CAU vs. Bluefield College

Should I go to Clark Atlanta University or Bluefield College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CAU or Bluefield College 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. Bluefield College comparison
Clark Atlanta University Bluefield College College 3 College 4
Clark Atlanta University
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Overview

CAU Bluefield College
Location Atlanta, GA Bluefield, VA
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 4,135 989
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #976
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu bluefield.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CAU Bluefield College
Tuition (In State) $23,484 $27,876
Tuition (Out of State) $23,484 $27,876
Room & Board $12,018 $9,814
Avg Net Price $29,736 $22,191
Avg Grant Aid $11,188 $19,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 99%

Admission

CAU Bluefield College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,672 1,057
Admitted 17,884 663
Acceptance Rate 64.6% 62.7%
Enrolled % 6% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/20
SAT Range 880/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2026

Academics

CAU Bluefield College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (42%)
  • Psychology (21%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • General Studies (4%)

Outcomes

CAU Bluefield College
Graduation Rate 41% 36%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 51%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $20,834
Median Loan Payment $320 $215

Diversity

CAU Bluefield College
% Men 4% 9%
% Women 11% 21%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 65%
% Black 84% 22%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 13% 3%

Students

CAU Bluefield College
% In-State 27% 66%
% Out-of-State 72% 33%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clark Atlanta University is larger than than Bluefield College based on total student enrollment (4,135 students vs. 989 students)

CAU vs. Bluefield College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or Bluefield College?

  • Bluefield College is 18.7% more expensive to attend than CAU for in-state tuition ($27,876.00 vs. $23,484.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.7% higher at Bluefield College than Clark Atlanta University ($27,876.00 vs. $23,484.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bluefield College than CAU ($22,191 vs. $29,736)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluefield College are 22.5% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($9,814 vs. $12,018)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluefield College than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluefield College students is 72.4% larger than aid received Clark Atlanta University ($19,288 vs. $11,188)

CAU vs. Bluefield College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bluefield College (923) is 73 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming Bluefield College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman Bluefield College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at CAU (3.28)
  • CAU has a higher acceptance rate (64.6%) than Bluefield College (62.7%)

CAU vs. Bluefield College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or Bluefield College? 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 Bluefield College and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at CAU is higher than Bluefield College (41% vs. 36%)
  • Graduates from Bluefield College earn on average $7,300 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $38,400)
  • Bluefield College students graduate with a $10,166 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($20,834 vs. $31,000)
  • Bluefield College graduates are paying $105 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($215 vs. $320)
  • More Bluefield College 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/