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CofC NCAT Morehouse Florida A&M Tuskegee University Spelman Tennessee State University Savannah State University KSU PC Fisk University Georgia State| Clark Atlanta University | Charleston Southern University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CAU | CSU | ||
| Location | Atlanta, GA | Charleston, SC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,000 | 3,418 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #971 | #918 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cau.edu | csuniv.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CAU | CSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $21,948 | $29,490 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,948 | $29,490 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,982 | $11,250 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,015 | $17,536 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,431 | $26,417 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 83% | 99% |
Admission |
CAU | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,153 | 4,967 | ||
| Admitted | 9,088 | 4,309 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 56.3% | 86.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.7% | 16.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.28 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | 18/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 880/1120 | 940/1170 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
CAU | CSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CAU | CSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,400 | $39,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 30% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $31,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $320 | $279 |
Diversity |
CAU | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 24% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 76% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | Yes | No | ||
| % White | 0% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 84% | 26% | ||
| % Hispanic | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 13% | 4% |
Students |
CAU | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 27% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 72% | 23% | ||
Campus |
CAU | CSU | ||
| 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 CSU based on total student enrollment (4,000 students vs. 3,418 students)
CAU vs. CSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CAU or CSU?
- Charleston Southern University is 34.4% more expensive to attend than CAU for in-state tuition ($29,490.00 vs. $21,948.00)
- Out of state tuition is 34.4% higher at CSU than Clark Atlanta University ($29,490.00 vs. $21,948.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Charleston Southern University than CAU ($17,536 vs. $30,015)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark Atlanta University are 2.4% lower than costs at Charleston Southern University ($10,982 vs. $11,250)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Charleston Southern University than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 180.1% larger than aid received Clark Atlanta University ($26,417 vs. $9,431)
CAU vs. CSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CAU or CSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSU or CAU .
- The average SAT score at Charleston Southern University (1030) is 180 points higher than at CAU (850)
- Incoming CSU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at CAU (18)
- Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at CSU (3.24)
- CSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than CAU (56.3%)
CAU vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CAU or CSU? 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 CSU and CAU.
- The graduation rate at CAU is higher than Charleston Southern University (41% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn on average $1,400 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($39,800 vs. $38,400)
- Charleston Southern University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($27,000 vs. $31,000)
- CSU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($279 vs. $320)
- More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 30%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/