CAU vs. WSSU

Deciding between Clark Atlanta University and Winston Salem State University? 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
Winston Salem State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CAU Atlanta, GA
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • CAU Large City
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CAU 4,252
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Type
  • CAU Private 4 Year
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CAU #975
  • WSSU #940
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CAU United Methodist
  • WSSU -
  • Status
  • CAU Non-profit
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CAU
  • WSSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CAU $28,310
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CAU $28,310
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Room & Board
  • CAU $12,748
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Average Net Price
  • CAU $31,223
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CAU $12,453
  • WSSU $10,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CAU 89%
  • WSSU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CAU 27,245
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Admitted
  • CAU 17,497
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CAU 64.2%
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Enrolled
  • CAU 5.7%
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CAU 1000
  • WSSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • CAU 18
  • WSSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • CAU 3.28
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CAU B+
  • WSSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • CAU Extremely Easy
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CAU Low
  • WSSU
  • ACT Range
  • CAU 16/20
  • WSSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • CAU 880/1120
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CAU Test optional
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CAU Apr 1, 2027
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CAU 16:1
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CAU
    • Communication (26%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CAU 41%
  • WSSU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CAU $38,400
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CAU 30%
  • WSSU 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CAU $31,000
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CAU $320
  • WSSU $265

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CAU 24%
  • WSSU 26%
  • % Women
  • CAU 76%
  • WSSU 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CAU Extremely Low
  • WSSU Low
  • HBCU
  • CAU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • % White
  • CAU 0%
  • WSSU 16%
  • % Asian
  • CAU 0%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Black
  • CAU 84%
  • WSSU 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • CAU 0%
  • WSSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • CAU 0%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CAU 0%
  • WSSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CAU 0%
  • WSSU 4%
  • % International
  • CAU 2%
  • WSSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CAU 13%
  • WSSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CAU 27%
  • WSSU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CAU 72%
  • WSSU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA with Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Winston Salem State University is larger than CAU based on total student enrollment (4,782 students vs. 4,252 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clark Atlanta University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); Winston Salem State University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Clark Atlanta University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark Atlanta University 16:1; Winston Salem State University 15:1.

CAU vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or WSSU? 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 Winston Salem State University than CAU ($12,989 vs. $31,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 9.9% lower than at Clark Atlanta University ($11,484 vs. $12,748).
  • Clark Atlanta University is 362.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $22,184 more per year; $28,310.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.7% higher at CAU than at Winston Salem State University (about $11,528 more per year; $28,310.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Winston Salem State University than at Clark Atlanta University (91% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 23.8% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($12,453 vs. $10,057).

CAU vs. WSSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CAU or WSSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WSSU and CAU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clark Atlanta University (1000) is 70 points higher than at WSSU (930).
  • Incoming CAU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 17 at WSSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clark Atlanta University 880/1120; Winston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clark Atlanta University 16/20; Winston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CAU - Test optional; WSSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CAU Apr 1, 2027; WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than CAU (64.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.7% at CAU vs. 13.1% at WSSU.

CAU vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CAU and WSSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The graduation rate at CAU is the same as at Winston Salem State University (41% vs. 41%).
  • Graduates from Clark Atlanta University earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,400 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Winston Salem State University graduates have a $5,337 lower median loan debt than CAU graduates ($25,663 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, WSSU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CAU graduates ($265 vs. $320).
  • More WSSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.