CAU vs. VSU

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

CAU VSU
Location Atlanta, GA Valdosta, GA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 4,000 10,209
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #982
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu valdosta.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CAU VSU
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $15,426
Room & Board $10,982 $8,922
Avg Net Price $30,015 $12,836
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $9,875
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 99%

Admission

CAU VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 4,975
Admitted 9,088 4,451
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 89.5%
Enrolled % 12.7% 25.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.23
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 17/21
SAT Range 880/1120 950/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2024 Jun 15, 2024

Academics

CAU VSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

CAU VSU
Graduation Rate 41% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $40,300
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 41%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $258

Diversity

CAU VSU
% Men 24% 31%
% Women 76% 69%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 51%
% Black 84% 36%
% Hispanic 0% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 13% 0%

Students

CAU VSU
% In-State 27% 69%
% Out-of-State 72% 30%

Campus

CAU VSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Valdosta State University is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (10,209 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or VSU?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 402.1% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.3% higher at CAU than Valdosta State University ($21,948.00 vs. $15,426.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Valdosta State University than CAU ($12,836 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valdosta State University are 23.1% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($8,922 vs. $10,982)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Valdosta State University than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valdosta State University students is 4.7% larger than aid received Clark Atlanta University ($9,875 vs. $9,431)

CAU vs. VSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Valdosta State University (993) is 143 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming VSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman CAU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at VSU (3.23)
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or VSU? 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 VSU and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Clark Atlanta University (43% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Valdosta State University earn on average $1,900 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $38,400)
  • Valdosta State University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
  • VSU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($258 vs. $320)
  • More VSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 30%)

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