CAU vs. Columbus State

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

 CAU Columbus State
Location Atlanta, GA Columbus, GA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 4,000 7,479
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #995
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu columbusstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CAU Columbus State
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $15,425
Room & Board $10,982 $12,080
Avg Net Price $30,015 $12,902
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $9,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 98%

Admission

 CAU Columbus State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 3,870
Admitted 9,088 3,398
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 87.8%
Enrolled % 12.7% 30.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.07
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 16/23
SAT Range 880/1120 900/1130
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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 CAU Columbus State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)

Outcomes

 CAU Columbus State
Graduation Rate 41% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $268

Diversity

 CAU Columbus State
% Men 24% 40%
% Women 76% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 51%
% Black 84% 37%
% Hispanic 0% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 13% 0%

Students

 CAU Columbus State
% In-State 27% 92%
% Out-of-State 72% 5%

Campus

 CAU Columbus State
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

  • Columbus State University is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or Columbus State?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 402.1% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.3% higher at CAU than Columbus State University ($21,948.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than CAU ($12,902 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark Atlanta University are 10% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($10,982 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Clark Atlanta University (98% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 3.1% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($9,431 vs. $9,147)

CAU vs. Columbus State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 111 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming Columbus State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. Columbus State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or Columbus State? 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 Columbus State and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at CAU is higher than Columbus State University (41% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Clark Atlanta University earn on average $1,000 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $37,400)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $31,000)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($268 vs. $320)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 30%)

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