Spelman College
Atlanta, Georgia · Private · 3,414 undergraduates · spelman.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
24%
of 11,533 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1100 to 1300
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$62,160Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Spelman College
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
24% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$62,160
a year in 2027-28, from a $62,160 sticker price
What to do with your 1220
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1220).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
Source: Test Optional Admissions Policy | Spelman College · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Feb1Regular Decision · February 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
24%
of applicants were admitted: 2,743 of 11,533 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1.
Early Decision
Binding. 16% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
568 students were offered a spot; 0 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 30% of them sent SAT scores and 17% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1100 to 1300
Reading and Writing 570 to 670
Math 520 to 630
ACT composite 22 to 28
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16007.7%
- 1200 to 139948%
- 1000 to 119936%
- 800 to 9996.7%
- 600 to 7991%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.96
- 4.055%
- 3.75 to 3.9927%
- 3.50 to 3.7412%
- 3.25 to 3.494.9%
- 3.00 to 3.241.4%
- 2.50 to 2.990.2%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$62,160
a year
- Tuition$31,390
- Fees$3,730
- Food and housing$20,470
- Books and supplies$1,620
- Transportation and other$4,950
Spelman College published $57,473 for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$41,125
- $30,001 to $48,000$41,146
- $48,001 to $75,000$44,626
- $75,001 to $110,000$47,999
- Over $110,000$50,714
Financial aid
19%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$17,145
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
4.9%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $31,474 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 2/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Georgia programs for residents
HOPE Scholarship
State program · In-state students
Tuition at HOPE rate. 2026-27 examples: UGA $334.47/credit hour ($5,017/semester at 15 hrs); Emory (private) $2,985/semester full-time, $1,493 half-time
- 1160+ SAT or 24+ ACT, Ineligible HS graduate / unaccredited home study / HSE: test-only pathway; graduate from an ineligible high school, unaccredited home study, or HSE diploma; manual evaluation
Zell Miller Scholarship
State program · In-state students
100% of standard undergraduate tuition (public up to 15 hrs; private up to 12 hrs). 2026-27 examples: UGA $5,067/semester for 7-15 hrs; Emory (private) $2,985/semester full-time, $1,493 half-time
- 3.70+ GPA, 1200+ SAT or 25+ ACT, Eligible HS graduate / accredited home study: GPA + test pathway; at least 4 full rigor credits from the Academic Rigor Course List
- 1340+ SAT or 29+ ACT, Ineligible HS graduate / unaccredited home study: test-only pathway; graduate from an ineligible high school or complete an unaccredited home study program; manual evaluation
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
28 of 28
Earn credit with a score of 3
21 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $3,140Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | 3 | 4 | SAVC 110 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | SBIO 111 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | SMAT 231 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | SMAT 231 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | SMAT 231 & SMAT 232 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | SCHE 111 & SCHE 111L |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | SFLC 101 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | AA 001 Gov't & Pol. - Comparative (4 Credits - Elective) |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | SCIS 105 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 4 | SCIS 105 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | AA 001 English Language & Comp (4 Credits - Elective) |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | AA 001 English Literature & Comp (4 Credits - Elective) |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | SES 211 |
| European History | 4 | 4 | SHIS 251 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | SFLF 101 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 4 | SANT 203 |
| Latin | 3 | 4 | SFLL 101 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 4 | SECO 241 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 4 | SECO 242 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | SPHY 111 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | SPHY 112 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | SPHY 241 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | SPHY 151 |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 | SPSY 200 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | SFLS 101 |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 | SMAT 205 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | SPSC 201 |
| United States History | 4 | 4 | SHIS 211 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 4 | SHIS 101 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
77%
Come back for a second year
94%
Typical earnings
$65,773
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Spelman College$62,300
- All colleges$54,104
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 8 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Spelman College. The Spelman College logo is a trademark of the college.