When you hear the phrase “Find a Way or Make One,” does your mind immediately go to Clark Atlanta University? It should. CAU is bold, brilliant, historic, creative, and deeply woven into the legacy of Black education in Atlanta and beyond. Whether you're a proud Panther, an AUC neighbor, or someone just now learning about this powerhouse HBCU, I promise you, there's so much more to Clark Atlanta than meets the eye.

So, let’s get into it. Here are 5 things you should absolutely know about Clark Atlanta University.

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1. CAU Was Formed by Merging Two Historic Institutions

Clark Atlanta University didn’t begin as one school—it began when two institutions decided to merge visions.

In 1988, CAU was formed through the historic consolidation of Atlanta University (est. 1865) and Clark College (est. 1869)—creating a single institution committed to academic excellence, Black leadership, and social impact.

Here’s why that matters:

• Atlanta University was the first institution in the United States to award graduate degrees to African Americans.
• Clark College was the first four-year liberal arts college to serve a predominantly African American student population.
  
  

Together, they created something bigger and better:
a university rooted in scholarship, access, innovation, and community care.

That’s one reason why CAU’s history is so special; it’s a living, breathing combination of two historic pillars of Black education.

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2. CAU Is the Largest Institution in the AUC (and UNCF!)

If you’ve ever been to the Atlanta University Center Consortium, you know the vibe: Spelman, Morehouse, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Clark Atlanta—four HBCUs sustaining the cultural and intellectual heartbeat of Atlanta.

But here’s the part many people don’t know:

•  Clark Atlanta University is the largest of all AUC institutions, with roughly 4,000 students
•   It’s also the largest of all 37 UNCF institutions nationwide.

That means:

• The biggest network of UNCF alumni comes from CAU
• Thousands of students are educated on its campus each year
• The university plays a major leadership role in the AUC ecosystem
  
  

From campus culture to community impact, CAU has a reach that extends far beyond its gates.

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Whitney Young Jr. and President Kennedy in the White House, via african-american-civil-rights.org

3. CAU Has a Legacy of Investing in Social Change

If you know CAU, you know its mission is bigger than academics. This university has always been about producing leaders who transform the world.

A perfect example?
The Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work (named after the first dean of the School of Social Work at Atlanta University and well-known activist) is one of the nation’s top programs and has a rich legacy behind it. CAU’s school of social work is the nation’s first accredited school of social work at a historically Black college or university (HBCU) and the first to be accredited in the State of Georgia.

And here’s the big news:

The School of Social Work just received an eight-year reaccreditation, ensuring it continues preparing the next generation of social workers, policymakers, community organizers, and advocates.

Eight years is the maximum reaccreditation period, and it signals something important:
Clark Atlanta is doing more than just talking about social change; it’s sustaining it.

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4. CAU Has Become a Magnet for Philanthropy—Including a $38 Million Gift

When philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced one of the largest donations ever made to an HBCU, Clark Atlanta University was on the list.

 $38 million
One of the largest gifts in the school’s history.

Why does this matter?

Because major philanthropic investment expands what becomes possible:

• Scholarships for deserving students
• Upgraded facilities and labs
• Cutting-edge academic programs
• Recruitment of top-tier faculty
• Stronger financial footing for the future
  
  

And let’s be honest—large, consistent gifts to HBCUs don’t just happen. They come when a school is demonstrating vision, leadership, and long-term impact.

CAU is doing all that and more.

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via deadline.com

5. CAU Is Stepping Into the Spotlight—Literally

Want to know something really cool?

You know the legendary sitcom A Different World?
Well… Hillman College may be fictional, but its impact is very real.

And guess where the new reboot is being filmed?

 Clark Atlanta University.

CAU is the real-life backdrop for a modern version of the show that shaped a generation’s understanding and imagination of HBCU culture. Now, CAU gets to be part of this new era Black entertainment history, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect, because CAU has always been a place where Black creativity thrives.

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BONUS: Clark Atlanta University Is Just Getting Started

Clark Atlanta is one of those schools where each achievement opens the door to the next one, putting it on a promising trajectory. 

And right now, the trajectory is looking limitless.

The university continues to:

• Expand programs in STEM, arts, and business
  
• Build new research initiatives
  
• Strengthen ties within the AUC
  
• Increase national visibility
  

• Graduate leaders who shape culture, policy, tech, and more
  
  

When CAU says, “Find a Way or Make One,” it’s more than just a motto; it’s a pledge.

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via www.georgiaencyclopedia.org

The Legacy Lives On

Clark Atlanta University is powerful.
It’s a place where Black excellence is nurtured, where creativity is encouraged, where history is honored, and where future leaders are molded with intention.

Whether you're a Panther, a proud AUC neighbor, or someone just discovering CAU for the first time, one thing is clear:

Clark Atlanta University has a legacy worth celebrating and a future worth investing in.

Want to rep your CAU pride? WE JUST GOT LICENSED! Look out for a new Clack Atlanta Collection very soon at HBCULeggings.com and wear your Panther gear with pride.

Love and Leggings,

Bibi