Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $41,205 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $16.9K more than the national median. The 96% who received grants paid $40,354 on average; the other 4% paid the full sticker price of $51,366.
- Full price
- $51,366 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Little need-based aid above $110K
- aid thins out for families above that income
- Merit aid
- 15% · avg $3K
- of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- With an average merit award: $48K · proxy: 15% got one. A possibility, not a promise
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $33K a year |
| $30–48K | $34K a year |
| $48–75K | $37K a year |
| $75–110K | $39K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
$41,205
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
96% got grants averaging $10,614; 4% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$51,394 before aid
Tuition, fees, and on-campus food and housing · up 11% from 2023–24.
Show the full next-year estimate
- Tuition, fees, food & housing$51,394
- Books and supplies$1,500
- Transportation$1,500
- Other expenses$3,079
- Total for a student living on campus$57,473
$25K
≈ $265/month for 10 years
2.7 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 2 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full3–4%
- Paying it down9–10%
- Payments paused52–54%
- Not paying it down27–28%
- Behind or in default5–8%
- Forgiven or discharged0–2%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
LimitedGrants cover 20% of the $51,366 full price on average across all first-years (limited), more than at 8% of colleges. Most students here pay close to the sticker price.
$10,161 in grants per first-year ÷ $51,366 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (727), 2023–24
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (727)
- Federal aid + grants590avg grant $12K
- Grants, no federal aid106avg grant $2.9K
- No grants31pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (591 of 727), because income is only reported for them.
From Spelman College's Common Data Set
First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2024–25.
| First-years | All full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Have financial need | 68%442 students | 69%1,758 students |
| Need met, on average | 19% | 21% |
| Need fully met | 51% | 51% |
| Average aid package | $19,340 | $22,504 |
| Average need-based grant | $17,145 | $19,811 |
| Average need-based loan | $3,495 | $4,527 |
| Merit aid without need | – | 1%average $31,474 |
21% of the college's own grant dollars were awarded without regard to need.
Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.
Applying for aid
For fall 2026 entrants.
Priority date: February 1 · Aid offers: on a rolling basis from December 15
Dates for fall 2026 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Spelman College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2026–27;Spelman College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;Spelman College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)