Spelman vs. Lipscomb

Deciding between Spelman College and Lipscomb 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
Lipscomb University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Lipscomb Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • Lipscomb Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Lipscomb 5,017
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • Lipscomb Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • Lipscomb #267
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Spelman -
  • Lipscomb Churches of Christ
  • Status
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Lipscomb Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Spelman
  • Lipscomb

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Lipscomb $40,572
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Lipscomb $40,572
  • Room & Board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Lipscomb $15,424
  • Average Net Price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Lipscomb $27,695
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • Lipscomb $28,645
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • Lipscomb 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Lipscomb 4,261
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Lipscomb 2,886
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Lipscomb 67.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Lipscomb 24.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • Lipscomb 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • Lipscomb 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Lipscomb 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Spelman A-
  • Lipscomb A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Lipscomb Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Spelman High
  • Lipscomb Low
  • ACT Range
  • Spelman 22/29
  • Lipscomb 23/30
  • SAT Range
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Lipscomb 1160/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Lipscomb Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • Lipscomb

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Lipscomb 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Lipscomb
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Lipscomb $46,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • Lipscomb 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Lipscomb $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Spelman $279
  • Lipscomb $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Spelman 5%
  • Lipscomb 37%
  • % Women
  • Spelman 95%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • Lipscomb Low
  • HBCU
  • Spelman Yes
  • Lipscomb No
  • % White
  • Spelman 0%
  • Lipscomb 77%
  • % Asian
  • Spelman 0%
  • Lipscomb 3%
  • % Black
  • Spelman 96%
  • Lipscomb 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Spelman 0%
  • Lipscomb 7%
  • % Native American
  • Spelman 0%
  • Lipscomb 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Spelman 0%
  • Lipscomb 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Spelman 2%
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • % International
  • Spelman 1%
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Spelman 0%
  • Lipscomb 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Spelman 21%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Spelman 78%
  • Lipscomb 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Lipscomb University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (5,017 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Spelman vs. Lipscomb Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or Lipscomb? 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 Lipscomb University than Spelman ($27,695 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lipscomb University are 14.7% lower than at Spelman College ($15,424 vs. $18,091).
  • Lipscomb University is 28.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $9,016 more per year; $40,572.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at Lipscomb than at Spelman College (about $9,016 more per year; $40,572.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lipscomb University than at Spelman College (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lipscomb University students is 169.9% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($28,645 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. Lipscomb Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lipscomb University (1270) is 60 points higher than at Spelman (1210).
  • Incoming Lipscomb students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Spelman).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; Lipscomb University 1160/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; Lipscomb University 23/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; Lipscomb - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Lipscomb (3.73).
  • Lipscomb has a higher acceptance rate (67.7%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 24.9% at Lipscomb.

Spelman vs. Lipscomb Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and Lipscomb? 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 Lipscomb University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Lipscomb graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lipscomb University graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lipscomb graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($211 vs. $279).
  • More Lipscomb graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.