Getting in
For Fall 2025, 11,533 first-year students applied to Spelman, 2,743 were admitted and 648 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 23.8%.
Source: Spelman Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. Spelman's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole college, with no rate by major.
Source: Spelman Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early decision and early action. Counts for the class that entered in fall 2025.
Early decision and early action, Fall 2025
| Plan | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | 437 | 70 | 16% |
| Early Action | 5,282 | 1,599 | 30.3% |
Source: Spelman Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
38 majors across 5 schools. Every major in Spelman's official Majors and CIP Codes list, grouped by academic division, with the degree it leads to. Minors and programs are left out.
Arts7
- Art (BA)
- Art History (BA)
- Dance Performance & Choreography (BA)
- Documentary Filmmaking (BA)
- Music (BA)
- Photography (BA)
- Theatre and Performance (BA)
Source: Spelman College Majors and CIP Codes (Institutional Research, July 2026) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Humanities7
- Comparative Women's Studies (BA)
- French (BA)
- History (BA)
- Literature, Media and Writing (formerly English) (BA)
- Philosophy (BA)
- Religious Studies (BA)
- Spanish (BA)
Source: Spelman College Majors and CIP Codes (Institutional Research, July 2026) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Natural Sciences & Mathematics11
- Biochemistry (BS)
- Biology (BS)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Computer and Information Sciences (BS)
- Environmental Sciences (BS)
- Environmental Studies (BA)
- General Science (Dual Degree Engineering Program) (BS)
- Health Sciences (BS)
- Mathematics (BA)
- Mathematics (BS)
- Physics (BS)
Source: Spelman College Majors and CIP Codes (Institutional Research, July 2026) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Social Sciences & Education11
- Economics (BA)
- Economics (BS)
- Education Studies (BA)
- Elementary Education (BA)
- Global and Diaspora Studies (BA)
- Human Services (BA)For Pauline E. Drake (PED) students only.
- Political Science (BA)
- Psychology (BA)
- Psychology (BS)
- Sociology (BA)
- Sociology & Anthropology (BA)
Source: Spelman College Majors and CIP Codes (Institutional Research, July 2026) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Independent major (any division)2
- Independent Major (BA)By application only; the degree depends on its focus.
- Independent Major (BS)By application only; the degree depends on its focus.
Source: Spelman College Majors and CIP Codes (Institutional Research, July 2026) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | November 1 | not published | Yes |
| Early Action | November 1 | By December 31 | No |
| Regular Decision | February 1 | By April 1 | No |
Supporting documents are due within five business days of each deadline; incomplete early applications move to Regular Decision. Decision dates are from the admissions FAQ, which gives none for early decision. Admitted Early Action and Early Decision students are invited to apply to the Honors program; Regular Decision and deferred applicants are not.
Source: Spelman Admissions, First-Time Student Applicant (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early Decision is binding and suits an applicant whose clear first choice is Spelman: if accepted, she withdraws all other applications. An applicant seeking financial aid is not required to withdraw other applications, but must pay the enrollment deposit by May 1. Early Action is not binding.
Source: Spelman Admissions, First-Time Student Applicant (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Spelman is test-optional for early decision, early action and regular decision. Applying without scores is not a disadvantage, and you do not have to say why. If you send SAT or ACT scores, they are reviewed as part of the whole application, and Spelman superscores both tests.
Source: Spelman Admissions, Test Optional Admissions Policy (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set answers "No" to whether Spelman uses SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions and marks no fall 2027 policy, while listing February 15 as the date scores must arrive; the admissions office's policy above is the current one.
Source: Spelman Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Spelman's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Spelman Admissions, Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Spelman, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $30,042 |
|---|---|
| Required fees | $3,566 |
| Housing (on campus) | $11,994 |
| Food (meal plan) | $8,114 |
| Books and supplies | $1,500 |
| Transportation | $1,500 |
| Personal expenses | $2,000 |
| Health insurance | $1,758 |
| New student fees | $405 |
| Total | $60,879 |
For a first-year student living on campus, fall and spring.
Source: Spelman Financial Aid, 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $32,923 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $34,108 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $36,602 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $38,640 |
| Over $110,000 | $44,529 |
| All incomes | $38,967 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Spelman's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Spelman College is a historically Black college, and so are Morehouse College and Howard University; the rest are the closest schools by acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Morehouse CollegeAtlanta, GA · Private44% admitted$39,013 average net price
Howard UniversityWashington, DC · Private42.2% admitted$50,539 average net price
University of RichmondRichmond, VA · Private22.2% admitted$31,309 average net price
Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Private20.8% admitted$28,719 average net price
Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY · Private23.8% admitted$32,297 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.