Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Spelman is 2.2× more selective than Howard
Acceptance rate - 2
Spelman's yield is 8 pts higher than Howard's
Yield rate - 3
Spelman's SAT midpoint is 30 points higher than Howard's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- HowardSelective
- SpelmanVery selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 900–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 16–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- HowardTest-optional
- SpelmanTest-blind
How they read a record
Howard
, GPA, and tests are all very important; class rank is considered. 50% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
Spelman
and GPA are both very important; tests are considered. 82% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
What they look at
| Factor | Howard | Spelman |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Considered | Very important |
| Essay | Considered | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Considered |
Sources:Howard University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;Spelman College (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;Spelman College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Spelman College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Spelman College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why