Spelman vs. Louisville

Deciding between Spelman College and University of Louisville? 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
University of Louisville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Louisville Louisville, KY
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • Louisville Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Louisville 23,065
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • Louisville Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • Louisville #408
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Spelman -
  • Louisville -
  • Status
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Louisville Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Spelman
  • Louisville
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Louisville $13,136
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Louisville $29,482
  • Room & Board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Louisville $12,576
  • Average Net Price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Louisville $19,785
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • Louisville $14,677
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • Louisville 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Louisville 15,668
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Louisville 12,442
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Louisville 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Louisville 25.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • Louisville 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • Louisville 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Louisville 3.64
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Spelman A-
  • Louisville A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Louisville Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Spelman High
  • Louisville
  • ACT Range
  • Spelman 22/29
  • Louisville 19/27
  • SAT Range
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Louisville 1040/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Louisville Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • Louisville Feb 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Louisville 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Louisville
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • Louisville 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Louisville $45,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • Louisville 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Louisville $19,656
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Spelman $279
  • Louisville $203
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Spelman 5%
  • Louisville 44%
  • % Women
  • Spelman 95%
  • Louisville 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • Louisville Low
  • HBCU
  • Spelman Yes
  • Louisville No
  • % White
  • Spelman 0%
  • Louisville 76%
  • % Asian
  • Spelman 0%
  • Louisville 3%
  • % Black
  • Spelman 96%
  • Louisville 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Spelman 0%
  • Louisville 4%
  • % Native American
  • Spelman 0%
  • Louisville 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Spelman 0%
  • Louisville 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Spelman 2%
  • Louisville 4%
  • % International
  • Spelman 1%
  • Louisville 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Spelman 0%
  • Louisville 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Spelman 21%
  • Louisville 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Spelman 78%
  • Louisville 28%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Louisville is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (23,065 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Spelman College is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); University of Louisville is in Louisville, KY (Large City setting).
  • Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Louisville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Spelman College 11:1; University of Louisville 14:1.

Spelman vs. Louisville Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or Louisville? 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 Louisville than Spelman ($19,785 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisville are 30.5% lower than at Spelman College ($12,576 vs. $18,091).
  • Spelman College is 140.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Louisville (about $18,420 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $13,136.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Spelman than at University of Louisville (about $2,074 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $29,482.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisville than at Spelman College (98% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Louisville students is 38.3% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($14,677 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. Louisville Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spelman College (1210) is 50 points higher than at Louisville (1160).
  • Incoming Spelman students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Louisville).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; University of Louisville 1040/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; University of Louisville 19/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; Louisville - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027; Louisville Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Louisville (3.64).
  • Louisville has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 25.1% at Louisville.

Spelman vs. Louisville Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and Louisville? 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 Louisville's (51%).
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Louisville graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $45,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisville graduates have a $7,344 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($19,656 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Louisville graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($203 vs. $279).
  • More Louisville graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.