Spelman vs. Elon

Deciding between Spelman College and Elon 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
Elon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Elon 7,239
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • Elon #140
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Spelman -
  • Elon -
  • Status
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Elon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Spelman
  • Elon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Elon $46,958
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Elon $46,958
  • Room & Board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Elon $14,985
  • Average Net Price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Elon $44,440
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • Elon $17,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • Elon 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Elon 18,105
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Elon 12,012
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • Elon 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • Elon 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Elon 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Spelman A-
  • Elon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Elon Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Spelman High
  • Elon Low
  • ACT Range
  • Spelman 22/29
  • Elon 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Elon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Elon 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • Elon 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Elon $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • Elon 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Elon $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Spelman $279
  • Elon $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Spelman 5%
  • Elon 40%
  • % Women
  • Spelman 95%
  • Elon 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • Elon Low
  • HBCU
  • Spelman Yes
  • Elon No
  • % White
  • Spelman 0%
  • Elon 82%
  • % Asian
  • Spelman 0%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Black
  • Spelman 96%
  • Elon 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Spelman 0%
  • Elon 5%
  • % Native American
  • Spelman 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Spelman 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Spelman 2%
  • Elon 2%
  • % International
  • Spelman 1%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Spelman 0%
  • Elon 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Spelman 21%
  • Elon 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Spelman 78%
  • Elon 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Elon University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (7,239 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Spelman vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or Elon? 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 Spelman College than Elon ($40,354 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 17.2% lower than at Spelman College ($14,985 vs. $18,091).
  • Elon University is 48.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $15,402 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.8% higher at Elon than at Spelman College (about $15,402 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spelman College than at Elon University (96% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 68.3% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($17,867 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. Elon Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spelman College (1210) is the same as at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming Spelman students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Elon (25).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; Elon University 1130/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; Elon University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; Elon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027; Elon Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Elon (3.65).
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 13.4% at Elon.

Spelman vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and Elon? 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).

  • Elon University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Spelman College's (77%).
  • Graduates from Elon University earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Spelman graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Elon University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Elon graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.