Northwest Florida State College vs. CAU

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

 Northwest Florida State College CAU
Location Niceville, FL Atlanta, GA
Setting Midsize Suburban Large City
Enrollment 5,160 4,135
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #976
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwfsc.edu cau.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Northwest Florida State College CAU
Tuition (In State) $2,496 $23,484
Tuition (Out of State) $9,425 $23,484
Room & Board $8,930 $12,018
Avg Net Price $6,339 $29,736
Avg Grant Aid $6,219 $11,188
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 78%

Admission

 Northwest Florida State College CAU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 27,672
Admitted - 17,884
Acceptance Rate Open 64.6%
Enrolled % Open 6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.28
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20
SAT Range 880/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2026

Academics

 Northwest Florida State College CAU
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (59%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

 Northwest Florida State College CAU
Graduation Rate - 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,400 $38,400
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 30%
Median Student Loan Debt $4,370 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $45 $320

Diversity

 Northwest Florida State College CAU
% Men 16% 4%
% Women 23% 11%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 69% 0%
% Black 8% 84%
% Hispanic 9% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 0%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 13%

Students

 Northwest Florida State College CAU
% In-State 94% 27%
% Out-of-State 5% 72%

Campus

 Northwest Florida State College CAU
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwest Florida State College is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (5,160 students vs. 4,135 students)

Northwest Florida State College vs. CAU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwest Florida State College or CAU?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 840.9% more expensive to attend than Northwest Florida State College for in-state tuition ($23,484.00 vs. $2,496.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 149.2% higher at CAU than Northwest Florida State College ($23,484.00 vs. $9,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwest Florida State College than CAU ($6,339 vs. $29,736)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Florida State College are 34.6% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($8,930 vs. $12,018)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clark Atlanta University than Northwest Florida State College (78% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 79.9% larger than aid received Northwest Florida State College ($11,188 vs. $6,219)

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

Northwest Florida State College vs. CAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwest Florida State College or CAU? 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 CAU and Northwest Florida State College.

  • Graduates from Clark Atlanta University earn on average $6,000 more per year than Northwest Florida State College graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $32,400)
  • Northwest Florida State College students graduate with a $26,630 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($4,370 vs. $31,000)
  • Northwest Florida State College graduates are paying $275 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($45 vs. $320)
  • More Northwest Florida State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 30%)

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