What is the Atlanta University Center Consortium?

For students who want to maximize the resources available at their college, consortiums offer an intriguing opportunity. While the exact agreement varies from one school and consortium to another, the general concept is that the nearby schools join forces to provide shared resources, like libraries, classes, and clubs or sports teams.

For students interested in attending a college in Atlanta, particularly one of the historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs), schools in the Atlanta University Center Consortium may be a great option. Here, we’ll share all the details about which schools are included and what resources they share. Keep reading to find out more.

What are the Benefits of the Atlanta University Center Consortium?

The stated missions of the Atlanta University Center Consortium is to “leverage the resources of the community and of member institutions to maximize opportunities for citizens to live, learn, work and play.” This means that it is committed to providing not only academic resources, but also those related to student life and community engagement.

The Atlanta University Center Consortium is uniquely committed to serving its community beyond just enrolled students. Faculty members from each school partner in efforts to revitalize the surrounding community, supporting housing and economic development, environmental sustainability, service learning, and volunteerism.

In addition to the community service features, the Atlanta University Center Consortium schools also combine resources for their student body. These include a shared Office of Academic and Career Services and the extensive Robert W. Woodruff Library. It can also include access to the Undergraduate Health Sciences Academy, hosted by the Morehouse School of Medicine and open by application only to successful undergraduate students currently enrolled in one of the other schools in the consortium.

Finally, like many other established consortiums, the Atlanta University Center Consortium offers a long-standing cross-registration program. Beginning over 50 years ago, students enrolled at one of these colleges have the option of enrolling in undergraduate academic courses offered at any of the AUC member colleges. More than one in four students takes advantage of this opportunity each semester. The rules for doing so, and for receiving credit towards a major or degree, can vary slightly; so, students interested in cross registering will need to consult with their major department and campus registrar.

What Schools Are in the Atlanta University Center Consortium?

The Atlanta University Center Consortium consists of four member institutions. The three undergraduate schools are all historically black colleges located in the greater Atlanta area. The Morehouse School of Medicine, offering only graduate degrees, is also located nearby.

The schools that form the Atlanta Center Consortium are the following:

1. Clark Atlanta University

Location: Atlanta, GA

Enrollment: 3920

U.S. News Ranking: #293-#381 National Universities (ranking listed as is on U.S. News)

Acceptance rate: 55%

Clark Atlanta University was was established in 1988 through the consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869). These schools have a rich history with Atlanta University being the first institution in the country to award graduate degrees to African-Americans. Today, the school offers over 40 degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, and provides a well-regarded Honors program for students who qualify.

2. Morehouse College

Location: Atlanta, GA

Enrollment: 2,206

U.S. News Ranking: #154 National Liberal Arts Colleges

Acceptance rate: 58%

Morehouse College, founded in 1867, is a private historically black liberal arts college for men, and is widely known for its proud status as Martin Luther King Jr’s alma mater. Today, it is one of very few remaining men’s colleges in the country. The school offers more than 26 undergraduate major programs and an honors program.

3. Spelman College

Location: Atlanta, GA

Enrollment: 2,171

U.S. News Ranking: #57 National Liberal Arts Colleges

Acceptance rate: 39%

Spelman College, founded in 1881, is a historically black college for women. Spelman has a strong commitment to civic engagement, empowering women to engage the many cultures of the world, and inspiring a commitment to positive social change through service. Spelman offers over 30 different bachelor’s degrees, has a 76% graduation rate, and is the most highly rated of the Atlanta University Center Consortium Schools.

4. Morehouse School of Medicine (graduate school)

Location: Atlanta, GA

Enrollment: 523

U.S. News Ranking: Unranked

Acceptance rate: 1.4% for medical school, higher for other graduate programs.

The only school in the consortium that does not offer undergraduate degrees, the Morehouse School of Medicine was founded in 1975 as the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College. It became independent in 1981. The school offers programs in public health, biomedical research, clinical research, and more. It is particularly well known for its commitment to educating future primary care practitioners, and each year it accepts just 100 of over 6,000 applicants into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.

For students who want to attend an HBCU or who are looking for diverse programs of study with rich resources in the Atlanta area, the Atlanta University Center Consortium has a lot to offer. To learn more about some of the features you’ll find here, don’t miss our posts What Is an HBCU? A Complete List of Schools and A Guide to Single-Sex Colleges.

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