CAU vs. Clayton State University

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

CAU Clayton State University
Location Atlanta, GA Morrow, GA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,000 5,847
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #988
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu clayton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CAU Clayton State University
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $4,064
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $14,786
Room & Board $10,982 $10,980
Avg Net Price $30,015 $9,792
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $8,529
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 99%

Admission

CAU Clayton State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 2,255
Admitted 9,088 1,270
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 56.3%
Enrolled % 12.7% 45.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.0
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/20 16/22
SAT Range 880/1120 890/1090
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 Jul 17, 2025

Academics

CAU Clayton State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

CAU Clayton State University
Graduation Rate 41% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $41,800
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 35%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $320 $284

Diversity

CAU Clayton State University
% Men 24% 31%
% Women 76% 69%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 18%
% Black 84% 66%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 13% 4%

Students

CAU Clayton State University
% In-State 27% 93%
% Out-of-State 72% 4%

Campus

CAU Clayton State University
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

  • Clayton State University is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (5,847 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. Clayton State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or Clayton State University?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 440.1% more expensive to attend than Clayton State University for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.4% higher at CAU than Clayton State University ($21,948.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clayton State University than CAU ($9,792 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clayton State University are 0% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($10,980 vs. $10,982)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clayton State University than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 10.6% larger than aid received Clayton State University ($9,431 vs. $8,529)

CAU vs. Clayton State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at Clayton State University (3.0)
  • Clayton State University has a higher acceptance rate (56.3%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. Clayton State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or Clayton State University? 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 Clayton State University and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at CAU is higher than Clayton State University (41% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Clayton State University earn on average $3,400 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $38,400)
  • Clayton State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($27,500 vs. $31,000)
  • Clayton State University graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($284 vs. $320)
  • More Clayton State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 30%)

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