CAU vs. ETSU

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

 CAU ETSU
Location Atlanta, GA Johnson City, TN
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 4,135 13,586
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #702
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu etsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CAU ETSU
Tuition (In State) $23,484 $7,950
Tuition (Out of State) $23,484 $11,790
Room & Board $12,018 $10,270
Avg Net Price $29,736 $16,033
Avg Grant Aid $11,188 $9,228
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 85%

Admission

 CAU ETSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,672 9,903
Admitted 17,884 8,622
Acceptance Rate 64.6% 87.1%
Enrolled % 6% 24.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.33
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 19/26
SAT Range 880/1120 950/1170
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, 2026

Academics

 CAU ETSU
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%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 CAU ETSU
Graduation Rate 41% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $320 $211

Diversity

 CAU ETSU
% Men 4% 7%
% Women 11% 14%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 82%
% Black 84% 7%
% Hispanic 0% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 13% 1%

Students

 CAU ETSU
% In-State 27% 78%
% Out-of-State 72% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • East Tennessee State University is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (13,586 students vs. 4,135 students)

CAU vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or ETSU?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 195.4% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($23,484.00 vs. $7,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99.2% higher at CAU than East Tennessee State University ($23,484.00 vs. $11,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than CAU ($16,033 vs. $29,736)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 17% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($10,270 vs. $12,018)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at East Tennessee State University than Clark Atlanta University (85% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 21.2% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($11,188 vs. $9,228)

CAU vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 218 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming ETSU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman ETSU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at CAU (3.28)
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than CAU (64.6%)

CAU vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or ETSU? 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 ETSU and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at ETSU is higher than Clark Atlanta University (44% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from East Tennessee State University earn on average $1,600 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $38,400)
  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $10,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $31,000)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $109 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($211 vs. $320)
  • More ETSU 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/