Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Clark Atlanta University #1193 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,646 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Clark Atlanta University in the 42.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Clark Atlanta University #46 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for Pell-eligible and first-generation students. --- Clark Atlanta University's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and mobility working together. The institution serves a substantial share of Pell-eligible students while delivering meaningful earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Azimuth ranks Clark Atlanta University #1193 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private doctoral university (Carnegie R2) in Atlanta, Georgia, Clark Atlanta University enrolls roughly 3,603 undergraduates. Retention is 70.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 49.0%, reflecting the institution's commitment to supporting students through degree completion. Clark Atlanta University serves a student body with substantial financial need: 70.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.2% are first-generation college students. Where the institution performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Clark Atlanta University #1315 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,337. Graduates earn about $3,646 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Clark Atlanta University in the 42.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in Communication, which aligns with strong labor-market demand in the Atlanta region and beyond. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite, reflecting the institution's positioning as a private university with a higher sticker price relative to public peers. Mobility outcomes remain a meaningful strength, with Clark Atlanta University in the 35.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, demonstrating the institution's ability to move low-income and first-generation graduates into sustainable careers and upward economic trajectories.
Clark Atlanta University's published cost of attendance is $43,676. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $37,356, mid-low-income families pay around $39,270, middle-income families pay about $39,009, mid-high-income families pay approximately $39,514, and higher-income families pay roughly $38,680. Azimuth ranks Clark Atlanta University #1381 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Clark Atlanta participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The university's aid structure is designed to make attendance accessible across income levels, though families should verify current aid policies on the institution's financial aid website, as aid packages and eligibility criteria may shift year to year. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $61,803; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,337, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Clark Atlanta University is a strong fit for students interested in communication fields who want a private historically Black university experience in Atlanta, GA — particularly those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds seeking an institution with strong post-graduation outcomes. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,337, placing Clark Atlanta University in the 9.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $3,646 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 42.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 70.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.2% are first-generation — with a 43.1% completion rate for Pell recipients. Published cost of attendance is $38,680, though need-based aid can meaningfully reduce this for qualifying students. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 64.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Communication fields (20% of degrees). Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes relative to GA's no-degree baseline of $30,928.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Clark Atlanta University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Clark Atlanta University's published cost of attendance is $43,676. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $37,356, mid-low-income families pay around $39,270, middle-income families pay about $39,009, mid-high-income families pay approximately $39,514, and higher-income families pay roughly $38,680.
Azimuth ranks Clark Atlanta University #1381 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Clark Atlanta participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The university's aid structure is designed to make attendance accessible across income levels, though families should verify current aid policies on the institution's financial aid website, as aid packages and eligibility criteria may shift year to year.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $61,803; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,337, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Clark Atlanta University earn median 4-year earnings of $47,337, placing Clark Atlanta University in the 9.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Clark Atlanta University sits in the 42.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Clark Atlanta University #1315 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures reflect the earnings trajectory for graduates across Clark Atlanta University's diverse academic portfolio, anchored by strength in communication and related fields.
The earnings pattern centers on communication-focused majors and professional disciplines. Radio, Television, and Digital Communication is the largest program with 116 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $34,335, performing at 0.7x the national benchmark for the field.
The Business Administration program graduates 99 students with median 4-year earnings of $53,911, at 0.8x benchmark, while Psychology, General and Criminal Justice round out the core program slate with 72 and 55 graduates respectively. Biology, General completes the top five with 52 graduates earning $45,413.
The concentration in Communication — a signature strength of the institution — shapes both the earnings profile and the career pathways available to Clark Atlanta graduates in Atlanta's dynamic media, business, and professional services landscape.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shorter University Higher acceptance rate (32.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 57 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 97% | $44,604 | Compare |
Truett Mcconnell University Higher acceptance rate (26.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 70 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 91% | $46,700 | Compare |
Georgia Gwinnett College Higher acceptance rate (30.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 28 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 96% | $47,730 | Compare |
Tennessee State University Higher acceptance rate (28 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | TN | 93% | $42,730 | Compare |
Brewton-Parker College Higher acceptance rate (21.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | GA | 86% | $42,009 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Lynchburg Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32759 ranked) | VA | 43% | $56,380 | #32759 | Compare |
Cornerstone University Similar quality tier (#32761 ranked) | MI | 78% | $47,314 | #32761 | Compare |
Alfred University Similar quality tier (#32762 ranked) | NY | 74% | $54,897 | #32762 | Compare |
Cedarville University Similar quality tier (#32763 ranked) | OH | 65% | $55,443 | #32763 | Compare |
Union University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32751 ranked) | TN | 60% | $53,990 | #32751 | Compare |
Social Work
14 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
99 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
55 graduates
Biology, General
52 graduates
Psychology, General
72 graduates
Clark Atlanta University's program mix is anchored in communication, business, and social science fields—a portfolio reflecting the institution's urban Atlanta location and liberal arts identity. Radio, Television, and Digital Communication is the largest program with 116 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Psychology, General, Criminal Justice, and Biology, General.
Across 21 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied professional and communication-adjacent fields.
Social Work leads with median earnings of $54,657 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $53,911, Criminal Justice at $47,012, and Biology, General at $45,413. Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates earn $34,335, demonstrating that the institution's largest program delivers competitive early-career outcomes.
The concentration in Communication and related fields positions graduates for careers in media, marketing, public relations, and organizational communication—sectors with steady regional hiring in Atlanta's growing corporate and nonprofit sectors. Several of these programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market entry.
Social Work and Business Administration exemplify this pattern, with graduates moving into professional roles that generate measurable early income. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Clark Atlanta University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends in communication, business administration, and related service sectors.
