Clark Atlanta University
#10 Best HBCUs for Visual- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,712 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $37,702 F
- 120% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 64% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.6 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Best HBCUs for Visual.
Every $1 spent returns $10.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,449,081.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Social mobility rate of 3.30% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Clark Atlanta University Matters
Clark Atlanta University is a private research university in Atlanta, GA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 3,603
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU · 71
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Communications, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Clark Atlanta University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 64% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $37,702 a year after grants and scholarships — 120% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,712 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 7% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.39 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Clark Atlanta University serves 3,603 students and maintains a 64% acceptance rate. This accessibility makes it a viable option for many prospective students seeking higher education.
According to Opportunity Insights data, Clark Atlanta has a significant percentage of students receiving Pell Grants, with 70% of the student body benefiting from this financial aid. While the graduation rate stands at 48%, the economic mobility outcomes for graduates are not clearly defined in available data.
The net price for attending Clark Atlanta is $37,702. Graduates typically earn around $42,712 within ten years of completing their degree, while the median debt upon graduation is $27,000. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in business, communications, psychology, and the arts, finding a supportive community in a diverse urban environment.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Clark Atlanta University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clark Atlanta University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Clark Atlanta University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 64% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 19. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- Full-Time Faculty
- 59%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,446
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 16,153
- Admitted
- 9,088
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clark Atlanta University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Clark Atlanta University is $28,310, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $37,702. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $37,356 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $28,310
- Out-of-State
- $28,310
- Avg Net Price
- $37,702
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 70%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 80%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $37,356
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $39,270
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $39,009
- Family Income $110K+
- $38,680
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Clark Atlanta University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Clark Atlanta University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Clark Atlanta University report median earnings of $42,712, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,097
- 8 Years
- $36,146
- 10 Years
- $42,712
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.63x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (197)
- 28%
- 100% (197)
- 28%
- 100% (197)
- 28%
- 100% (197)
- 28%
How Clark Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Clark Atlanta University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Clark Atlanta University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $37,702/year ($150,808 total). Graduates earn $42,712 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,599,889 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,449,081 (10.6× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $150,808
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,599,889
- Net Return
- $1,449,081
- ROI Multiple
- 10.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $37,702
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Clark Atlanta University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Clark Atlanta University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.30%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $54,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.30%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 17.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $74,046
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-13,251,256
Top Programs
The fields Clark Atlanta University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 25% $47,608 early-career
- Communications 15% $29,384 early-career
- Psychology 13% $27,526 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 11% $29,017 early-career
- Criminal Justice 10% $28,100 early-career
- Social Sciences 6%
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $30,186 early-career
- Education 4% $43,893 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Clark Atlanta University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clark Atlanta University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Clark Atlanta University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 64% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 19. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clark Atlanta University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Clark Atlanta University is $28,310, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $37,702. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $37,356 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Clark Atlanta University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Clark Atlanta University report median earnings of $42,712, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Clark Atlanta University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Clark Atlanta University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.30%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $54,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Clark Atlanta University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Clark Atlanta University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Clark Atlanta University.
- Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne, FL · Close peer64% grad $43,137 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence, RI · Close peer55% grad $43,418 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, SC · Close peer67% grad $42,101 earn 55% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR · Close peer48% grad $42,386 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Lynn UniversityBoca Raton, FL · Close peer52% grad $49,006 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Morehouse CollegeAtlanta, GA · Close peer56% grad $52,889 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar net price · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Clark Atlanta University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Clark Atlanta University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note