Spelman vs. AU

Deciding between Spelman College and Anderson University? 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.

Spelman College
Anderson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • AU 4,710
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • AU #662
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Spelman -
  • AU Baptist
  • Status
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Spelman
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • AU $34,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • AU $34,970
  • Room & Board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • AU $12,720
  • Average Net Price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • AU $24,434
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • AU $25,969
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • AU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • AU 4,548
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • AU 2,488
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • AU 54.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • AU 32.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • AU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • AU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • AU 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Spelman A-
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • AU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Spelman High
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Spelman 22/29
  • AU 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • AU 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • AU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • AU 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • AU $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • AU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • AU $26,862
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Spelman $279
  • AU $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Spelman 5%
  • AU 42%
  • % Women
  • Spelman 95%
  • AU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • AU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Spelman Yes
  • AU No
  • % White
  • Spelman 0%
  • AU 83%
  • % Asian
  • Spelman 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • Spelman 96%
  • AU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Spelman 0%
  • AU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Spelman 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Spelman 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Spelman 2%
  • AU 2%
  • % International
  • Spelman 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Spelman 0%
  • AU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Spelman 21%
  • AU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Spelman 78%
  • AU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Anderson University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (4,710 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Spelman vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or AU? 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 Anderson University than Spelman ($24,434 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 29.7% lower than at Spelman College ($12,720 vs. $18,091).
  • Anderson University is 10.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $3,414 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at AU than at Spelman College (about $3,414 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at Spelman College (98% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 144.7% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($25,969 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Spelman or AU? 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 AU and Spelman.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spelman College (1210) is 20 points higher than at AU (1190).
  • Incoming Spelman students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at AU (25).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; Anderson University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; Anderson University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at AU (3.72).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (54.7%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 32.5% at AU.

Spelman vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and AU? 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 Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $13,800 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Anderson University graduates have a $138 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($26,862 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.