Auburn vs. Spelman

Deciding between Auburn University and Spelman College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Auburn University
Spelman College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Auburn Auburn, AL
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Setting
  • Auburn Small City
  • Spelman Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Auburn 34,145
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Type
  • Auburn Public 4 Year
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Auburn #301
  • Spelman #271
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Auburn -
  • Spelman -
  • Status
  • Auburn Non-profit
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Auburn
  • Spelman

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Auburn $12,890
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Auburn $34,922
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Room & Board
  • Auburn $16,626
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Average Net Price
  • Auburn $25,242
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Auburn $10,872
  • Spelman $10,614
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Auburn 80%
  • Spelman 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Auburn 55,056
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Admitted
  • Auburn 25,284
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Auburn 45.9%
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Auburn 24.1%
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Auburn 1330
  • Spelman 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Auburn 28
  • Spelman 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Auburn 3.97
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Auburn A
  • Spelman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Auburn Very High
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Auburn Low
  • Spelman High
  • ACT Range
  • Auburn 26/31
  • Spelman 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Auburn 1260/1390
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Auburn Required
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Auburn Feb 1, 2027
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Auburn 21:1
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Auburn
    • Business (22%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Auburn 66%
  • Spelman 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Auburn $54,100
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Auburn 73%
  • Spelman 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Auburn $21,500
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Auburn $222
  • Spelman $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Auburn 49%
  • Spelman 5%
  • % Women
  • Auburn 51%
  • Spelman 95%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Auburn Very Low
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • Auburn No
  • Spelman Yes
  • % White
  • Auburn 84%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Asian
  • Auburn 2%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Black
  • Auburn 7%
  • Spelman 96%
  • % Hispanic
  • Auburn 3%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Native American
  • Auburn 1%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Auburn 0%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Auburn 1%
  • Spelman 2%
  • % International
  • Auburn 1%
  • Spelman 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Auburn 1%
  • Spelman 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Auburn 53%
  • Spelman 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Auburn 46%
  • Spelman 78%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Auburn Yes
  • Spelman Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Auburn No
  • Spelman No
  • Meal Plan
  • Auburn Yes
  • Spelman Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Auburn No
  • Spelman No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Auburn No
  • Spelman No

Comparable Facts

Compare Auburn University in Auburn, AL with Spelman College in Atlanta, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Auburn University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (34,145 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Auburn University is located in Auburn, AL (Small City setting); Spelman College is in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting).
  • Auburn University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Auburn University 21:1; Spelman College 11:1.

Auburn vs. Spelman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Auburn or Spelman? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Auburn University than Spelman ($25,242 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Auburn University are 8.1% lower than at Spelman College ($16,626 vs. $18,091).
  • Spelman College is 144.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Auburn (about $18,666 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $12,890.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at Auburn than at Spelman College (about $3,366 more per year; $34,922.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spelman College than at Auburn University (96% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Auburn University students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($10,872 vs. $10,614).

Auburn vs. Spelman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Auburn or Spelman? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Spelman and Auburn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Auburn University (1330) is 120 points higher than at Spelman (1210).
  • Incoming Auburn students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Spelman).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 1260/1390; Spelman College 1108/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 26/31; Spelman College 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Auburn - Required; Spelman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Auburn Feb 1, 2027; Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Auburn students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Spelman (3.75).
  • Auburn has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.1% at Auburn vs. 23.6% at Spelman.

Auburn vs. Spelman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Auburn and Spelman? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Spelman College's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Auburn University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Auburn University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Spelman graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,100 vs. $51,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Auburn University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Auburn graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Auburn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.