Spelman College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Spelman College is a private institution located in Atlanta, Georgia and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Spelman College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 24%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1220. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,967 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Spelman College?

55% of enrolled students at Spelman College had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.96, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does Spelman College weight in admissions?

Spelman College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Spelman College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 518–640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–29. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Spelman College actually cost?

Published tuition is $31,556 for in-state students and $31,556 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,091 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $38,967 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 28% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Spelman College

Will my child graduate from Spelman College?

These predict outcomes at Spelman College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Spelman College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Spelman College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Biology, General and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Spelman College confers roughly 354 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $52,163 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Spelman College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Spelman College disclosed 15 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 2 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Spelman College?

About 54% of undergraduates at Spelman College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 5% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Georgia parents ask about

• Morehouse College
  44% acceptance
• Berry College
  64% acceptance
• Augusta University
  86% acceptance
• Emory University-Oxford College
  13% acceptance
• Young Harris College
  63% acceptance
• Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
  14% acceptance
• Emory University
  11% acceptance
• University of Georgia
  38% acceptance

Spelman College is a historically Black college

It is one of 102 institutions carrying the designation, which under the Higher Education Act of 1965 means it was founded before 1964 with the education of Black Americans as its principal mission. Compare all 102 HBCUs on admission rate, net price, graduation rate and what graduates earn.

Common questions parents ask about Spelman College