CAU vs. KWC

Deciding between Clark Atlanta University and Kentucky Wesleyan College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Clark Atlanta University
Kentucky Wesleyan College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CAU Atlanta, GA
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Setting
  • CAU Large City
  • KWC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CAU 4,252
  • KWC 887
  • Type
  • CAU Private 4 Year
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CAU #975
  • KWC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CAU United Methodist
  • KWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • CAU Non-profit
  • KWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CAU
  • KWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CAU $28,310
  • KWC $34,673
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CAU $28,310
  • KWC $34,673
  • Room & Board
  • CAU $12,748
  • KWC $11,855
  • Average Net Price
  • CAU $31,223
  • KWC $20,999
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CAU $12,453
  • KWC $25,538
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CAU 89%
  • KWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CAU 27,245
  • KWC 2,113
  • Admitted
  • CAU 17,497
  • KWC 1,513
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CAU 64.2%
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Enrolled
  • CAU 5.7%
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CAU 1000
  • KWC 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • CAU 18
  • KWC 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • CAU 3.28
  • KWC 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CAU B+
  • KWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CAU Extremely Easy
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CAU Low
  • KWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • CAU 16/20
  • KWC 16/23
  • SAT Range
  • CAU 880/1120
  • KWC 890/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CAU Test optional
  • KWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CAU Apr 1, 2027
  • KWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CAU 16:1
  • KWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CAU
    • Communication (26%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CAU 41%
  • KWC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CAU $38,400
  • KWC $38,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CAU 30%
  • KWC 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CAU $31,000
  • KWC $22,907
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CAU $320
  • KWC $236

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CAU 24%
  • KWC 50%
  • % Women
  • CAU 76%
  • KWC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CAU Extremely Low
  • KWC Low
  • HBCU
  • CAU Yes
  • KWC No
  • % White
  • CAU 0%
  • KWC 73%
  • % Asian
  • CAU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Black
  • CAU 84%
  • KWC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • CAU 0%
  • KWC 1%
  • % Native American
  • CAU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CAU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CAU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % International
  • CAU 2%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CAU 13%
  • KWC 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CAU 27%
  • KWC 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CAU 72%
  • KWC 38%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CAU Yes
  • KWC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CAU Yes
  • KWC No
  • Meal Plan
  • CAU Yes
  • KWC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CAU Yes
  • KWC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CAU No
  • KWC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA with Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clark Atlanta University is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (4,252 students vs. 887 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clark Atlanta University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); Kentucky Wesleyan College is in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting).
  • Clark Atlanta University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark Atlanta University 16:1; Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1.

CAU vs. KWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or KWC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kentucky Wesleyan College than CAU ($20,999 vs. $31,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 7% lower than at Clark Atlanta University ($11,855 vs. $12,748).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 22.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CAU (about $6,363 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $28,310.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.5% higher at KWC than at Clark Atlanta University (about $6,363 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $28,310.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at Clark Atlanta University (100% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 105.1% larger than aid received by Clark Atlanta University students ($25,538 vs. $12,453).

CAU vs. KWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CAU or KWC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between KWC and CAU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1010) is 10 points higher than at CAU (1000).
  • Incoming KWC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (19 vs. 18 at CAU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Clark Atlanta University 880/1120; Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Clark Atlanta University 16/20; Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CAU - Test optional; KWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CAU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman KWC students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at CAU (3.28).
  • KWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.6%) than CAU (64.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.7% at CAU vs. 17.7% at KWC.

CAU vs. KWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CAU and KWC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Clark Atlanta University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Kentucky Wesleyan College earn a median of about $100 more per year than CAU graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $8,093 lower median loan debt than CAU graduates ($22,907 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $84 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CAU graduates ($236 vs. $320).
  • More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.