Frequently Asked Questions

Average GPA: 3.9
Average SAT (CR+M):1217
Average ACT Composite: 26

Test averages are based on students who choose to submit their scores.

Students who take the AP exam and score a 3 or better may receive advanced placement credit in the following subject areas: art, biology, computer science, economics, French, German, government and politics, Latin, physics, and Spanish.

To receive credit in chemistry, history, mathematics (calculus AB exam) or music, a student needs a score of at least 4. The registrar of the college will determine how much credit you are eligible to receive based on your score.

High school transcripts are reviewed the summer before after your senior year and before entering Spelman.

Spelman College accepts admission applications exclusively through the Common Application. The Common Application is a standardized undergraduate college application form accepted at more than 500 accredited, independent colleges and universities nationwide.

You may access the application by going to the Common Application. The Common Application looks similar to most college applications, with all the usual fields for name, address, school and test data, and questions about your work experience and volunteer activities. For the personal essay, you may choose one of five.

Common Application

Use the following codes to submit official test scores:

ACT: 0794
SAT: 5628

FAFSA code (for financial aid): 0 0 1 5 9 4

Early Decision is a binding admission, where students agree to accept admission to Spelman College if they are admitted and offered an adequate financial aid package. Early Action is a non-binding admission. Students who are accepted are not required to enroll at Spelman.

Those who apply and are admitted under early action are notified early in their senior year (by December 31) of the admission decision. Those who apply regular decision are notified of the admission decision by April 1.

You may send in these items in support of your application. All items become the property of Spelman College and are not returned.

To receive college credit, you must receive a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IB exam.

A minimum of 120 credits is necessary for a student to receive a bachelor's degree.

Spelman students may cross-register at all of the undergraduate institutions in the Atlanta University Center and the ARCHE member institutions. To cross-register, you must first obtain permission from the department chair, then complete a registration form before the end of the drop/add deadline at the host institution.

Spelman College awards Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Spelman College offers formal student exchange programs with many colleges across the country. See the domestic exchange area on our website for a complete listing of exchange programs.

A dual degree program is an educational program where a student works towards two different academic or professional degrees in parallel. This means they earn both degrees simultaneously, often within a shorter timeframe than if they pursued them individually. Our most common dual degree program. The Dual Degree Engineering Program (DDEP) allows students to obtain both a liberal arts degree and an engineering degree by completing three years of undergraduate work at Spelman College and enrolling at an engineering institution for the last two years of study. For additional information, view the Dual Degree Engineering Requirements.

Spelman students receive a letter grade for each class in which they are enrolled, ranging from A to F. Students must earn a grade of C or better to pass a major or cognate course. If an upperclass student elects to take a class pass/fail, she must earn a C- or better to pass the course.

No. Spelman College is a four-year, undergraduate institution offering the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Spelman does not have an ROTC program on campus; however, students who are interested in participating in ROTC courses may enroll at Clark Atlanta University. Credits from the courses are counted as electives.

The Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program is designed for any student who has excelled academically in high school or during her first year at Spelman. It consists of seven courses and seminars, five of which are required courses and two of which are electives. As a senior, honors students complete the honors senior thesis, which allows them to pursue independent research in an area of interest.

After the completion of the first year, any student who has completed a minimum of 32 credit hours and achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher is also eligible for admission to the program.

Any student who applies early action or early decision will be invited to apply for the honors program. Regular decision applicants and deferred applicants are not eligible to apply.

Spelman College offers a variety of scholarships to new, continuing and international students. The scholarships range in value from $50 to awards covering full tuition, fees, room and board. Find more detailed financial aid information here.

To receive financial aid from Spelman College, you must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 1 of the year in which you plan to enroll at Spelman. Priority is given to those who apply by March 15.

The Spelman College Office of Admissions offers campus tours to families and groups throughout the fall, spring, and summer. Additionally, the Office of Admissions hosts various virtual information sessions and events throughout the year to connect with prospective students. To register for a campus tour or virtual information session, visit the Schedule a Visit page.

Schedule a Visit

The average class size is approximately 30 students, but many upper-level courses within a student's major are much smaller. The student-professor ratio is 11:1.

Spelman does not have a curfew.

Over 2,000 students are enrolled at Spelman College.

The Health Services department is open to all Spelman students from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. A physician and nurse practitioner are available to see patients during office hours and nurses can be paged after hours. Should you require emergency medical attention, several hospitals in the area have established relationships with Spelman College. All full-time students are required to participate in a health insurance program, which assists with the cost if a student requires medical attention that the Health Services department is unable to provide.

The Department of Public Safety is comprised of competent, committed, and concerned professionals trained to deliver public safety services to the school. Over 90 percent of the officers are trained and certified in the state of Georgia, and all are well-versed in the needs of an urban women's institution.

Yes. Spelman is committed to its founding mission of educating women of African descent.

Yes. All Spelman students are a part of the Spelman Sisterhood, and our core belief in the bonds of sisterhood remains.

Spelman will consider for admission women students, including students who consistently live and self-identify as women, regardless of their gender assignment at birth, who are prepared to participate in a women’s college that is academically and intellectually rigorous. Spelman affirms its core mission of educating and developing high-achieving Black women.

The Common Application will direct applicants to identify their legal sex, regardless of their gender identity. If you identify as a woman and encounter any challenge in submitting your application to Spelman based on your answer to this question, please contact the Office of Admission for assistance. The admissions staff will be able to assist you with your application.

A candidate must self-identify as a woman on the application and supporting application materials should verify this self-identification.

A student’s eligibility for admission in regard to gender will be determined by the self-identification indicated on the application. If the applicant is concerned about discrepancies in her application materials, she can speak with an admissions counselor or address any concerns in the essay or personal statement.

No. Spelman does not admit male students, including students who self-identify and live consistently as men, regardless of gender assignment at birth.

All applicants to Spelman College will be reviewed based on their complete applications – including their academic profiles, essays, letters of recommendation, leadership experiences, and extracurricular and co-curricular activities. The College will continue to uphold a standard of equity and fairness while reviewing applications for admission. The Admissions Committee will admit a cohort of students who demonstrate strong promise and in a competitive admissions environment.

Once admitted, any student who fulfills the College’s graduation requirements — regardless of gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation — will be awarded a Spelman degree.

Upon adoption of the policy, Spelman will begin a thoughtful implementation process. All Spelman students receive the full support and guidance of College faculty, staff, and administrators through graduation.

Housing accommodations will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The College believes all residential students are entitled to a safe and comfortable living environment. Every effort will be made to ensure that each individual student’s needs are met and that the College remains in compliance with all relevant policies and laws.

Over the course of the upcoming academic year, a committee appointed by the president will develop a plan for implementation that will go into effect for applicants applying for admission for entry in the fall 2018 semester.

Spelman College has established the Office of Community Service and Student Development to provide information about community service opportunities for Spelman students and integrate service into a Spelman education.

Spelman offers students the opportunity to study at various institutions worldwide, including locations in Ghana, England, Scotland, and the Czech Republic.

Visit Study Abroad