Clark Atlanta University
A good fit for students who prefer a mid-size campus and students from lower-income families. earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. 70% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Clark Atlanta University is a private nonprofit institution located in Atlanta, Georgia with approximately 3,603 undergraduate students enrolled. Clark Atlanta University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 64%. The average net price after financial aid is $37,702 per year. The graduation rate is 49%, and the typical graduate earns $38,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Clark Atlanta University is a private, Methodist, historically black research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded on September 19, 1865, as Atlanta University, the first HBCU in the United States to confer graduate degrees to African Americans. In 1988, the school consolidated with Clark College to form CAU. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 48% graduation rate and 69% freshman retention suggest that many students who start here don't finish, which is a real concern worth taking seriously. That said, it's an HBCU in Atlanta with genuine networking value, and median debt at graduation is a relatively modest $19,500 — below average for private schools. Worth considering if the campus community and location align with your goals, but have a clear plan for staying on track academically and financially, since median earnings of $38,200 a decade out make every dollar of that $35,115 annual net price count.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: -1% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Clark Atlanta University graduates earn most above the national rate in Social Work ($54,657 vs $51,790 nationally), and most below it in Design and Applied Arts ($24,420 vs $51,490).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 100 | $34,335 | $50,497 | −$16,162 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 81 | $53,911 | $68,257 | −$14,346 |
| Psychology, General | 57 | $45,368 | $50,706 | −$5,338 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 39 | $47,012 | $55,378 | −$8,366 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 33 | $24,420 | $51,490 | −$27,070 |
| Biology, General | 23 | $45,413 | $57,214 | −$11,801 |
| Social Work | 8 | $54,657 | $51,790 | +$2,867 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,603 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Clark Atlanta University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Clark Atlanta University?
Clark Atlanta University has an acceptance rate of 64%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Clark Atlanta University hard to get into?
Clark Atlanta University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 64%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Clark Atlanta University cost?
The average net price at Clark Atlanta University is about $37,702 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Clark Atlanta University?
Clark Atlanta University has a graduation rate of 49%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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