Key differences on Outcomes
- 1
Spelman graduates 12 pts more of its students than Howard (77% vs. 64%)
Graduation rate - 2
Howard grads earn $3.1K more ten years out than Spelman's ($63,066 vs. $59,993)
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Outcomes
Outcomes
Earnings and finishing
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Howard$63.1KHighest
Spelman$60K
Graduation rate
Howard64%
Spelman77%Highest
Retention rate
Howard88%
Spelman95%Highest
Borrowing
Median debt
Howard$24.5KLowest
Spelman$25K
Undergrads with a federal loan
Howard59%
Spelman48%
Median debt, Pell Grant recipients
Howard$20.5KLowest
Spelman$23.3K
Eight-year outcomes
Credential within 4 years, all students
Howard59%
Spelman66%
Credential within 8 years, all students
Howard68%
Spelman74%
Enrolled at another college, 8 years on
Howard22%
Spelman16%
Graduation by group
Graduated in 6 years, Pell Grant recipients
Howard66%
Spelman76%
Graduated in 6 years, neither Pell nor subsidized loan
Howard74%
Spelman88%
Pell graduation gap
Howard7 pts lower
Spelman12 pts lower
Graduated in 6 years, by race and ethnicity
| Group | Howard | Spelman |
|---|---|---|
| White | 65% | Not shown: under 30 students |
| Asian | Not shown: under 30 students | Not reported |
| Hispanic/Latino | Not shown: under 30 students | Not reported |
| Black | 70% | 79% |
| Two or more races | Not reported | Not reported |
| International | Not shown: under 30 students | Not shown: under 30 students |
Sources:College Scorecard, most recent release;Howard University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Outcome Measures survey, Students entering fall 2016;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018;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