Philander Smith College vs Clark Atlanta

Philander Smith College and Clark Atlanta University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Philander Smith College, nestled in Little Rock, Arkansas, boasts a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community feel, while Clark Atlanta University, located in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, offers a larger and more diverse student population. With acceptance rates of 68% and 54%, respectively, both universities provide accessible pathways to higher education. While Philander Smith College excels in the fields of Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Psychology, Clark Atlanta University shines in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these institutions, including graduation rates, student demographics, and additional academic programs, to make an informed decision that aligns with your educational aspirations and goals.
Clark Atlanta University logo

Clark Atlanta University

Philander Smith College logo

Philander Smith College

Overview

Location Atlanta, Georgia Little Rock, Arkansas
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 70.0% 55.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 58.2% Open Admission
Application fees
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $40
$25
SAT range 860 - 1053 N/A
ACT range 17 - 20 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 19.0%
Students submitting ACT score 8.0%
Total number of applicants 16,718
Total number of admissions given out 9,737
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,123
Yield rate 11.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $39,446 $31,724
Average net price $29,739 $14,396
Tuition $21,308 $11,804
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,874

Meal plan: $4,348
Room/dormitory: $5,192

Meal plan: $3,058
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

86.0%
Average amount $8,674
98.0%
Average amount $11,505
Students receiving federal student loan 93.0%
Average amount $8,385
57.0%
Average amount $5,451
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $9,954
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,390
Men 23.7% Women 76.3%
710
Men 36.1% Women 63.9%
Graduate students 665
Men 27.5% Women 72.5%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 77.9% N/A
International students 1.1% 5.4%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 2,162 522
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Georgia Illinois New York Maryland California N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 41.6% 28.2%
Dropout rate 39.7% 68.8%
Transferred out 17.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,378
  • Year 2: $43,030
  • Year 3: $47,036
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,161
  • Year 2: $40,068
  • Year 3: $43,257
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,583
  • Year 2: $23,649
  • Year 3: $34,496
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,894
  • Year 2: $24,730
  • Year 3: $29,620
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,229
  • Year 2: $23,166
  • Year 3: $28,399
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,727
  • Year 2: $25,405
  • Year 3: $27,427
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,408
  • Year 2: $21,781
  • Year 3: $26,974
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $24,421
  • Year 3: $24,839
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,925
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,566
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: N/A
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,677
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $34,628
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,231
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $28,884
Biological and Physical Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,774
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: N/A

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