Georgia State vs. Spelman

Deciding between Georgia State University 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.

Georgia State University
Spelman College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Georgia State Atlanta, GA
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Setting
  • Georgia State Large City
  • Spelman Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Georgia State 34,944
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Type
  • Georgia State Public 4 Year
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Georgia State #763
  • Spelman #271
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Georgia State -
  • Spelman -
  • Status
  • Georgia State Non-profit
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Georgia State
  • Spelman
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Georgia State $8,664
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Georgia State $24,840
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Room & Board
  • Georgia State $13,392
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Average Net Price
  • Georgia State $16,854
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Georgia State $12,052
  • Spelman $10,614
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Georgia State 94%
  • Spelman 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Georgia State 33,447
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Admitted
  • Georgia State 18,543
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Georgia State 55.4%
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Georgia State 22.7%
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Georgia State 1060
  • Spelman 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Georgia State 22
  • Spelman 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Georgia State 3.54
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Georgia State A-
  • Spelman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Georgia State Easy
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Georgia State Low
  • Spelman High
  • ACT Range
  • Georgia State 19/26
  • Spelman 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Georgia State 940/1180
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Georgia State Required
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Georgia State Apr 1, 2027
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Georgia State 25:1
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Georgia State
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Georgia State 47%
  • Spelman 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Georgia State $46,200
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Georgia State 45%
  • Spelman 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Georgia State $23,699
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Georgia State $245
  • Spelman $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Georgia State 39%
  • Spelman 5%
  • % Women
  • Georgia State 61%
  • Spelman 95%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Georgia State Very High
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • Georgia State No
  • Spelman Yes
  • % White
  • Georgia State 26%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Asian
  • Georgia State 12%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Black
  • Georgia State 42%
  • Spelman 96%
  • % Hispanic
  • Georgia State 10%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Native American
  • Georgia State 0%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Georgia State 0%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Georgia State 5%
  • Spelman 2%
  • % International
  • Georgia State 2%
  • Spelman 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Georgia State 3%
  • Spelman 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Georgia State 79%
  • Spelman 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Georgia State 11%
  • Spelman 78%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Georgia State University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (34,944 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Georgia State University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); Spelman College is in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting).
  • Georgia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Georgia State University 25:1; Spelman College 11:1.

Georgia State vs. Spelman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia State 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 Georgia State University than Spelman ($16,854 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia State University are 26% lower than at Spelman College ($13,392 vs. $18,091).
  • Spelman College is 264.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Georgia State (about $22,892 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $8,664.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27% higher at Spelman than at Georgia State University (about $6,716 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $24,840.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spelman College than at Georgia State University (96% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Georgia State University students is 13.5% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($12,052 vs. $10,614).

Georgia State vs. Spelman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Georgia State 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 Georgia State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spelman College (1210) is 150 points higher than at Georgia State (1060).
  • Incoming Spelman students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at Georgia State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgia State University 940/1180; Spelman College 1108/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgia State University 19/26; Spelman College 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Georgia State - Required; Spelman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Georgia State Apr 1, 2027; Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Georgia State (3.54).
  • Georgia State has a higher acceptance rate (55.4%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.7% at Georgia State vs. 23.6% at Spelman.

Georgia State vs. Spelman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Georgia State 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 Georgia State University's (47%).
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Georgia State graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Georgia State University graduates have a $3,301 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($23,699 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Georgia State graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($245 vs. $279).
  • More Spelman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Georgia State students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 45%)

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.