Clark Atlanta University Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on October 31, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~60%
  • Middle 50% ACT: N/A
  • Middle 50% SAT: N/A
  • Average GPA: N/A

Clark Atlanta is the largest school in the Atlanta University Center, sitting right next to Morehouse and Spelman, and the largest of the UNCF member colleges. It is a private, United Methodist-affiliated research university, and in 2025 it kept its R2 research status, one of only two private HBCUs with that designation. About two out of three CAU students come from outside Georgia, so most families here are paying the same price no matter where they live.

Admission is test-optional and the door is fairly wide (roughly 60% of first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025). The part families underestimate is the money. CAU does not post a scholarship chart, and the price after aid looks very similar whether your family earns $30,000 or $130,000. That is why the timing and paperwork below matter so much.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Clark Atlanta University at a Glance

Average Net Price
$37,702/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
Competitive, amounts not published
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
5 opportunities
1 competitive · 4 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
3.3+ GPA to be considered
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (scores rarely sent)
Scores optional for automatic merit
Scores needed for some competitive awards
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 1 • FAFSA: Feb 1
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Clark Atlanta (Read This First)

  • “Automatically considered” is not “automatically awarded.” Every freshman applicant is reviewed for merit, but CAU says many students who meet the criteria still get nothing. There is no published chart, so you will not know the amount until the offer email arrives.
  • November 1 is the real money deadline. For scholarship priority, both the application and the official transcripts need to be in by Early Action. After that, CAU hands out what is left.
  • Merit is not automatically renewable. CAU’s own FAQ says merit amounts can change year to year based on GPA and available funding. Budget for year two without assuming the same number.
  • The net price barely moves with income. In the latest federal breakdown, families earning under $30,000 paid about $33,600 a year after grants, and families over $110,000 paid about $39,900. Plan your Parent PLUS conversation early.
  • Health insurance is billed automatically. $1,318 a year lands on the bill unless your student files a waiver between July 1 and August 31. Athletes cannot waive it.
  • Skip fall and the scholarship is gone. A CAU scholarship offered for fall is cancelled if the student does not enroll that fall. It does not roll over to spring.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Clark Atlanta University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).

Do you need test scores for scholarships at Clark Atlanta University? Test-optional for admission and merit; scores only help if sent. The Honors Program still asks for SAT 980 or ACT 20.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.

Average net price? About $37,702/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.

Sources:
CollegeReadyParent GA state aid guide: https://collegereadyparent.org/georgia/
CAU Tuition, Aid and Scholarships: https://www.cau.edu/admissions/tuition-aid-scholarships
CAU Scholarships and Discounts: https://www.cau.edu/admissions/tuition-aid-scholarships/scholarships-and-discounts
CAU Scholarship Portal: https://cau.academicworks.com/opportunities/4304
AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective: https://aucartcollective.org/about/scholarships/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at Clark Atlanta University: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Clark Atlanta University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $900 to $2,300 more than the total below.

✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.

All students: billed cost per year
$45,618
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $31,540
Housing & meals (typical) $14,078
Total billed cost $45,618

Average federal net price: $37,702 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

What the Bill Really Looks Like
  • Same price for everyone. CAU is private, so a family from Georgia and a family from California see the same tuition. Georgia residents get help through state money (HOPE, Zell Miller and the Tuition Equalization Grant), which shows up in the automatic scholarship section below.
  • The fees include books. The $3,578 in mandatory fees includes a $940 “IncludED” book fee, so most course materials are already on the bill.
  • Freshmen live on campus and eat on the top plan. Housing is required for freshmen and sophomores, and every freshman is placed on the unlimited Platinum meal plan ($5,750). The housing figure above uses a traditional double room ($8,328).
  • Watch for the insurance line. The $1,318 student health insurance charge is added for every full-time undergraduate unless they waive it with proof of other coverage.
  • CAU’s official budget runs higher. For financial aid purposes CAU uses a $56,018 cost of attendance, which adds transportation, personal expenses and a pricier room rate. That bigger number is the ceiling for how much aid and loans your student can receive.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Clark Atlanta University

Does Clark Atlanta charge out-of-state students more?
No. CAU is a private university, so tuition is the same for every student. The difference for Georgia families is state aid: Georgia residents can add HOPE or Zell Miller and the Tuition Equalization Grant on top of anything CAU offers.

Why is the net price so close for every income level?
CAU’s own grant money is limited and spread across a student body where about 70% of students receive Pell Grants. In the most recent federal breakdown, the lowest-income families paid only about $6,000 a year less than the highest-income families. Use CAU’s net price calculator and assume loans will be part of the plan unless your student brings in outside scholarships.

Can my student skip the health insurance charge?
Yes, if they have other coverage. The waiver window for fall is July 1 to August 31, and a fall waiver carries into spring. Students must be registered for classes before filing. Student athletes must stay on the university plan.

Can my student live off campus to save money?
Not right away. On-campus housing is required for freshmen, sophomores, and transfer students with fewer than 58 credit hours. Even commuters must buy at least the smallest meal plan.

Is there a discount if two of my kids attend?
Yes. The Sibling Tuition Discount can take up to 33% off tuition when two dependent siblings are enrolled at the same time. Paperwork is due July 1. The catch: it cannot be combined with other CAU scholarship money, so compare it against any merit offer before choosing.

Can we spread the bill out?
Yes. CAU offers monthly payment plans each semester, with a $70 enrollment fee. The earlier you sign up, the more months you get to spread the balance across.

Sources:
https://www.cau.edu/admissions/tuition-aid-scholarships/tuition-and-fees
https://www.cau.edu/sites/default/files/2026-07/2026-2027%20Undergraduate%20Packet_0.pdf
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=138947

📅 CAU Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

  • August 1: The CAU application opens.
  • November 1: Early Action. Application and official transcripts in for merit scholarship priority.
  • February 1: CAU’s financial aid deadline. Have the FAFSA filed (school code 001559).
  • July 1: Sibling Discount and Ministerial Discount paperwork due.

Parent rule of thumb: at CAU, scholarship money goes out while it lasts. Treat November 1 as your deadline even if your student is still deciding.

Automatic Scholarships at Clark Atlanta University

Here is the honest version: Clark Atlanta does not have a guaranteed merit chart where a certain GPA equals a certain dollar amount. Every freshman is reviewed for merit when they apply, but the awards are competitive and the amounts are not published. You will find that CAU merit award in the competitive section below.

The money that is close to automatic at CAU comes from the State of Georgia. If your student is a Georgia resident, the cards below show what the state adds. Families from other states can use the filter to hide them.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomaticstate residency
Zell Miller Scholarship
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or GSFAPP on file by the last day of the term
✓ Renews (3.3 GPA)
$7,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.7+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1200 SATGeorgia resident; 3.7 HOPE GPA plus 1200 SAT or 25 ACT from a single sitting before graduation; or valedictorian/salutatorian with a 3.0
✚
Stacking & Combining
At a private Georgia college Zell pays $250 a credit hour, up to $3,750 a semester at 15 hours. Replaces HOPE rather than adding to it, and stacks with the college's own aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Clark Atlanta University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent GA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who hit 1200 or 25 in one sitting before graduation. The superscore trap catches people every year: Zell does not combine test dates, even though colleges do. The 3.3 renewal GPA is where most Zell students fall to HOPE.
State AidAutomaticstate residency
HOPE Scholarship
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or GSFAPP on file by the last day of the term
✓ Renews (3 GPA)
$5,970/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPAGeorgia resident; 3.0 HOPE GPA at graduation plus four rigor credits; no test score needed
✚
Stacking & Combining
State money that stacks with every college award. At a private Georgia college HOPE pays a flat $2,985 a semester at 12 or more hours.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Clark Atlanta University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent GA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Nearly every Georgia graduate with a 3.0 HOPE GPA. The losses happen at the 30, 60, and 90 hour checkpoints; the 90 hour miss is permanent, and a lot of families do not know that.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyneed based
Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant
📅 Deadline: Set by each college, per term
✓ Renews
$1,100–$1,650/yr
✔ Stackable
Georgia resident enrolled full time at an eligible private Georgia college; no GPA or income test
✚
Stacking & Combining
$550 a semester, up to three semesters a year, for simply being a Georgia resident at a private college. Stacks with HOPE or Zell and with the college's aid. The legislature resets the amount every year.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Clark Atlanta University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent GA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every full-time Georgia resident at a private college who asks. It is small, but it is automatic, and families who skip the form leave $1,100 on the table every year.

This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.

Note: Georgia state aid follows the student’s HOPE GPA and residency, not CAU’s admission decision. Zell Miller replaces HOPE rather than adding to it, and both stack with any CAU scholarship.

Automatic Scholarships: FAQs (Clark Atlanta University)

Does Clark Atlanta give automatic merit scholarships?
Not in the guaranteed sense. Freshmen are automatically considered for merit with no extra application, but CAU says meeting the minimum does not guarantee an award and many qualified students get nothing.

What GPA do I need to be considered for CAU merit?
CAU’s scholarship page lists a 3.3 minimum. One admissions FAQ says 3.0 unweighted, so treat 3.3 as the safe target. Test scores are optional and only help if sent.

Can Georgia residents use HOPE at Clark Atlanta?
Yes. CAU is an eligible private Georgia college, so Georgia graduates with a 3.0 HOPE GPA can bring HOPE (or Zell Miller with the higher GPA and test score), plus the Tuition Equalization Grant.

Do out-of-state students get anything automatic?
Not from the state. Out-of-state students rely on the CAU merit review, federal aid, and outside scholarships. Since about two out of three CAU students come from outside Georgia, outside scholarships matter a lot here.

When will we hear about a merit award?
CAU sends scholarship decisions by email and posts them to the financial aid award in Banner Web. Early Action applicants with complete files are reviewed first.

Sources:
https://www.cau.edu/admissions/tuition-aid-scholarships/scholarships-and-discounts
https://www.cau.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions
https://www.cau.edu/admissions/tuition-aid-scholarships/financial-aid

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Clark Atlanta runs one main merit review for freshmen, and it is competitive. There is no essay contest or finalist weekend for a named full ride. Your student’s admission file is the scholarship application, which means a complete file by November 1 is the single most important thing you control.
Automatic
CAU First-Year Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 (Early Action, complete file)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPAIncoming first-year students; 3.3 GPA minimum (admissions FAQ lists 3.0 unweighted); test scores optional
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with Pell, HOPE or Zell Miller, the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant, and outside scholarships. It cannot be paired with the Sibling Discount, which CAU says does not combine with other non-federal institutional money.
💡
Strategic Detail
CAU does not publish award amounts or tiers. Per CAU's scholarship FAQ, merit is awarded year by year, is not automatically renewable, and amounts can change with GPA and available funding. If a student does not enroll in fall, the award is cancelled and does not carry to spring. CAU's scholarships page lists a 3.3 GPA minimum; its admissions FAQ says 3.0 unweighted. We show the stricter number.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who apply in the Early Action window with a complete file and grades well above the 3.3 floor. CAU says plainly that many students who meet the criteria get nothing, and money goes out while funding lasts, so a spring application is competing for whatever is left.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at CAU?

Aid Type Stacks with CAU Merit? Parent Translation
Georgia HOPE / Zell / TEG Yes State money sits on top of whatever CAU offers. Zell replaces HOPE rather than adding to it.
Pell and federal grants Yes File the FAFSA by February 1 so federal money is in the package.
Sibling Discount No It cannot be combined with other CAU money, so you pick the bigger of the two.
NROTC Room and Board Replaces The NROTC package replaces CAU aid awarded before it, but together with the Navy’s tuition it is close to a free ride.
Outside scholarships Usually Total aid cannot exceed CAU’s cost of attendance, so very large outside awards can trigger adjustments. Report them early.

The bigger competitive dollars at CAU tend to come from outside: UNCF (CAU is its largest member school), the AUC Art History Collective, departmental donors in the scholarship portal, and national awards. Families who treat CAU merit as one piece and build the rest from outside scholarships usually do best here.

❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs

How do I apply for the CAU First-Year Merit Scholarship?
You do not apply separately. Submit the CAU application and get official transcripts in by November 1. CAU reviews that complete file for merit.

How much is the CAU merit scholarship?
CAU does not publish amounts or tiers. Awards vary by student and by how much funding is available that year.

Will the merit scholarship renew every year?
Not automatically. CAU says merit is awarded yearly when students meet the criteria, and amounts can change based on GPA and funding. Keep grades high and plan for the possibility of a different number in year two.

My student has great grades and got nothing. What now?
It happens often at CAU because many students meet the criteria and funding is limited. Ask the Office of Scholarships and Awards about gap funding, apply to outside scholarships hard, and know that continuing students can earn merit later through the Undergraduate Studies Scholarship.

Does Clark Atlanta have a full-ride scholarship for freshmen?
Not one that CAU currently publishes. The closest paths are pairing a national NROTC tuition scholarship with CAU’s room and board award, or winning large outside scholarships.

How can my student stand out in outside scholarship applications?
Strong essays and an organized list of activities matter most. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help families pull that together.

Sources:
https://www.cau.edu/admissions/tuition-aid-scholarships/scholarships-and-discounts
https://www.cau.edu/sites/default/files/2025-12/Most-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf

🧠 Parent Strategy: Work the CAU Scholarship Portal

CAU’s donor scholarships live in its scholarship portal, and most of them are small, specific, and easy to overlook. Once your student is admitted:

  1. Log into the portal and fill out every profile question. That is how you get matched.
  2. Search by intended major (education, business, social work, physics, music and art all have named funds).
  3. Search by hometown and family ties. Some awards are for students from certain cities or regions, or for families connected to certain organizations.
  4. Save a screenshot of every submission confirmation.

Parent translation: CAU merit is a single review you cannot influence after November 1. The portal is where effort still pays off.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These are the awards and discounts that rarely make it into the brochure. Some depend on major, some on family circumstances, and a couple are designed for later years when the money gets tight. Outside awards tied to CAU, like the Blank Foundation gap money, appear after CAU’s own.

App Required
Goizueta Foundation Future Educators Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies
✓ Renews (3.4 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Education majors only
🏫 3.8+ GPA3.75 high school GPA; first-semester freshman; Education major
✚
Stacking & Combining
Donor-funded money meant to sit on top of other aid. CAU does not publish a combination rule for portal scholarships, so confirm with the Office of Scholarships and Awards before counting on both.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the CAU scholarship portal (AcademicWorks). The application includes one essay of 500 words or less on why you want to become an educator.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Established in 2000 with a $1 million gift from the Goizueta Foundation to encourage teaching careers. Renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters. Also open to continuing sophomores, juniors and seniors. The portal has shown two different deadlines for the same cycle, so check the live listing before planning around a date.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Future teachers with a 3.75 high school GPA who declare Education from day one. The pool is small because most strong CAU applicants are not education majors, and the 3.4 college GPA needed to keep it is the real test.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Sibling Tuition Discount
📅 Deadline: July 1
✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠  Two siblings enrolled at once
🎓 All UndergradDependent siblings enrolled at CAU at the same time; documentation due July 1
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be combined with other non-federal institutional funding, so it is an either/or choice against CAU merit. Federal aid still applies.
📄
How to Apply
Send the Sibling Tuition Discount Verification Application, birth certificates for every sibling, and the parents' federal tax return to the Office of Student Financial Aid by July 1. The form is year-specific, so plan to resubmit each year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to 33% of annual tuition for biological or legally adopted dependent siblings enrolled at CAU at the same time. CAU caps it at 33% of tuition. Independent students do not qualify.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families with two children at CAU at the same time, especially when neither landed a big merit offer. Because it does not combine with CAU merit, run the numbers on which one is larger before you accept.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
United Methodist Ministerial Discount
📅 Deadline: July 1
Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠  UMC ministers' dependents
🎓 All UndergradDependents of United Methodist ministers in good standing
✚
Stacking & Combining
CAU does not say whether this combines with merit. Its closest cousin, the Sibling Discount, does not, so ask before counting on both.
📄
How to Apply
Send the parents' tax return and a letter from the United Methodist conference confirming the minister is in good standing to the Office of Student Financial Aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
For dependents of United Methodist Church ministers. CAU does not publish the discount amount or say whether it renews automatically, so plan to resubmit each year. CAU's pages disagree on the deadline: July 1 on the admissions FAQ, August 1 on the scholarships page. We show the earlier date.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of United Methodist clergy who send the conference letter early. Very few families qualify, which is exactly why the ones who do tend to miss it.
Automatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Undergraduate Studies Scholarship
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by Feb 1
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 UpperclassmenContinuing students; 3.25 cumulative GPA; FAFSA by Feb 1; 30 CAU hours in the year
✚
Stacking & Combining
Packaged with the rest of the student's aid each year. Amounts vary with GPA and available funding.
💡
Strategic Detail
For continuing sophomores, juniors and seniors who have not passed eight semesters at CAU. Based on academic performance and FAFSA results, with Pell-eligible students given priority. Summer courses do not count toward the GPA or hour requirement. Recipients are notified the summer before the award year. CAU lists a 3.25 GPA on its scholarships page and 3.0 on its admissions FAQ; we show 3.25.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
This is CAU's second chance for students who got no merit as freshmen. Students taking 15 credits a semester, holding a B-plus average, and filing the FAFSA early are the ones who see it, with Pell-eligible students first in line.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
NROTC Room and Board Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies
✓ Renews
$14,078/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠  NROTC scholarship holders
🎓 All UndergradFull NROTC tuition scholarship recipients living in traditional CAU housing
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces any CAU aid awarded before the NROTC package is accepted, and is reduced if state, federal or outside grants would push total aid past cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
For select students on a full NROTC tuition scholarship. Capped at a double room plus the full meal plan, which is $8,328 plus $5,750 for 2026-27. CAU ties it to the NROTC tuition scholarship; confirm renewal terms with the Office of Financial Aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who already hold a national NROTC tuition scholarship and pick CAU. The Navy covers tuition and CAU covers the room and meal plan, which gets close to a free ride.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyAutomatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Gap Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 UpperclassmenGood academic standing; other aid exhausted; mainly juniors and seniors
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-dollar money. It fills what remains after scholarships, grants, state aid and loans.
💡
Strategic Detail
Part of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation's $50 million, 10-year gap scholarship commitment to Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, Morris Brown and Spelman. CAU's share is $16.5 million. Aimed mainly at juniors and seniors who have exhausted other aid; awards are made at the university's discretion.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Juniors and seniors in good standing with a small balance standing between them and graduation. CAU decides who receives it, so the students who speak up early are the ones who get considered.
Outside MoneyApp Required
AUC First-Year Art History Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Apply by April 15 (rolling)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Art History majors only
🏫 3.0+ GPAAdmitted, declared Art History major; 3.0 high school GPA; federal aid eligible
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside money paid to the student account. Stacks with CAU aid.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted to CAU as a declared Art History major. Then send the AUC Art History and Curatorial Studies Collective a resume and a writing sample of up to three pages (an art history paper or a formal analysis of one artwork), and complete an interview.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Run by the AUC Art History and Curatorial Studies Collective with support from the Alice L. Walton Foundation, not by CAU financial aid. A one-time award for incoming majors, paid across fall and spring; second-semester renewal is at the program director's discretion and requires a 3.0. Requires 15 credit hours a semester. Not open to international students or students ineligible for federal aid. After year one, majors can apply for the Art History Scholarship (up to three years), and one rising sophomore can win the Prophet and Woodruff award, which covers full tuition and fees.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Declared art history majors with a real writing sample and some AP Art History, museum, or Early College art history experience. The Collective reports that 70% of its art history majors held a scholarship in 2023-24, so the odds are unusually good for students who commit to the major.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
A Parent PLUS Alternative for STEM Juniors and Seniors

CAU takes part in the Student Freedom Initiative. Rising juniors and seniors in approved STEM majors (biology, chemistry, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering dual degrees, mathematics, physics and a few others) can use a Student Freedom Agreement to cover the remaining gap after grants and federal loans. It is not free money. Graduates repay a share based on income, for up to 20 years. But it is built as an alternative to Parent PLUS and private loans, and it comes with mentoring and internship support. Compare it carefully with a financial aid counselor before signing.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Who qualifies for the Goizueta Foundation scholarship at CAU?
First-semester freshmen majoring in Education with a 3.75 high school GPA, plus continuing education majors. It renews for up to eight semesters if your student keeps a 3.4. Apply through the scholarship portal with a short essay on why they want to teach.

How much is the Sibling Discount?
Up to 33% of tuition when two dependent siblings are enrolled at CAU at the same time. Birth certificates, the parents’ tax return and the application are due July 1. It does not combine with other CAU scholarship money.

Is there a discount for United Methodist families?
Yes, for dependents of United Methodist ministers in good standing. You will need the parents’ tax return and a letter from the conference. CAU lists both July 1 and August 1 on different pages, so send it by July 1 to be safe.

My student didn’t get merit as a freshman. Is there another chance?
Yes. The Undergraduate Studies Scholarship is for continuing students with a strong GPA and financial need, with Pell students first in line. There is no application: file the FAFSA by February 1, take 30 CAU credits in the year, and clear the balance by May 1.

What is the Arthur M. Blank gap scholarship?
It is part of a $50 million commitment to the four AUC schools, with $16.5 million for CAU. It helps students in good standing, mostly juniors and seniors, who have used up other aid but still have a balance. CAU decides who gets it, so talk to financial aid early if a gap shows up.

Sources:
https://www.cau.edu/admissions/tuition-aid-scholarships/scholarships-and-discounts
https://cau.academicworks.com/
https://www.cau.edu/admissions/tuition-aid-scholarships
https://aucartcollective.org/about/scholarships/

The Isabella T. Jenkins Honors Program at Clark Atlanta

Clark Atlanta’s honors option is the Isabella T. Jenkins Honors Program. It is a program, not a separate honors college, and it is built around discussion-heavy classes, student research, mentoring, and service. One thing to know up front: CAU does not attach a published scholarship to honors admission. The value is the academic experience and the research and conference opportunities, not a bigger check.

  • First-year admission: 3.4 unweighted high school GPA plus SAT 980 or ACT 20
  • How to apply: Profile packets are accepted in fall and spring and reviewed case by case
  • Second chance: Students who earn a 3.4 in their first CAU semester may join in spring if space allows
  • To stay in: 3.4 cumulative GPA, 20 service hours and one leadership experience every semester

Honors Program Scholarships

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

CAU does not currently publish scholarships tied to honors admission. If that changes, they will appear above.

Test-Optional Note: Honors is the one place at CAU where test scores still matter. Even though admission and merit are test-optional, the honors program asks for at least an SAT 980 or ACT 20. If your student tests well, send the scores.
Where the High Achiever Money Actually Is
  • Education majors: Goizueta Foundation scholarship for students with a 3.75 high school GPA.
  • Art History majors: AUC Collective first-year award, then a full tuition and fees award for one rising sophomore.
  • Continuing students: Undergraduate Studies Scholarship for strong GPAs with need.
  • Navy ROTC: CAU room and board on top of a national NROTC tuition scholarship.

Honors Program: FAQs (Clark Atlanta University)

Is honors admission automatic at CAU?
No. Students submit a profile packet, and the program reviews each one individually. Meeting the GPA and test minimums gets your student considered, not guaranteed.

Does the honors program come with a scholarship?
Not one that CAU publishes. Think of honors as an academic upgrade: smaller discussion classes, research, and conference travel, not a separate money source.

Can my student join after starting at CAU?
Yes. Freshmen with a 3.4 in their first semester can be considered for spring entry if space is available, and sophomores and transfers can be invited with a 3.4 after their first year.

What does the program expect outside of class?
At least 20 service hours and one leadership experience each semester, plus attending honors events, debates and cultural programs. It is a real commitment, so make sure your student wants it.

Sources:
https://www.cau.edu/academics/honors-program

⭐ College Specialty

Clark Atlanta has a split personality in the best way. It is a research university (R2, one of only two private HBCUs with that status) with real labs and doctoral programs. It is also one of the best-known places in the country for Black students who want to work in media, business and the creative industries, sitting in a city that is home to a huge film and TV production industry.

Signature Programs:
Mass Media Arts is CAU’s calling card. Students choose journalism, public relations, or radio, TV and film, and radio, TV and digital communication was CAU’s largest bachelor’s field in 2023-24. The School of Business is AACSB-accredited and was named among U.S. News’ top 100 business programs in 2025, with business administration and accounting among CAU’s biggest majors.
  • Social Work: The Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work, founded in 1920, was the first accredited school of social work in Georgia. It offers the BSW all the way through the PhD.
  • Sciences and Pre-Health: Biology, chemistry and physics, backed by CAU research centers like its cancer research center, which received an $11 million NIH grant in 2025.
  • Computer Science and Cybersecurity: Growing tech programs, plus dual-degree engineering pathways for students who want an engineering degree alongside a CAU degree.
  • Fashion Design: A hands-on fashion and apparel program that sends a steady stream of graduates into the industry.
  • Popular pathways: Psychology, criminal justice, political science and education round out the most chosen majors.

One more thing that does not show up on a list: CAU students can cross-register for classes at Spelman and Morehouse through the Atlanta University Center, so the academic menu is bigger than CAU’s own catalog.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Clark Atlanta is the kind of school students choose with their hearts: a historic HBCU in the middle of Atlanta, a research university with real media and business pipelines, and a front-row seat to the whole Atlanta University Center. The money side asks more of parents. There is no scholarship chart to lean on, merit is competitive and reviewed year by year, and the price after aid looks about the same for most families regardless of income.

So play it like a planner. Get the application and transcripts in by November 1, file the FAFSA by February 1, and if you live in Georgia, lock in HOPE or Zell. Then build the rest from the CAU scholarship portal and outside awards, and have the loan conversation early instead of in August. Families who go in with a plan usually find a way to make CAU work. Fittingly, “Find a way or make one” has been the school’s motto since its Atlanta University days.

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Leo Dimilo

Leo Dimilo

Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site to give other families the plain-English version: what schools actually cost, where the scholarship money really is, and the deadlines that quietly decide it. No paywalls, no lead forms.

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