Is Spelman test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1220 and hold it if it's under.

What is Spelman's acceptance rate?

25% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 2,990 of 12,023 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 138%, from 5,051 in 2015 to 12,023 in 2024, and Spelman's admit rate went from 48% to 25%.

What ACT score do you need for Spelman?

17% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 22–28, with a median of 25. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1100–1300 works out to about 22–28.

Why might Spelman's SAT range look high?

Only 30% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

What GPA do you need for Spelman?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.96 high school GPA, and 39% of those who reported a class rank were in their top 10%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

Does applying early decision help at Spelman?

16% of early decision applicants were admitted (70 of 437), against 25% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Spelman?

0 of the 2 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 0.0%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Spelman? (Middle 50%: 1100–1300)

First-year students at Spelman who sent an SAT scored 1100–1300, with a median of 1220 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Spelman admits 25% of applicants and is test optional.

Spelman College · Atlanta, GA

Where your score lands at Spelman

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1100–1300, median 1220

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Spelman is for you and whether to send your score.

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Spelman by the numbers

Admit rate: 25%
Middle 50% SAT: 1100–1300
Median SAT: 1220
About on the ACT: 22–28
Sent an SAT: 30%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Spelman admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Spelman admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 138%, from 5,051 in 2015 to 12,023 in 2024, and Spelman's admit rate went from 48% to 25%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	12,023	2,990	25%
2023	10,610	3,617	34%
2022	13,649	3,875	28%
2021	11,176	5,673	51%
2020	9,118	4,794	53%
2019	9,106	3,956	43%
2018	9,451	3,718	39%
2017	8,344	3,342	40%
2016	7,864	2,810	36%
2015	5,051	2,441	48%

In fall 2024, 705 of the 2,990 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Spelman

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1050Far reachHold
1050–1090ReachHold
1100–1210TargetHold
1220 and upTargetSend

90010001100120013001400

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Spelman SAT sections, ACT, GPA and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	520	580	630
SAT Reading and Writing	570	630	670
SAT total	1100	1220	1300
ACT composite	22	25	28

Of enrolled first-year students, 30% sent an SAT and 17% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.96; 99% of new students reported one
Top 10% of their class: 39%; of new students who reported a rank

Spelman early decision and waitlist

Early decision

70 of 437 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision16%
All applicants25%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

568 applicants were offered a spot, 2 took it, and 0 were admitted from it.

0.0%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Spelman cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $38,967; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 78%
Median earnings: $59,993; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 3,649

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

Spelman Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Spelman admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Spelman website
Spelman College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1100–1300, and the median was 1220. At 1220 or higher you're above half of them. Spelman admits 25% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$