CAU vs. KY State

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

 CAU KY State
Location Atlanta, GA Frankfort, KY
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,135 1,689
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #1018
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu kysu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CAU KY State
Tuition (In State) $23,484 $8,088
Tuition (Out of State) $23,484 $12,134
Room & Board $12,018 $8,186
Avg Net Price $29,736 $9,672
Avg Grant Aid $11,188 $9,850
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 98%

Admission

 CAU KY State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,672 2,001
Admitted 17,884 1,852
Acceptance Rate 64.6% 92.6%
Enrolled % 6% 18.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 2.72
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 14/20
SAT Range 880/1120 820/1010
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 KY State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 CAU KY State
Graduation Rate 41% 21%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $31,000
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 24%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $299

Diversity

 CAU KY State
% Men 4% 4%
% Women 11% 5%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 0% 27%
% Black 84% 57%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 13% 9%

Students

 CAU KY State
% In-State 27% 35%
% Out-of-State 72% 64%

Campus

 CAU KY 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

  • Clark Atlanta University is larger than than KY State based on total student enrollment (4,135 students vs. 1,689 students)

CAU vs. KY State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or KY State?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 190.4% more expensive to attend than KY State for in-state tuition ($23,484.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 93.5% higher at CAU than Kentucky State University ($23,484.00 vs. $12,134.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kentucky State University than CAU ($9,672 vs. $29,736)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky State University are 46.8% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($8,186 vs. $12,018)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kentucky State University than Clark Atlanta University (98% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 13.6% larger than aid received Kentucky State University ($11,188 vs. $9,850)

CAU vs. KY State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Kentucky State University (931) is 81 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming KY State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at KY State (2.72)
  • KY State has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than CAU (64.6%)

CAU vs. KY State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or KY 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 KY State and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at CAU is higher than Kentucky State University (41% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from Clark Atlanta University earn on average $7,400 more per year than KY State graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $31,000)
  • Kentucky State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($29,000 vs. $31,000)
  • KY State graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($299 vs. $320)
  • More CAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KY State students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 24%)

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