Spelman College

Atlanta, GA 3,414 Undergrads 76.5% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$50,952

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$38,967

After Aid

Median Earnings

$58,897

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$38,967

Peer Midpoint: $17,334

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation

$58,897

Peer Midpoint: $34,461

Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment

$59,993

Peer Midpoint: $31,599

Graduation Rate76.5%

Peer Midpoint: 68.7%

Average Starting Age19.4

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients28.5%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time77.7%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS69.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

24.9%

SAT Avg

1,220

SAT Reading

25th: 590-75th: 680

SAT Math

25th: 518-75th: 640

ACT Composite

25th: 22-75th: 29

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$670k

+$278k

+$185k

Median Cost$39k/yr

+$633k

+$242k

+$149k

Full Cost$51k/yr

+$622k

+$231k

+$138k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$39k/yr

412%

Full Cost$51k/yr

292%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return665%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return87%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$26,000

Earnings (4yr)

$48,995

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$179k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer and Information Sciences, General

BachCIP: 1101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $92,374

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Dance

BachCIP: 5003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,980

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$25,129

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

-$390k

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

$26,375

Earnings (4yr)

$79,456

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

+$62k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

$25,314

Earnings (4yr)

$62,425

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

-$70k

Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians

BachCIP: 1505

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,185

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

BachCIP: 0502

Median Debt

$25,500

Earnings (4yr)

$25,137

Natl Median: $51,710

Lifetime Value Added

-$386k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

BachCIP: 5100

Median Debt

$24,705

Earnings (4yr)

$60,978

Natl Median: $61,296

Lifetime Value Added

-$81k

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Services, General

BachCIP: 4400

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,597

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International/Globalization Studies

BachCIP: 3020

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$56,538

Natl Median: $59,972

Lifetime Value Added

-$117k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$94,634

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

+$177k

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

$26,250

Earnings (4yr)

$66,378

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

-$39k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$25,674

Earnings (4yr)

$52,775

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$148k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology and Anthropology

BachCIP: 4513

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,959

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

$26,747

Earnings (4yr)

$62,587

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

-$68k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$50,364

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$168k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.