Spelman vs. Kentucky

Comparable Facts

Compare Spelman College in Atlanta, GA with University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kentucky is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Spelman College is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); University of Kentucky is in Lexington, KY (Large City setting).
• Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Spelman College 11:1; University of Kentucky 18:1.

Spelman vs. Kentucky Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or Kentucky? 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 University of Kentucky than Spelman ($21,958 vs. $40,354).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kentucky are 11.5% lower than at Spelman College ($16,016 vs. $18,091).
• Spelman College is 133.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kentucky (about $18,054 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $13,502.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Kentucky than at Spelman College (about $2,584 more per year; $34,140.00 vs. $31,556.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spelman College than at University of Kentucky (96% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 21.5% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($12,898 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. Kentucky Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spelman College (1210) is 30 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
• Incoming Spelman students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; University of Kentucky 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; University of Kentucky 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; Kentucky - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027; Kentucky Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Kentucky (3.59).
• Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than Spelman (24.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 22.2% at Kentucky.

Spelman vs. Kentucky Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and Kentucky? 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 University of Kentucky's (59%).
• Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Kentucky graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($22,750 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($235 vs. $279).
• More Kentucky graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.