General Information

Students seeking admission to Clark Atlanta University must submit an application for admission to the University. Completing the application form online will activate your admissions file. Your file will not be considered complete or submitted to the Graduate department until the Office of Graduate Admissions receive the following:

• Completed and signed application.
• Cashier’s check or money order (made payable to Clark Atlanta University) in the amount of $40. The application fee for an international applicant is $55 U.S. dollars. The application fee will not be waived and is nonrefundable.
• An official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution you have attended. Transcripts must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions from the institution’s Office of the Registrar. A transcript which has been “issued to the student” will not be accepted.
• An official GRE Report of Scores or GMAT Report (if applicable) from the Educational Testing Service Test requirements will not be deferred or waived. Test scores more than five years old are not acceptable.
• Three recommendation letters: two from former instructors and one from an employer or supervisor. If the applicant has not attended school for two years then all three recommendations may come from an employer or supervisor.
• Resume
• A Dean of Students Certification form from the last institution you have attended (this form is only required if you attended an institution within the last two years). The Dean of Students or the administrative officer in charge of disciplinary records must complete this form and mail it directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

School of Arts and Sciences and School of Education Only

• A letter of intent which discusses career goals, reasons for applying to Clark Atlanta University, and qualifications for admission. Contact the program office of your intended area of study for additional details.

School of Business Only

• Three Essays detailing (1) Career Objectives, (2) Reasons for Selecting Clark Atlanta University and (3) Personal Strengths and Areas Where Improvement is Desired. Essays should be a minimum of 500 words each and double-spaced. Contact the program for additional details.

School of Social Work Only

• Autobiographical statement which discusses personal data and family profile, education, career choice and concentration focus area. The statement should be between 3 to 5 pages. Contact the program for additional details.

Use only your correct legal name at the time of application to the University (no nicknames please). If your name or address changes prior to the time of registration, please notify the Office of Admissions in writing.

Applications and supporting documents are maintained for one year after the semester the applicant applied to begin the graduate program. Therefore, if an applicant has applied to Clark Atlanta University within the past year, his or her application can be reactivated by submitting a letter requesting reactivation of the admission file. The application fee is not required if the fee was submitted with the previous application.

If a currently enrolled graduate student desires to change from one degree program to another, he or she must submit a new application and three letters of recommendation. Additional test results are necessary only if the desired program has a different test requirement from the current program. The application fee is not required.

A Clark Atlanta University student who has not been enrolled for one semester (not including the summer) is required to apply for readmission. Applications must be submitted at least thirty (30) days before the first day of registration of the term for which readmission is sought. A former student who has attended another college or university during his or her absence from Clark Atlanta University must have an official transcript from each institution’s Office of the Registrar mailed to Clark Atlanta University, Office of Graduate Admissions.

Students who are enrolled at another university or college and wish to complete no more than twelve hours at Clark Atlanta University must submit an application, the application fee and a “Letter of Good Standing.” Letters must list the desired course(s) and state that approval has been granted by a dean or an academic advisor. The document must also contain the dean or an academic advisor’s signature.

Applicants who wish to obtain information on scholarships, grants, assistantship programs, etc., should contact the applicable school or department. Applicants who wish to apply for other types of financial aid should request a financial aid packet by writing to or calling:

Office of Financial Aid
Clark Atlanta University
223 James P. Brawley Drive, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30314
(404) 880-8000 or (404) 880-8992

Transcripts and diplomas must display an original signature of a school official and/or the school’s seal. Documents written in a foreign language must be translated and signed by an accredited credential educational service. The originals of these documents must be submitted along with the translated copies. Transcripts and diplomas must be mailed directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required if English is not the applicant’s native language. International applicants must attain a minimum score of 500 on the paper based exam and 173 on the computer exam. A waiver of the TOEFL requirement will be granted if the applicant has earned a degree from an institution whose programs are taught in English.

Note: The Form I-20 will only be issued to international applicants who have been accepted to a degree program and have submitted the required tuition deposit.