DrBanneker
Space is the Place
We last covered the first Black women's only liberal arts college, Bennett College, which received an average score of 7.4.
See the updated leaderboard here
Today we visit their larger cousin, Spelman College, one of the most pre-eminent HBCUs. Spelman's importance and impact on the HBCU landscape is hard to exaggerate. Moderately sized for a HBCU at almost 2,500 students it is one of the most well-known schools as the elite institution for Black women nationally, if not globally, along with its male counterpart, Morehouse.
Spelman hosts some of the most outstanding metrics of all HBCUs. It has the highest HBCU graduation rate of nearly 78% and one of the highest median salaries for graduates at $52k. It has one of the best alumni giving rates at 38% and the second largest endowment of all HBCUs at over $500M. Also, it is one of the only HBCUs (Morehouse is the other) where liberal arts graduates are expected to make over $50k only a few years after graduation. As covered in the Analytics thread, this is only possible with STEM, Architecture, Nursing, or Business at other HBCUs. Part of this is the benefit of the Spelman name, alumni network, and connections with major US corporations and institutions. It is a testament to this that the median earnings for Spelman English majors ($44k) is almost $1,000 higher than the median Earnings for English majors at Harvard ($43k). English majors at Spelman also are expected to earn more than any major at Clark Atlanta University or the average student at Georgia State University. The highest earners tend to be economics majors though at almost $60k. Spelman alumni are a who's who of the Black elite and achievers throughout the 20th and 21st century and its impact on Black women in science, business, government, feminism (Alice Walker and Moya Bailey who coined the term misogynoir among others) are a testament to its importance to Black culture.
Spelman is also a fundraising machine often receiving an eight figure donation in any given year. Just two days ago they got $10M more for the new Innovation Center under construction (see image below).
It is hard to list any caveats for such an outstanding institution but if Spelman does have a weakness, it is its high cost. While it is on par with peer PWIs in the top private school and Ivy League range, it is the most expensive HBCU by far. At $28k for tuition and $54k for average all-in costs annually, it is on par with Morehouse to tie as the most expensive in tuition but $6k higher than Morehouse in total costs. While the median federal debt $26k by students is not different than other private HBCUs, the bulk of the expense is shouldered in Parents PLUS loans which have a median of $119k amongst recent Spelman graduates, $30k more in debt than the #2 Morehouse. It is hard to say whether this is due to the higher costs, if Spelman has less financial aid, or has more economically disadvantaged students. This is a sobering counter to the higher earnings of graduates, a similar issue faced by Morehouse, Hampton, and Howard grads most prominently.
Spelman's elite legacy goes back to its founding name. While it was originally founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, it changed its name to Spelman in 1884 in honor of a donation by oil magnate John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller's wife's maiden name was 'Spelman' and is where the institution's name comes from. Spelman has always had a mission not just to teach but the refine the character of the young ladies that attended. Historically educating the daughters of elite and middle class Black families, it still has a special place amongst educated and well-to-do Black Americans. Even today, it along with Morehouse and Hampton, has one of the highest percentage of students from families of $100k+ income (18%) and among the lowest percentage of first generation college students (about 20% of its students; HBCU average is about 40% first generation). It does serve all classes though with over a third coming from lower income groups (<$30k).
One of the original members of the Atlanta University Center in 1929, Spelman officially became a college in 1927 and grew away from its seminary roots to becoming a liberal arts institution. One aspect of its development that may surprise many is that its presidents consisted solely of Whites, and then Black men, until its first Black woman president Johnetta Cole in 1987. It recently welcomed its newest president, Dr. Helene Gayle, a CDC epidemiologist, in July 2022.
Dr. Helene Gayle, epidemiologist-the 11th Spelman president as of July 2022.
First High School graduates
Basic Data (2021 unless mentioned otherwise)
Founded: 1881
City, State: Atlanta, GA
Type: 4-Year, Private
Nickname:
Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 2,417 (all undergraduate), 97% Black
Part-time student percentage: 2%
First Generation Student Percentage: 21%
Percentage of students from households under $30k/over $100k: 37% / 18%
Out of State Percentage: 74%
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Admissions Acceptance Rate: 51%
4-yr/6-yr graduation rates: 68% / 77%
Transfer out rate: 14%
Male/Female percentages (Female:Male Ratio): 100% female
Tuition: $28k
Median Federal Debt After Graduation: $26k
Median Parent PLUS Loans After Graduation: $119k
Median Earning 10-Years after 10 years from freshman year: $52,227
Median Earnings for specific majors after 3 years after graduation:
Economics: $59k, International Studies: $52k, English: $44k, Women's/African-American Studies: $40k
Top Majors by Degrees:
Biology, Psychology, Economics, Sociology, International Studies, English
Endowment: $571M (incl. $20M from MacKenzie Scott)
Alumni Engagement: 38% of alumni give back
Athletic Conference: No longer in any athletic conference; eliminated athletics in 2012
Mascot: N/A (once were the Jaguars when athletics was offered)
Notable Alumni: (see next post)
Main Campus
New Center for Innovation and the Arts (under construction; opening Fall 2024)
Living/Dining Complex
Founders' Day
Spelman Glee Club
Miss Spelman College
@Uachet @Peachstate @Gloxina @LadyJ2 @HarlemHottie @cocoloco
@ab.aspectus @Originalman @#1 pick @Ziggiy @SupaVillain @Tug life @Idaeo @get these nets @MostReal @Bryan Danielson @Rollie Forbes @Willie Lump Lump @staticshock @Charlie Hustle @BigAggieLean. @Optimus Prime @How Sway? @DropTopDoc @Anerdyblackguy
Black women who have attended UNC -Chapel hill. Never met a group of more snobbish females.
