CAU vs. WKU

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

 CAU WKU
Location Atlanta, GA Bowling Green, KY
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 4,000 16,493
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #875
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CAU WKU
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $27,000
Room & Board $10,982 $11,072
Avg Net Price $30,015 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 99%

Admission

 CAU WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 7,505
Admitted 9,088 7,276
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 96.9%
Enrolled % 12.7% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 18/25
SAT Range 880/1120 980/1170
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, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 CAU WKU
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%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

 CAU WKU
Graduation Rate 41% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $320 $250

Diversity

 CAU WKU
% Men 24% 37%
% Women 76% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 76%
% Black 84% 10%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 13% 1%

Students

 CAU WKU
% In-State 27% 70%
% Out-of-State 72% 29%

Campus

 CAU WKU
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

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or WKU?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 97.5% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $11,112.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23% higher at WKU than Clark Atlanta University ($27,000.00 vs. $21,948.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than CAU ($12,625 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark Atlanta University are 0.8% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,982 vs. $11,072)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 8.8% larger than aid received Clark Atlanta University ($10,260 vs. $9,431)

CAU vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 197 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at CAU (3.28)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Clark Atlanta University (50% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Clark Atlanta University earn on average $1,300 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $37,100)
  • Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $6,750 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $31,000)
  • WKU graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($250 vs. $320)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 30%)

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