64.22%

Acceptance Rate

$10,239

Avg.Financial Aid

001559

FAFSA Code

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Report Card

Selectivity
64.2% acceptance rate
Academics
D
49% graduation rate
Class Size
19:1 student-faculty ratio
Value
B+
$28,310 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

Key Facts: Clark Atlanta University (CAU)

Institution
Clark Atlanta University (CAU)
Type
Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified June 2026. Citable source →

Clark Atlanta University (CAU)

  • Type Control of Institution - Public/Private

    Private, Not-For-Profit

  • Acceptance Rate:

    N/A

  • Level

    4 Years

  • Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.

    United Methodist

  • Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.

    SACSCOC

  • Website

    www.cau.edu
  • Student Population Number of Students attending College

    3,603

  • On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?

    Yes

Clark Atlanta University is a historically Black university with real academic teeth and social mission. Located in Atlanta's Historic West End, CAU is part of the Atlanta University Center—a consortium with Morehouse, Spelman, and the AUC School of Medicine. That's serious company. The student body is about 3,700 undergrads, mostly Black, mostly from the South or beyond, all building lives on a foundation of Black excellence and institutional pride.

Programs in business, engineering, nursing, and liberal arts are solid. Classes are taught by professors who care about their students' futures. The HBCUAdvantage is real: financial aid is generous relative to comparable schools, and the support system assumes you're capable of everything. Atlanta is a major city with jobs, culture, and Black professional networks that matter for careers.

The campus is beautiful—Gothic revival architecture, tree-lined quads, real sense of place. Dorm life is part of the identity. Greek life is big. The social scene is active. This is not a commuter school; it's a residential experience built on community and legacy.

Location & Contact

Address

223 James P Brawley Drive SW, Atlanta, Georgia

Contact

Phone: (404) 880-8000
Find Your School

Rankings

To tackle the tough decision of choosing the right university, the ranking of a particular university helps the student in clearing their doubts regarding where they want to apply. Considered one of the best publications when it comes to ranking universities, Forbes has placed Clark Atlanta University at the 639th position on the latest list of top colleges. However, it is to be noted that the rankings are decided based on common metrics like acceptance rate, endowment, benefits, and SAT scores, among others.

Admissions

  • Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.

    None

  • Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.

    64.22%

  • SAT Range

    950 - 1110

  • SAT/ACT

    Required

  • ACT Range

    18 - 21

  • High School GPA

    Required

  • Application Fee

    $35

  • Accept Common App

    None

The students can make the most out of the admission process as the admission at the university is easy. Clark Atlanta University has 4 admission thresholds. Candidates are required to fill the form and submit a fee of $35, as part of the admission process at CAU. As per the past trends, the SAT score of a student must lie in the range of 940-1080 to improve her chances. The average ACT score at Clark Atlanta University is 18. However, those getting an ACT score less than 17 might also be offered admission. The candidates can apply for the courses online. However, in case they need information or want to feel the vibes, they visit the school's office at 223 James P Brawley Drive, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30314-4391. They can also call them at (404) 880-8000.

Annual Cost to Attend

  • Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.

    $37,702

  • Average Annual Cost

    $28,310

Additional Costs:

  • Books And Supplies

    $38,154

  • Other Fees

    $1,506

  • Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.

    $11,156

  • Budget For Other Expenses

    $3,312

Total One Year Cost

$38,154

Tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure are the next two things that a student should keep in mind before applying to CAU. The full-time cost of attendance is approximately $39,194 per year. This cost includes the average annual tuition cost ($23,144), books and supplies ($1,500), room and boarding ($11,238), and budget for other expenses ($3,312). For students seeking financial assistance, the university offers a number of options.

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Doctor's degree

Student:Faculty Ratio

19:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

71%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

25%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$2,015

Faculty Overview

54%

Male Professors

46%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Most Popular Majors:

  • Radio, Television, and Digital Comm...

    87 Graduates

  • Business Administration, Management...

    86 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    50 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    37 Graduates

  • Criminal Justice and Corrections

    35 Graduates

  • Social Work

    25 Graduates

  • Design and Applied Arts

    23 Graduates

  • Accounting and Related Services

    18 Graduates

  • Criminal Justice and Corrections

    35 Graduates

  • Social Work

    25 Graduates

  • Design and Applied Arts

    23 Graduates

  • Accounting and Related Services

    18 Graduates

  • Political Science and Government

    11 Graduates

  • English Language and Literature, Ge...

    9 Graduates

  • Chemistry

    6 Graduates

  • Fine and Studio Arts

    6 Graduates

  • Mathematics

    6 Graduates

  • Computer Science

    5 Graduates

  • Education, General

    5 Graduates

  • Sociology

    5 Graduates

  • Rhetoric and Composition/Writing St...

    3 Graduates

  • Business/Managerial Economics

    2 Graduates

  • Computer and Information Sciences,...

    2 Graduates

  • Music

    2 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    2 Graduates

  • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

    1 Graduates

  • History

    1 Graduates

  • Philosophy

    1 Graduates

  • Religion/Religious Studies

    1 Graduates

  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and...

    1 Graduates

Show More

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

3,325

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

69%

Full-time / Part-time

97% / 3%

Students Gender

Male

25%

US National: 44%

Female

75%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

0%

Unknown

7%

Black

89%

Hispanic

FALSE%

Two or more races

0%

Non Resident alien

4%

Asian

0%

American Indian/Alaska native

0%

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

0%

Geographic Density

Geographic Density

High

0%

Unknown Location

75%

Out Of State

24%

In State

1%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$60,452 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 100% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Yes

Freshmen Live on Campus

100%

Undergrads in College Housing

N/A

Averege Housing Cost

$5,508/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $4,016/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$4,016/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Cougars

School Colors

red, black, and gray

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conf

Total Male Athletes

147

Total Female Athletes

73

Intramural Sports

6

Sports Club

N/A

Sports Team (Men)

Baseball

Basketball

Football

Track and Field

Sports Team (Women)

Basketball

Softball

Tennis

Track and Field

Volleyball

Campus Security

On-campus housing facilities are offered to the students who wish to remain nearby. At CAU, $11,238 is the normal expense for on-campus housing, which a student will be needed to pay, each year. Clark Atlanta University has several dining and meal plan options for its students and the average meal plan at CAU costs around $4,016 per year. The university considers the safety and security of its students to be paramount. At CAU, campus safety and security features include 24-hr security patrol, campus emergency phones, 24-hr escort safety rides and mobile campus emergency alert. There are around 24% male and 76% female students enrolled at the university.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$26,700/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$35,500/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$29,225 - $31,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$303 - $322

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

84%

Average Aid Per Year

$10,239

Students Receiving Federal Grants

73%

Average Aid Per Year

$5,264

Students Receiving State Aid

21%

Average Aid Per Year

$3,370

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

32%

Average Aid Per Year

$12,686

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$5,871

$30K - $48K

$5,288

$48K - $75K

$3,192

$75K - $110K

$1,477

> $110K

$632

Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$33,303,007

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$256,025

The financial aid department of Clark Atlanta University helps students by assisting them with scholarships, grants, and student loans in the event that they find the fees and the cost of living at the campus to be expensive. The average financial aid at Clark Atlanta University is around $15,088 and the federal grant is $5,280. Prospective students can benefit from state-level aid worth $3,234 as well as institutional aid worth $15,088. At CAU, the total amount of need-based scholarships/grants awarded to students stands at $33,303,007 per year. On the other hand, the total non-need-based scholarships/grants offered in a year add up to $256,025.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clark Atlanta University (CAU)

How hard is it to get into Clark Atlanta University (CAU)?

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 64.2%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Clark Atlanta University (CAU) cost?

Tuition at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is approximately $28,310 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Clark Atlanta University (CAU)?

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) enrolls approximately 3,603 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at Clark Atlanta University (CAU)?

The graduation rate at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is 49%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Clark Atlanta University (CAU)?

The student-faculty ratio at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is 19:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for Clark Atlanta University (CAU)?

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 380 - 470 (Reading) and 360 - 450 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 16 - 20. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is Clark Atlanta University (CAU) a public or private university?

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for Clark Atlanta University (CAU)?

Application deadlines at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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