Clark Atlanta University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, serving roughly 3,603 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 64.22% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $42,712 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $28,310
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $37,702 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 64.22% Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 3,603 98.0% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 49.02%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 32.2%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 6.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price increase of 0.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 59.4%
  • Average ACT Score: 19
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,833
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 27,672
  • Room & Board: $12,748 annual estimate

Clark Atlanta University: what the data shows

Common questions about Clark Atlanta University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Clark Atlanta University?

Clark Atlanta University is located in Atlanta, GA (ZIP 30314).

NCES locale classification: City.

Is Clark Atlanta University public or private?

Clark Atlanta University is a Private Non-profit institution.

How much does Clark Atlanta University cost?

Published tuition: $28,310.

Average net price after aid: $37,702.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$37,356
$30,001–$48,000$39,270
$48,001–$75,000$39,009
$75,001–$110,000$39,514
$110,001+$38,680

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $113,240.

How hard is it to get into Clark Atlanta University?

Admission rate: 64.22%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: midpoint ACT 19.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is Clark Atlanta University?

Total enrollment: 3,603 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 3,833 students.

Graduate enrollment: 634 students.

About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Clark Atlanta University?

150%-time completion rate: 49.02%.

First-year retention: 70.7%.

What do graduates of Clark Atlanta University earn?

Median earnings: $28,097 six years after entry; $42,712 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.

70.47% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Clark Atlanta University known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Clark Atlanta University a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 64.22%; completion rate 49.02%; median earnings $42,712 at 10 years; net price $37,702. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$28,310
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Clark Atlanta University was $28,310.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$37,702
2024 Value

In 2024 Clark Atlanta University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $37,702.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$150,808 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$37,702 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$113,240 4-Year Tuition

$12,748 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,900 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$42,958 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$171,832 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Clark Atlanta University.

Financial Aid by Income Level

70.47% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

80.17% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Clark Atlanta University was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Clark Atlanta University in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$21,100$21,100$30,575
2014$21,334$21,334$31,787
2015$21,945$21,945$32,947
2016$22,396$22,396$32,845
2017$21,892$21,892$33,496
2018$22,186$22,186$33,276
2019$23,144$23,144$34,263
2020$21,695$21,695$35,170
2021$24,012$24,012$33,836
2022$24,730$24,730$34,982
2023$26,446$26,446$35,115

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

64.22% Acceptance Rate

27,672 Total Applicants

17,884 Students Admitted

1,069 First-Time Students Enrolled

5.98% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

ACT Average: 19

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Clark Atlanta University reported total enrollment of about 3,603 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 23% male and 77% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (53.9%), Race/ethnicity unknown (38.5%), and Two or More Races (5.6%). About 70.47% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.2% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

98.0% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Clark Atlanta University in 2024 is 3,603 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,833 students. Graduate enrollment is about 634 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

70.7%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Black or African American at 53.9%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

37.04% 100% Completion Time

49.02% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 37.04% of students graduating from Clark Atlanta University completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Business Administration and Management, General: 32% male / 68% female
  • Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other: 25% male / 75% female
  • Psychology, General: 5% male / 95% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Black or African American.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Clark Atlanta University.

Return on Investment

$27,000 Median Student Debt

$42,712 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

63.21% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

183.22% Return on Investment

6.3 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Clark Atlanta University.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 35 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Business Administration and Management, General: 139 completions

2. Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other: 84 completions

3. Psychology, General: 63 completions

4. Social Work: 45 completions

5. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 40 completions

6. Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 31 completions

7. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 28 completions

8. Public Administration: 23 completions

9. Fashion/Apparel Design: 23 completions

Most popular programs at Clark Atlanta University.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Clark Atlanta University graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Clark Atlanta University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 59.4%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,446
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,940

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Clark Atlanta University is a private non-profit institution located in Atlanta, GA, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 3,603 students. Student body composition includes Black or African American (53.9%), Race/ethnicity unknown (38.5%), Two or More Races (5.6%). The admission rate is 64.22%. Average ACT scores for admitted students are 19. The 150%-time completion rate is 49.02%. Approximately 70.47% of students receive Pell Grants. About 32.2% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Private Non-profit

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity

Location

Atlanta, GA 30314

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

Clark Atlanta University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Clark Atlanta University located?

Clark Atlanta University is located in Atlanta, GA.

What is Clark Atlanta University's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at Clark Atlanta University is 64.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 27,672 applicants and 17,884 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does Clark Atlanta University cost?

Reported tuition is $28,310 and average net price is $37,702 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,748 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Clark Atlanta University?

Clark Atlanta University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,833 students, Black or African American (53.9%), Race/ethnicity unknown (38.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Clark Atlanta University?

About 32.2% of students at Clark Atlanta University are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for Clark Atlanta University?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Clark Atlanta University reports midpoint ACT about 19.

What do graduates of Clark Atlanta University earn?

Median earnings are $28,097 six years after entry and $42,712 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Clark Atlanta University?

The 150%-time completion rate is 49.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Clark Atlanta University students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.

Is Clark Atlanta University public or private?

Clark Atlanta University is a private nonprofit institution located in Atlanta, GA.

Is Clark Atlanta University an HBCU?

Yes. Clark Atlanta University is flagged as a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in IPEDS.

Is Clark Atlanta University a tribal college?

No. Clark Atlanta University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Atlanta, Georgia city profile
  • Southeast regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Georgia
  • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.