CAU vs. RU

Should I go to Clark Atlanta University or Radford University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CAU or RU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Old Dominion Longwood University JMU NCAT Morehouse Florida A&M VSU Tuskegee University Virginia Tech Spelman VCU Tennessee State University
Clark Atlanta University vs. Radford University comparison
Clark Atlanta University Radford University College 3 College 4
Clark Atlanta University Radford University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

CAU RU
Location Atlanta, GA Radford, VA
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,000 7,718
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #566
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CAU RU
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $20,246
Room & Board $10,982 $10,567
Avg Net Price $30,015 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 96%

Admission

CAU RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 11,442
Admitted 9,088 10,680
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 93.3%
Enrolled % 12.7% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 19/23
SAT Range 880/1120 960/1160
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

Academics

CAU RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

CAU RU
Graduation Rate 41% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $237

Diversity

CAU RU
% Men 24% 33%
% Women 76% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 71%
% Black 84% 13%
% Hispanic 0% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 13% 1%

Students

CAU RU
% In-State 27% 89%
% Out-of-State 72% 11%

Campus

CAU RU
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

  • Radford University is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or RU?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 169.1% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $8,156.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.4% higher at CAU than Radford University ($21,948.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than CAU ($17,105 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 3.9% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($10,567 vs. $10,982)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Clark Atlanta University (96% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 3.2% larger than aid received Clark Atlanta University ($9,733 vs. $9,431)

CAU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman RU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at CAU (3.28)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Clark Atlanta University (56% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $9,000 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $38,400)
  • Radford University students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $31,000)
  • RU graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($237 vs. $320)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 30%)

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