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 4,135 7,610
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #997
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu columbusstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CAU Columbus State
Tuition (In State) $23,484 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $23,484 $15,425
Room & Board $12,018 $11,262
Avg Net Price $29,736 $11,384
Avg Grant Aid $11,188 $8,299
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 98%

Admission

 CAU Columbus State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,672 3,550
Admitted 17,884 3,523
Acceptance Rate 64.6% 99.2%
Enrolled % 6% 30.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.07
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 17/24
SAT Range 880/1120 860/1100
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 Jun 30, 2026

Academics

 CAU Columbus State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
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 4% 7%
% Women 11% 14%
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% 91%
% Out-of-State 72% 7%

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 (7,610 students vs. 4,135 students)

CAU vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or Columbus State?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 437.3% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($23,484.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.2% higher at CAU than Columbus State University ($23,484.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than CAU ($11,384 vs. $29,736)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 6.7% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($11,262 vs. $12,018)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Clark Atlanta University (98% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 34.8% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($11,188 vs. $8,299)

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 (99.2%) than CAU (64.6%)

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/