Clayton State is a public university on a wooded, lake-dotted campus in Morrow, about 20 minutes south of downtown Atlanta. It hides one of the region's best small concert halls. Spivey Hall, with its 4,413-pipe Italian-built organ, draws touring pianists, singers and jazz artists year-round. The Georgia Archives and the National Archives at Atlanta sit next door, and Clayton State trains archivists in its own master's program.
About this site
Clayton State University is a college & university in Morrow, Clayton County. It is one of 75 historic sites cataloged in Clayton County on Georgia Roam.
The site sits at 33.5945, -84.3286 near Morrow. The nearest cataloged historic site is Morrow, Georgia (historical marker), about 1.0 miles away. Others within a short drive include Morrow Cemetery, William H Reynolds Memorial Nature Preserve, and The March to the Sea.
This record is drawn from Georgia Roam. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
What makes Clayton State University different
Spivey Hall opened on January 23, 1991, with a concert by violinist Itzhak Perlman. clayton.edu
Spivey Hall's centerpiece is the Albert Schweitzer Memorial Organ: 79 ranks and 4,413 pipes, built by Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua, Italy. en.wikipedia.org
In 1998 Clayton State became the first university in the Southeast, and the third in the nation, to issue notebook computers to every student in every major. clayton.edu
The Georgia Archives, which opened in 2003, and the National Archives at Atlanta are neighbors of the campus. Clayton State offers a Master of Archival Studies. en.wikipedia.org
The campus has five lakes. The main one was officially named Swan Lake in 2000. clayton.edu
Clayton Junior College opened in September 1969 with 942 students. clayton.edu
In 2011 the women's basketball team won the NCAA Division II national title, beating Michigan Tech 69–50 in the final. clayton.edu
Clayton State began as Clayton Junior College, one of three two-year colleges the Board of Regents approved in 1965 to serve metro Atlanta. Clayton County voters passed a bond issue to build the campus on wooded land in the county's north end, near Interstate 75. The college opened in September 1969 with 942 students under founding president Harry S. Downs.
It became a four-year school, Clayton State College, in 1986. Spivey Hall opened in January 1991 with a concert by violinist Itzhak Perlman. It was funded largely by the foundation of Atlanta developers Walter and Emilie Spivey, and it quickly built a national reputation for its acoustics. The school gained university status as Clayton College & State University in 1996. In 1998 it became the first university in the Southeast to give notebook computers to every student.
The name changed to Clayton State University in 2005, and graduate degrees followed. The school added residence halls in 2008, a business school building and the Lakeview Discovery and Science Center, which opened in 2015. That same year a mural by the Italian-born wildlife painter Athos Menaboni was unveiled in the Baker University Center. In 2011 the Lady Lakers won the NCAA Division II women's basketball championship. Georj L. Lewis became the sixth president in 2023.
#26 Top Performers on Social Mobility, Regional Universities South — U.S. News & World Report, 2025source
#86 Regional Universities South — U.S. News & World Report, 2025source
#36 nationally for student experience and #51 for social mobility — The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges, 2025source
Majors & programs
Clayton State has colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business, Health, and STEM, plus a graduate school. Popular paths include nursing and dental hygiene, business with AACSB accreditation, and film and theater programs that draw on Georgia's screen industry. The list below shows the associate, bachelor's and master's degrees on Clayton State's program finder in September 2026. Minors, certificates and combined bachelor's-master's tracks are listed on the same page.
Known for
Nursing (BSN, RN-BSN, MSN)
Nursing is housed in the College of Health, which 11Alive reported in March 2026 was starting a major expansion.
Known for
Archival Studies (MAS)
A graduate program with the Georgia Archives and the National Archives at Atlanta right next door.
Known for
Music and Music Education
Music students have Spivey Hall, a concert hall with a 4,413-pipe organ, on their own campus.
Known for
Film Production and Stage and Screen
Associate and bachelor's options aimed at Georgia's film and television industry.
Known for
Dental Hygiene (BS)
One of Clayton State's health programs, with a double-degree option that pairs it with health care management.
Known for
Supply Chain Management (BBA, MS in Supply Chain Analytics)
Part of the AACSB-accredited College of Business, about 10 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
All degree programs at Clayton State University (47)
Kevin Young — head men's basketball coach at BYU and former Phoenix Suns associate head coach (played guard at Clayton State after transferring) en.wikipedia.org
Gail Buckner — longtime Georgia state representative and senator from the Clayton County area (BS in education) en.wikipedia.org
Rick Jeffares — Georgia state senator and former Covington city official (BA in management) en.wikipedia.org
Wil Wilcox — professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour clayton.edu
James M. "Jim" Baker III — Atlanta-area real estate developer and namesake of the James M. Baker University Center clayton.edu
Athletics: Clayton State Lakers
NCAA Division II · Peach Belt Conference
BasketballCross countryGolfSoccerTennisTrack & field
Women's basketball NCAA Division II national champions, 2011 (69–50 over Michigan Tech) clayton.edu
Women's basketball reached the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2007 clayton.edu
Home venues: Athletics Center, Loch and Mason Barfield Court (basketball) · Laker Field
Clayton State University's NCAA DII Champs · Clayton State UniversityNCAA Division II 40th Anniversary Flashback: Clayton State Basketball · NCAADivisionIIClayton State University starts major expansion for the school's College of Health · 11AliveClayton State University hosts social mobility summit · CBS AtlantaGo behind the scenes at the Georgia Archives · CBS Atlanta
In Morrow, Georgia, in Clayton County, about 20 minutes south of downtown Atlanta and about 10 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson airport. The main campus is at 2000 Clayton State Blvd.
What is Clayton State known for?
Spivey Hall, one of metro Atlanta's leading concert halls, along with nursing and health programs, an AACSB-accredited business school, and strong social mobility rankings. U.S. News ranked it #26 among Regional Universities South for social mobility (2025).
What division is Clayton State?
NCAA Division II. The Lakers play in the Peach Belt Conference, and the women's basketball team won the Division II national title in 2011.
How big is Clayton State?
6,163 students in Fall 2024 (NCES), most of them undergraduates. The main campus covers 192 wooded acres with five lakes.
Can you visit Spivey Hall?
Yes. Spivey Hall presents a full concert season of classical, jazz and choral music that is open to the public. Tickets and the schedule are at spiveyhall.org.
Is Clayton State a public university?
Yes. It is part of the University System of Georgia. It opened in 1969 as Clayton Junior College and has been Clayton State University since 2005.
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