CAU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate

Should I go to Clark Atlanta University or University of South Carolina Upstate? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CAU or University of South Carolina-Upstate 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. University of South Carolina Upstate comparison
Clark Atlanta University University of South Carolina Upstate College 3 College 4
Clark Atlanta University
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Overview

CAU University of South Carolina-Upstate
Location Atlanta, GA Spartanburg, SC
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 4,000 4,913
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #823
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu uscupstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CAU University of South Carolina-Upstate
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $11,208
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $22,170
Room & Board $10,982 $9,520
Avg Net Price $30,015 $13,835
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $12,038
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 99%

Admission

CAU University of South Carolina-Upstate
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 3,090
Admitted 9,088 2,428
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 78.6%
Enrolled % 12.7% 28.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 2.53
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 20/25
SAT Range 880/1120 950/1150
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 University of South Carolina-Upstate
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

CAU University of South Carolina-Upstate
Graduation Rate 41% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $39,300
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $320 $232

Diversity

CAU University of South Carolina-Upstate
% Men 24% 32%
% Women 76% 68%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 56%
% Black 84% 29%
% Hispanic 0% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 13% 2%

Students

CAU University of South Carolina-Upstate
% In-State 27% 92%
% Out-of-State 72% 6%

Campus

CAU University of South Carolina-Upstate
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Upstate is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (4,913 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or University of South Carolina-Upstate?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 95.8% more expensive to attend than University of South Carolina-Upstate for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $11,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1% higher at University of South Carolina-Upstate than Clark Atlanta University ($22,170.00 vs. $21,948.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Upstate than CAU ($13,835 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Upstate are 15.4% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($9,520 vs. $10,982)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Upstate than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Upstate students is 27.6% larger than aid received Clark Atlanta University ($12,038 vs. $9,431)

CAU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Upstate (950) is 100 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming University of South Carolina-Upstate students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.75 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.53)
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate has a higher acceptance rate (78.6%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or University of South Carolina-Upstate? 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 University of South Carolina-Upstate and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at CAU is higher than University of South Carolina Upstate (41% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Upstate earn on average $900 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($39,300 vs. $38,400)
  • University of South Carolina Upstate students graduate with a $8,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $31,000)
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are paying $88 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($232 vs. $320)
  • More University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 30%)

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