Clark Atlanta University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Atlanta, Georgia. It enrolls 3,603 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
49/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes29
Value2
Affordability52
Selectivity38
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 64.2%, Clark Atlanta University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
64.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Clark Atlanta University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
9.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Clark Atlanta University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $37,702 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$37,702
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
70%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
80%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$28,310
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,748
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,748
Books & Supplies
$1,900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,312
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,312
Total Cost of Attendance
$43,676
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$37,356
$30,001 – $48,000
$39,270
$48,001 – $75,000
$39,009
$75,001 – $110,000
$39,514
Over $110,000
$38,680
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$43,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,000
↓ $7,000
No Pell $15,000
↓ $12,000
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Independent students $20,000
↓ $7,000
Female students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Male students $18,500
↓ $8,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
42% of full-time students who enrolled at Clark Atlanta University graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
42%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Clark Atlanta University earn a median of $42,712 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,712
Earning > $25K
67%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 51% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Clark Atlanta University is home to 3,603 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,603
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
32%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 53.9%1,943
Other 5.7%205
Hispanic 1.2%44
White 0.3%11
International 0.3%11
Asian 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Clark Atlanta University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityAtlanta, Georgia
Housing
Strongly residential2,650 beds for 3,603 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Clark Atlanta University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
48 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Clark Atlanta University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$326M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$74,728
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
207 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
44
21%
$93,001
Associate Professors
68
33%
$76,489
Assistant Professors
54
26%
$68,263
Instructors
32
15%
$61,458
Lecturers
9
4%
$58,063
Pros & Cons of Clark Atlanta University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Clark Atlanta University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
Frequently Asked Questions about Clark Atlanta University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Clark Atlanta University.
Is Clark Atlanta University hard to get into?
Admissions at Clark Atlanta University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 64.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Clark Atlanta University?
Clark Atlanta University has an acceptance rate of 64.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Clark Atlanta University cost?
The average net price after aid at Clark Atlanta University is $37,702 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Clark Atlanta University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,712 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $37,702 per year. That's roughly 1.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Clark Atlanta University known for?
Clark Atlanta University is best known for its programs in Radio, Television & Digital Media, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Clark Atlanta University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Clark Atlanta University are $42,712, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Clark Atlanta University accredited?
Yes. Clark Atlanta University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Clark Atlanta University?
Clark Atlanta University enrolls 3,603 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Clark Atlanta University?
Clark Atlanta University graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Clark Atlanta University a public or private college?
Clark Atlanta University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Clark Atlanta University located?
Clark Atlanta University is located in Atlanta, Georgia.
What programs does Clark Atlanta University offer?
Clark Atlanta University offers 48 distinct programs. The most popular include Radio, Television & Digital Media, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Clark Atlanta University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Clark Atlanta University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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