Clark Atlanta

🐾 Clark Atlanta Is Built on Two Historic HBCU Legacies

Clark Atlanta University was officially established in 1988 through the consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869). Together, those institutions created one of the most historically significant HBCUs in America.

🐾 Its Heritage Dates Back to 1865

Although CAU was formed in 1988, its roots extend to 1865, when Atlanta University was founded just months after the Civil War. Atlanta University became the first institution in the nation to award graduate degrees to African Americans.

🐾 Part of the Legendary Atlanta University Center

Clark Atlanta is a member of the world-famous Atlanta University Center (AUC), the largest consortium of historically Black colleges and universities in the world. The AUC includes institutions such as Morehouse College and Spelman College.

🐾 Located in the Heart of Black Excellence

CAU sits in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the most influential cities in Black culture, business, politics, entertainment, and entrepreneurship. Students benefit from access to Fortune 500 companies, major media organizations, and a thriving Black professional community.

🐾 The Panthers Compete in the SIAC

The university's athletic teams are known as the Panthers and compete in NCAA Division II as members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), one of the most historic HBCU athletic conferences.

🎺 The Mighty Marching Panther Band

The Mighty Marching Panther Band is one of the most recognizable bands in HBCU culture, known for powerful performances, precision, and school spirit.

📚 Home of W.E.B. Du Bois

One of America's most influential intellectuals and civil rights pioneers, W.E.B. Du Bois, taught at Atlanta University and helped establish groundbreaking sociological research that documented Black life in America.

🔬 A Leading Research HBCU

Clark Atlanta is one of a select group of HBCUs classified as an R2 Doctoral University with High Research Activity, making it one of the leading research institutions in Black higher education.