Spelman vs. Furman

Deciding between Spelman College and Furman University? 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.

Spelman College
Furman University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Furman Greenville, SC
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • Furman Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Furman 2,554
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • Furman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • Furman #104
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Spelman -
  • Furman -
  • Status
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Furman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Spelman
  • Furman

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Furman $59,770
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Furman $59,770
  • Room & Board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Furman $16,504
  • Average Net Price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Furman $34,086
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • Furman $42,811
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • Furman 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Furman 10,813
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Furman 4,644
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Furman 42.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Furman 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • Furman 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • Furman 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Furman 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Spelman A-
  • Furman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Furman Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Spelman High
  • Furman Low
  • ACT Range
  • Spelman 22/29
  • Furman 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Furman 1260/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Furman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • Furman Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Furman 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Furman
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • Furman 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Furman $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • Furman 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Furman $25,443
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Spelman $279
  • Furman $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Spelman 5%
  • Furman 41%
  • % Women
  • Spelman 95%
  • Furman 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • Furman Low
  • HBCU
  • Spelman Yes
  • Furman No
  • % White
  • Spelman 0%
  • Furman 78%
  • % Asian
  • Spelman 0%
  • Furman 2%
  • % Black
  • Spelman 96%
  • Furman 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Spelman 0%
  • Furman 4%
  • % Native American
  • Spelman 0%
  • Furman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Spelman 0%
  • Furman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Spelman 2%
  • Furman 2%
  • % International
  • Spelman 1%
  • Furman 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Spelman 0%
  • Furman 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Spelman 21%
  • Furman 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Spelman 78%
  • Furman 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Spelman College is larger than Furman based on total student enrollment (3,417 students vs. 2,554 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Spelman College is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); Furman University is in Greenville, SC (Large Suburban setting).
  • Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Furman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Spelman College 11:1; Furman University 10:1.

Spelman vs. Furman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or Furman? 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 Furman University than Spelman ($34,086 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Furman University are 8.8% lower than at Spelman College ($16,504 vs. $18,091).
  • Furman University is 89.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $28,214 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 89.4% higher at Furman than at Spelman College (about $28,214 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Furman University than at Spelman College (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Furman University students is 303.3% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($42,811 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. Furman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Spelman or Furman? 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 Furman and Spelman.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Furman University (1350) is 140 points higher than at Spelman (1210).
  • Incoming Furman students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Spelman).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; Furman University 1260/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; Furman University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; Furman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027; Furman Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Furman (3.61).
  • Furman has a higher acceptance rate (42.9%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 13.1% at Furman.

Spelman vs. Furman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and Furman? 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).

  • Furman University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Spelman College's (77%).
  • Graduates from Furman University earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Spelman graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $51,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Furman University graduates have a $1,557 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($25,443 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Furman graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($263 vs. $279).
  • More Furman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.