dependent of your parents for 2011-2012 if you answer ‘no’ to all of the questions below:

  • Were you born before January 1, 1988?
  • As of today, are you married? Answer "Yes" if separated, but not divorced.
  • At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program?
  • Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
  • Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
  • Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012?
  • Do you have dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2012?
  • At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
  • As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?
  • As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you in legal guardianship?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2010, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2010, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2010, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?


Q: How do I check the status of my financial aid online?
A:
You can check the status of your financial aid by using the DUCK. Go to https://swan.clayton.edu and log on using your User Name and Password, then click on the Duck icon. If you have not been admitted yet, you may log on using the Guest Login. After you enter the SWAN portal, click on the Duck icon and use your Laker ID and PIN to access your information.

If you have difficulty with your log-on or PIN, contact the HUB at http://thehub.clayton.edu/, e-mail TheHub@clayton.edu, or call (678) 466-4357. Your password cannot be changed by an email or phone request. To have your password changed or reset, you must go to the HUB and show a picture ID.

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Housing

Q: Do you provide on campus housing?

A: Laker Hall opened its doors in fall 2008. This modern residence hall houses 450 first-time, full-time freshmen students and residence hall assistants. This state-of-the-art building features four bedroom/two bath units with kitchenettes, on-site access to study lounges, a snack bar, wireless high-speed internet, cable television, laundry facilities that can be monitored from your laptop in the privacy of your own bedroom, and a nicely equipped game room. For more information click this link http://adminservices.clayton.edu/housing/.

Q: Are freshmen required to live on-campus?  What are the advantages?

A: All beginning first-time, full-time freshmen are required to live on campus during their first year, with some exceptions. Through the years, studies have shown that students who begin their college career in the residence halls have an easier time making the social and academic transition from high school to college. This is because our residence halls provide services, leadership opportunities, and programs specifically designed for undergraduate students.

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Public Safety and Parking

Q: What steps does CSU take to make sure the campus is safe?
A: Our department of public safety is taking a proactive approach to providing for the safety and security of the campus community, the Public Safety Department has developed the Campus Alert/Watch program; information about the crime trends that may pose a threat to the community, general safety and crime prevention techniques are distributed via E-mail, through "Campus Alert" and "Campus Watch" posters to the campus community.

Q: Can freshman have cars on-campus?
A: Any student may have a car on campus, but you must get a permit from the Public Safety Office located on the second floor in the Student Center.

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Academics

Q: Do you have an Honors program?

A: Yes, the University Honors Program accepts first-year and transfer students and offers an enriched college experience through special Honors courses and community service.  New students and students with less than 50 hours of college credit are eligible to apply. The minimum admission requirements are a 3.5 high school GPA, an 1100 SAT or 24 ACT Composite score, and a record of involvement in extracurricular activities.

The application for the Honors Program is separate from the application to the University. You must apply for admission to Clayton State University before or at the same time that you apply for the Honors Program.

Q: What can I expect a CSU freshman class to be like?
A: A typical size of a freshmen class will probably remind you a lot of your high school classes. We have very few lecture-style classrooms with hundreds of students. The typical class size is approximately 23. Over 79% percent of our faculty holds a doctorate or terminal degree in their field of study.

Q: What kinds of computing facilities are available? Should I bring my own computer to CSU?
A: Clayton State requires all students to have access to a laptop computer per the ITP guidelines. Please see the ITP choice website for our laptop requirements.

Q: Do you offer graduate degrees?
A: Yes. We now have three first graduate programs. For more please visit the School of Graduate Studies webpage at graduate.clayton.edu

A: Does CSU offer evening, online and weekend classes?
A: Most classes are offered day and evening; however there are on-line and weekend classes. You will need to check the course schedule for a schedule of the classes.

Q: When do classes begin in the fall, spring and summer semesters?
A: The academic calendar is available online.

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