Howard vs. Spelman

Comparable Facts

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

Howard University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Spelman College is in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Spelman College 11:1.

Howard vs. Spelman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard 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 Howard University than Spelman ($33,368 vs. $40,354).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard University are 4.3% lower than at Spelman College ($17,322 vs. $18,091).
• Howard University is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $4,254 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $31,556.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at Howard than at Spelman College (about $4,254 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $31,556.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Spelman College (99% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 100.3% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($21,262 vs. $10,614).

Howard vs. Spelman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard 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 Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Howard University (1210) is the same as at Spelman (1210).
• Incoming Howard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Spelman (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Spelman College 1108/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Spelman College 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Spelman - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Howard (3.66).
• Howard has a higher acceptance rate (41.3%) than Spelman (24.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 23.6% at Spelman.

Howard vs. Spelman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard 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 Howard University's (63%).
• Graduates from Howard University earn a median of about $500 more per year than Spelman graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $51,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Spelman College and Howard graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Spelman College and Howard graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Spelman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 33%)

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.