Spelman vs. Howard

Spelman College and Howard University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Spelman College
Howard University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Spelman (24.9% admitted vs 41.3%). Typical SAT 1210 vs 1210.
  • Cheaper after aid: Howard. Average net price is $33,368 vs $40,354 at Spelman.
  • Graduation: Spelman 77% vs Howard 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Spelman $51,300 vs Howard $51,800 (median).
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Key differences

Spelman College Howard University
Acceptance rate
Spelman more selective
Spelman24.9%
Howard41.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Spelman higher
Spelman1108-1320
Howard1090-1320
Average net price
Howard $6,986 less
Spelman$40,354
Howard$33,368
In-state tuition
Spelman $4,254 less
Spelman$31,556
Howard$35,810
Out-of-state tuition
Spelman $4,254 less
Spelman$31,556
Howard$35,810
Graduation rate
Spelman +14 pts
Spelman77%
Howard63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Howard +$500
Spelman$51,300
Howard$51,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Howard 34,211
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Howard 14,144
  • Acceptance rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Howard 41.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Howard 19.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • Howard 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • Howard 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Howard 3.66
  • Typical high school grades
  • Spelman A-
  • Howard A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Howard Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Spelman High
  • Howard Low
  • SAT range
  • Spelman 1108-1320
  • Howard 1090-1320
  • ACT range
  • Spelman 22-29
  • Howard 22-28
  • Submit test scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Howard Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • Howard Feb 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Howard $35,810
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Howard $35,810
  • Room & board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Howard $17,322
  • Average net price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Howard $33,368
  • Average grant aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • Howard $21,262
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • Howard 99%
  • Graduation rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • Howard 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Howard $51,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • Howard 33%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Howard $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Spelman $279
  • Howard $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Howard 13:1
  • Popular majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Howard
    • Business (20%)
    • Communication (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Howard Washington, DC
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • Howard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Howard 14,890
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • Howard Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • Howard #310

Comparable Facts

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

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

Cost details

  • 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).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at Howard than at Spelman College (about $4,254 more per year; $35,810 vs. $31,556).
  • 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).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Spelman students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 25) as students at Howard (25).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Spelman and Howard.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027; Howard Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Spelman average a 3.75 high school GPA, 0.09 higher than at Howard (3.66).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 19.4% at Howard.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard University and Spelman graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Howard University and Spelman 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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