AAMU vs. CAU

Deciding between Alabama A & M University and Clark Atlanta University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Alabama A & M University
Clark Atlanta University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AAMU Normal, AL
  • CAU Atlanta, GA
  • Setting
  • AAMU Midsize City
  • CAU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AAMU 7,295
  • CAU 4,252
  • Type
  • AAMU Public 4 Year
  • CAU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AAMU #1011
  • CAU #975
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AAMU -
  • CAU United Methodist
  • Status
  • AAMU Non-profit
  • CAU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AAMU
  • CAU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AAMU $10,024
  • CAU $28,310
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AAMU $18,634
  • CAU $28,310
  • Room & Board
  • AAMU $11,402
  • CAU $12,748
  • Average Net Price
  • AAMU $17,152
  • CAU $31,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AAMU $12,844
  • CAU $12,453
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AAMU 86%
  • CAU 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AAMU 23,406
  • CAU 27,245
  • Admitted
  • AAMU 13,564
  • CAU 17,497
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AAMU 58%
  • CAU 64.2%
  • Enrolled
  • AAMU 14.5%
  • CAU 5.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AAMU 930
  • CAU 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • AAMU 16
  • CAU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • AAMU 3.02
  • CAU 3.28
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AAMU B
  • CAU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AAMU Extremely Easy
  • CAU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AAMU Low
  • CAU Low
  • ACT Range
  • AAMU 14/19
  • CAU 16/20
  • SAT Range
  • AAMU 810/1040
  • CAU 880/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AAMU Test optional
  • CAU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AAMU
  • CAU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AAMU 19:1
  • CAU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AAMU
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Human Services (6%)
  • CAU
    • Communication (26%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • English and Literature (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AAMU 32%
  • CAU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AAMU $34,300
  • CAU $38,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AAMU 25%
  • CAU 30%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AAMU $35,000
  • CAU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AAMU $361
  • CAU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AAMU 41%
  • CAU 24%
  • % Women
  • AAMU 59%
  • CAU 76%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AAMU Extremely Low
  • CAU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • AAMU Yes
  • CAU Yes
  • % White
  • AAMU 3%
  • CAU 0%
  • % Asian
  • AAMU 0%
  • CAU 0%
  • % Black
  • AAMU 92%
  • CAU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • AAMU 1%
  • CAU 0%
  • % Native American
  • AAMU 0%
  • CAU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AAMU 0%
  • CAU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AAMU 0%
  • CAU 0%
  • % International
  • AAMU 1%
  • CAU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AAMU 3%
  • CAU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AAMU 45%
  • CAU 27%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AAMU 54%
  • CAU 72%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AAMU Yes
  • CAU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AAMU No
  • CAU Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • AAMU Yes
  • CAU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AAMU Yes
  • CAU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AAMU Yes
  • CAU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama A & M University in Normal, AL with Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alabama A & M University is larger than CAU based on total student enrollment (7,295 students vs. 4,252 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama A & M University is located in Normal, AL (Midsize City setting); Clark Atlanta University is in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting).
  • Alabama A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Clark Atlanta University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama A & M University 19:1; Clark Atlanta University 16:1.

AAMU vs. CAU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or CAU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alabama A & M University than CAU ($17,152 vs. $31,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama A & M University are 10.6% lower than at Clark Atlanta University ($11,402 vs. $12,748).
  • Clark Atlanta University is 182.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than AAMU (about $18,286 more per year; $28,310.00 vs. $10,024.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.9% higher at CAU than at Alabama A & M University (about $9,676 more per year; $28,310.00 vs. $18,634.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clark Atlanta University than at Alabama A & M University (89% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama A & M University students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Clark Atlanta University students ($12,844 vs. $12,453).

AAMU vs. CAU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or CAU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CAU and AAMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clark Atlanta University (1000) is 70 points higher than at AAMU (930).
  • Incoming CAU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 16 at AAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 810/1040; Clark Atlanta University 880/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 14/19; Clark Atlanta University 16/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAMU - Test optional; CAU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CAU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at AAMU (3.02).
  • CAU has a higher acceptance rate (64.2%) than AAMU (58%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at AAMU vs. 5.7% at CAU.

AAMU vs. CAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAMU and CAU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Clark Atlanta University's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Alabama A & M University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Clark Atlanta University earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than AAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,400 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clark Atlanta University graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than AAMU graduates ($31,000 vs. $35,000).
  • Among borrowers, CAU graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAMU graduates ($320 vs. $361).
  • More CAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.