CAU vs. BAC

Should I go to Clark Atlanta University or Belmont Abbey College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CAU or BAC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Clark Atlanta University vs. Belmont Abbey College comparison
Clark Atlanta University Belmont Abbey College College 3 College 4
Clark Atlanta University Belmont Abbey College
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Overview

 CAU BAC
Location Atlanta, GA Belmont, NC
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 4,135 1,650
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #920
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu belmontabbeycollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CAU BAC
Tuition (In State) $23,484 $19,500
Tuition (Out of State) $23,484 $19,500
Room & Board $12,018 $12,056
Avg Net Price $29,736 $23,463
Avg Grant Aid $11,188 $9,098
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 99%

Admission

 CAU BAC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,672 2,972
Admitted 17,884 2,686
Acceptance Rate 64.6% 90.4%
Enrolled % 6% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.32
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 17/25
SAT Range 880/1120 940/1190
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2026

Academics

 CAU BAC
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 CAU BAC
Graduation Rate 41% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $41,900
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $279

Diversity

 CAU BAC
% Men 4% 3%
% Women 11% 3%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 45%
% Black 84% 22%
% Hispanic 0% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 0%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 13% 28%

Students

 CAU BAC
% In-State 27% 37%
% Out-of-State 72% 57%

Campus

 CAU BAC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Clark Atlanta University is larger than than BAC based on total student enrollment (4,135 students vs. 1,650 students)

CAU vs. BAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or BAC?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 20.4% more expensive to attend than BAC for in-state tuition ($23,484.00 vs. $19,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.4% higher at CAU than Belmont Abbey College ($23,484.00 vs. $19,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Belmont Abbey College than CAU ($23,463 vs. $29,736)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark Atlanta University are 0.3% lower than costs at Belmont Abbey College ($12,018 vs. $12,056)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Belmont Abbey College than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 23% larger than aid received Belmont Abbey College ($11,188 vs. $9,098)

CAU vs. BAC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CAU or BAC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BAC or CAU .

  • The average SAT score at Belmont Abbey College (1021) is 171 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming BAC students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman BAC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.32) than students at CAU (3.28)
  • BAC has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than CAU (64.6%)

CAU vs. BAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or BAC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between BAC and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at CAU is higher than Belmont Abbey College (41% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Belmont Abbey College earn on average $3,500 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($41,900 vs. $38,400)
  • Belmont Abbey College students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($27,000 vs. $31,000)
  • BAC graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($279 vs. $320)
  • More BAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/