

Clark Atlanta University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval or accreditation of an individual professional program.
Accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and can be important when applying to graduate school or seeking to transfer credit. It does not, however, require another college to accept a particular course. Applicants considering business, education, social work, or another professionally regulated field should separately check the current standing of the specific program and the licensing rules in the state where they expect to work.
First-year applicants to Clark Atlanta University generally need an application, a secondary-school transcript, and evidence of high school completion or an equivalent credential. The university reviews academic preparation rather than operating as an open-admission institution.
Admissions records identify the secondary-school record, GPA, and completion of a college-preparatory program as requirements. Class rank is not required, and recommendations may be considered without being mandatory. SAT and ACT scores are not listed as required or recommended in the reported admissions criteria; applicants should check the policy for their intended entry term before deciding whether to send scores. English-proficiency documentation, including a TOEFL result when applicable, may be required of applicants whose circumstances call for it.
For perspective, the reported first-year admission rate is about 64%: 17,497 applicants were admitted from a pool of 27,245. That figure describes an applicant cohort, not an individual's probability of admission. Graduate applicants and applicants to particular programs may face separate forms, deadlines, prerequisites, or review standards.
Clark Atlanta University's reported undergraduate application fee is $35. Applicants should check the fee displayed in the application they plan to submit, because charges and waiver procedures can differ by application route or applicant category.
An application-fee waiver, when available, should be requested through the applicable application process or admissions office before paying; a waiver of the application fee is not the same as a waiver of an enrollment deposit. Students with financial need should review the instructions for their application platform and ask admissions what documentation, if any, is required. Graduate and other non-first-year applicants should verify their own fee rather than assuming the undergraduate amount applies.
Clark Atlanta students may explore Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC through cooperative arrangements with host institutions rather than assuming that CAU operates a separate unit for each branch on its campus.
ROTC typically combines college coursework with military training. Participation, scholarship selection, cross-registration, and eventual service obligations differ by branch and by a student's status. An interested applicant should ask the relevant host detachment whether CAU students can enroll in the intended term, how its courses fit a CAU schedule, and what commitments would accompany a scholarship or commissioning track.
Clark Atlanta University accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credit earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer admission and the award of credit toward a CAU degree are separate decisions: being admitted does not mean every previous course will satisfy a major or graduation requirement.
Transfer students can enter in the fall, spring, or summer under the reported enrollment options. Applicants should be prepared to provide official transcripts from every college attended and should check whether a high school record is also required for their circumstances. The university also reports accepting Advanced Placement credit and certain CLEP subject examinations; the applicable score, course equivalency, and degree requirement should be checked individually.
Before enrolling, a transfer applicant should request a formal evaluation showing both the number of credits accepted and where those credits apply in the intended degree plan. That distinction is particularly important for sequenced majors and for students who must complete a minimum number of credits at CAU to earn its degree.
Students interested in studying abroad should check Clark Atlanta University's current international education offerings and approval process before applying to an external program. The key academic question is whether courses taken abroad will count toward a particular CAU degree.
Options can vary by destination, term, and sponsoring organization; a program advertised by a third party should not be assumed to be operated by the university. Students should obtain academic approval in advance, confirm how credits and grades will be recorded, and ask financial aid staff whether their particular aid package can be used for the proposed program. Passport, travel, housing, and insurance costs can also change the financial picture substantially.
6% of admitted students enrolled (1,000 of 17,497)
Regular application deadline
May 1Application fee
$35Early Decision
Yes, deadline November 1Early Action
Yes, deadline November 1Median composite SAT score
957Median composite ACT score
19High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Neither required nor recommendedSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Neither required nor recommendedTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
NoGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.