Florida Southern vs. Spelman

Deciding between Florida Southern College and Spelman College? 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.

Florida Southern College
Spelman College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Southern Lakeland, FL
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Setting
  • Florida Southern Small City
  • Spelman Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida Southern 3,211
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Type
  • Florida Southern Private 4 Year
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida Southern #325
  • Spelman #271
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida Southern United Methodist
  • Spelman -
  • Status
  • Florida Southern Non-profit
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida Southern
  • Spelman
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Room & Board
  • Florida Southern $14,360
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida Southern $29,384
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern $31,394
  • Spelman $10,614
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern 100%
  • Spelman 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida Southern 10,800
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Admitted
  • Florida Southern 6,957
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida Southern 64.4%
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida Southern 1240
  • Spelman 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida Southern 27
  • Spelman 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida Southern 3.73
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida Southern A-
  • Spelman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Southern Difficult
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Southern Low
  • Spelman High
  • ACT Range
  • Florida Southern 25/30
  • Spelman 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Florida Southern 1150/1330
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Southern Test optional
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Southern May 1, 2027
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida Southern 11:1
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida Southern
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida Southern 55%
  • Spelman 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida Southern $42,700
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • Spelman 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida Southern $24,000
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida Southern $248
  • Spelman $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida Southern 35%
  • Spelman 5%
  • % Women
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • Spelman 95%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida Southern Low
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • Florida Southern No
  • Spelman Yes
  • % White
  • Florida Southern 74%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Asian
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Black
  • Florida Southern 6%
  • Spelman 96%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Native American
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida Southern 0%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • Spelman 2%
  • % International
  • Florida Southern 4%
  • Spelman 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • Spelman 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida Southern 60%
  • Spelman 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida Southern 38%
  • Spelman 78%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with Spelman College in Atlanta, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Spelman College is larger than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (3,417 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); Spelman College is in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting).
  • Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; Spelman College 11:1.

Florida Southern vs. Spelman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern 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 Florida Southern College than Spelman ($29,384 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 20.6% lower than at Spelman College ($14,360 vs. $18,091).
  • Florida Southern College is 39.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $12,484 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.6% higher at Florida Southern than at Spelman College (about $12,484 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College than at Spelman College (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 195.8% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($31,394 vs. $10,614).

Florida Southern vs. Spelman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern 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 Florida Southern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 30 points higher than at Spelman (1210).
  • Incoming Florida Southern students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Spelman).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; Spelman College 1108/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; Spelman College 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; Spelman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027; Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Florida Southern (3.73).
  • Florida Southern has a higher acceptance rate (64.4%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 23.6% at Spelman.

Florida Southern vs. Spelman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern 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 Florida Southern College's (55%).
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Southern College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($24,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Florida Southern graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($248 vs. $279).
  • More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (65% 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.