Spelman College Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 02/2025)

Spelman, a historically Black college in Atlanta, has been educating women of African descent since 1880. Many students are drawn by the Spelman College ranking: The school has been ranked the No. 1 historically Black college and university in the country by U.S. News & World Report for 18 years in a row. Here’s an overview of the Spelman College tuition, fees, housing costs, acceptance rate, and more.

Total Cost of Attendance

Costs for 2023-24

The Spelman College total cost of attendance was $51,366 in 2023-24. Here’s a breakdown of those costs:

•  Tuition & Fees: $30,058

•  Books & Supplies: $1,500

•  Room & Board: $16,293

•  Other Expenses: $3,515

•  Total Cost of Attendance: $51,366

Financial Aid

Nearly every student (96%) receives some form of financial aid to help with Spelman tuition and expenses, whether it’s through student loans, scholarships, grants, or a combination of these.

For instance, around 36% of Spelman students are awarded Pell Grants, a type of federal funding for undergraduates who demonstrate exceptional financial need.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education — Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) — A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  Scholarship Search Tool

Recommended: Georgia Student Loans & Scholarships

Private Student Loans

Many students take out student loans to help with Spelman tuition. For instance, 83% of students have federal student loans and 5% take out private student loans that average $30,112 per academic year.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

The cost of attending college at any institution typically varies every year. Based on 2023-24 numbers, the cost to attend Spelman College for four years, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other expenses, would be $205,464.

This projected four-year degree price is lower than the national average four-year cost of a private university, which is $241,680.

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

The total cost of attendance (which includes the above costs plus room and board and other expenses) for undergraduates at Spelman College was $51,366 in 2023-24. This is notably lower than the average annual cost of attendance for private colleges in the U.S., which is $60,420.

For the fall of 2023, the Spelman acceptance rate was 34%, which is considered selective.