Spelman vs. Roanoke College

Deciding between Spelman College and Roanoke 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.

Spelman College
Roanoke College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Roanoke College Salem, VA
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • Roanoke College Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Roanoke College 1,804
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • Roanoke College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • Roanoke College #369
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Spelman -
  • Roanoke College Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Roanoke College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Spelman
  • Roanoke College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Roanoke College $38,068
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Roanoke College $38,068
  • Room & Board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Roanoke College $15,366
  • Average Net Price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Roanoke College $26,044
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • Roanoke College $28,188
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • Roanoke College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Roanoke College 5,785
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Roanoke College 4,805
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Roanoke College 83.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Roanoke College 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • Roanoke College 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • Roanoke College 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Roanoke College 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Spelman A-
  • Roanoke College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Roanoke College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Spelman High
  • Roanoke College
  • ACT Range
  • Spelman 22/29
  • Roanoke College 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Roanoke College 1090/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Roanoke College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • Roanoke College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Roanoke College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Roanoke College
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • Roanoke College 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Roanoke College $51,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • Roanoke College 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Roanoke College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Spelman $279
  • Roanoke College $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Spelman 5%
  • Roanoke College 48%
  • % Women
  • Spelman 95%
  • Roanoke College 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • Roanoke College Low
  • HBCU
  • Spelman Yes
  • Roanoke College No
  • % White
  • Spelman 0%
  • Roanoke College 82%
  • % Asian
  • Spelman 0%
  • Roanoke College 1%
  • % Black
  • Spelman 96%
  • Roanoke College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Spelman 0%
  • Roanoke College 4%
  • % Native American
  • Spelman 0%
  • Roanoke College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Spelman 0%
  • Roanoke College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Spelman 2%
  • Roanoke College 4%
  • % International
  • Spelman 1%
  • Roanoke College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Spelman 0%
  • Roanoke College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Spelman 21%
  • Roanoke College 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Spelman 78%
  • Roanoke College 32%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Spelman College in Atlanta, GA with Roanoke College in Salem, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Spelman College is larger than Roanoke College based on total student enrollment (3,417 students vs. 1,804 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Spelman vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or Roanoke College? 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 Roanoke College than Spelman ($26,044 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Roanoke College are 15.1% lower than at Spelman College ($15,366 vs. $18,091).
  • Roanoke College is 20.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $6,512 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.6% higher at Roanoke College than at Spelman College (about $6,512 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at Spelman College (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 165.6% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($28,188 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. Roanoke College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spelman College (1210) is 10 points higher than at Roanoke College (1200).
  • Incoming Roanoke College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Spelman).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; Roanoke College 1090/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; Roanoke College 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; Roanoke College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Roanoke College (3.56).
  • Roanoke College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

Spelman vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and Roanoke College? 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 Roanoke College's (69%).
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Roanoke College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Roanoke College and Spelman graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Roanoke College and Spelman graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Roanoke College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.