Spelman vs. NYU

Deciding between Spelman College and New York 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
New York University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Spelman -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Spelman
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Spelman A-
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Spelman High
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Spelman 22/29
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Spelman $279
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Spelman 5%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Spelman 95%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Spelman Yes
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Spelman 0%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Spelman 0%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Spelman 96%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Spelman 0%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Spelman 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Spelman 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Spelman 2%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Spelman 1%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Spelman 0%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Spelman 21%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Spelman 78%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Spelman College is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Spelman College 11:1; New York University 8:1.

Spelman vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or NYU? 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 New York University than Spelman ($30,325 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spelman College are 23.1% lower than at New York University ($18,091 vs. $23,530).
  • New York University is 99% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $31,240 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 99% higher at NYU than at Spelman College (about $31,240 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spelman College than at New York University (96% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 407.8% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($53,901 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 310 points higher than at Spelman (1210).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 25 at Spelman).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NYU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Spelman (3.75).
  • Spelman has a higher acceptance rate (24.9%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Spelman vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and NYU? 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).

  • New York University's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Spelman College's (77%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $24,700 more per year than Spelman graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $51,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More NYU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.