CAU vs. AU

Deciding between Clark Atlanta University and Averett 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.

Clark Atlanta University
Averett University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CAU Atlanta, GA
  • AU Danville, VA
  • Setting
  • CAU Large City
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CAU 4,252
  • AU 1,476
  • Type
  • CAU Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CAU #975
  • AU #637
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CAU United Methodist
  • AU -
  • Status
  • CAU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CAU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CAU $28,310
  • AU $38,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CAU $28,310
  • AU $38,550
  • Room & Board
  • CAU $12,748
  • AU $14,530
  • Average Net Price
  • CAU $31,223
  • AU $23,471
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CAU $12,453
  • AU $29,998
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CAU 89%
  • AU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CAU 27,245
  • AU 2,573
  • Admitted
  • CAU 17,497
  • AU 1,456
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CAU 64.2%
  • AU 56.6%
  • Enrolled
  • CAU 5.7%
  • AU 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CAU 1000
  • AU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • CAU 18
  • AU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • CAU 3.28
  • AU 3.07
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CAU B+
  • AU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • CAU Extremely Easy
  • AU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • CAU Low
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • CAU 16/20
  • AU 15/28
  • SAT Range
  • CAU 880/1120
  • AU 926/1143
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CAU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CAU Apr 1, 2027
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CAU 16:1
  • AU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CAU
    • Communication (26%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CAU 41%
  • AU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CAU $38,400
  • AU $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CAU 30%
  • AU 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CAU $31,000
  • AU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CAU $320
  • AU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CAU 24%
  • AU 45%
  • % Women
  • CAU 76%
  • AU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CAU Extremely Low
  • AU Medium
  • HBCU
  • CAU Yes
  • AU No
  • % White
  • CAU 0%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • CAU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • CAU 84%
  • AU 33%
  • % Hispanic
  • CAU 0%
  • AU 4%
  • % Native American
  • CAU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CAU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CAU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % International
  • CAU 2%
  • AU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CAU 13%
  • AU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CAU 27%
  • AU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CAU 72%
  • AU 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA with Averett University in Danville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clark Atlanta University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (4,252 students vs. 1,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clark Atlanta University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); Averett University is in Danville, VA (Small City setting).
  • Clark Atlanta University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark Atlanta University 16:1; Averett University 16:1.

CAU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or AU? 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 Averett University than CAU ($23,471 vs. $31,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark Atlanta University are 12.3% lower than at Averett University ($12,748 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 36.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CAU (about $10,240 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $28,310.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.2% higher at AU than at Clark Atlanta University (about $10,240 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $28,310.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Averett University than at Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 140.9% larger than aid received by Clark Atlanta University students ($29,998 vs. $12,453).

CAU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CAU or AU? 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 AU and CAU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Averett University (1030) is 30 points higher than at CAU (1000).
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 18 at CAU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clark Atlanta University 880/1120; Averett University 926/1143.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clark Atlanta University 16/20; Averett University 15/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CAU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CAU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at AU (3.07).
  • CAU has a higher acceptance rate (64.2%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.7% at CAU vs. 18.1% at AU.

CAU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CAU and AU? 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).

  • The graduation rate at CAU is the same as at Averett University (41% vs. 41%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than CAU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Averett University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than CAU graduates ($25,000 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CAU graduates ($258 vs. $320).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 30%)

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.