Spelman College vs Colby College
Spelman College, a historically Black women's college in Atlanta, Georgia, and Colby College, a private liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine, offer distinct educational experiences. Spelman boasts a 58% acceptance rate, while Colby's is 13%. Both institutions excel in academics, with Spelman's popular majors including Biology, Psychology, and Business Administration, and Colby's strengths lying in Economics, Government, and Biology. Spelman's student body is predominantly female (99%), while Colby's is more gender-balanced (52% female, 48% male). Spelman's graduation rate stands at 75%, while Colby's is slightly higher at 89%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two esteemed institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Colby College |
![]() Spelman College |
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Overview |
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Location | Waterville, Maine | Atlanta, Georgia |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 91.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.9% | 50.8% |
Application fees | $40 | |
SAT range | 1400 - 1530 | N/A |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 15,857 | 11,176 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,407 | 5,673 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 667 | 794 |
Yield rate | 47.4% | 14.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $68,825 | $48,244 |
Average net price | $17,912 | $28,527 |
Tuition | $58,640 | $25,249 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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$15,063 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
39.0%
Average amount $58,513 |
96.0%
Average amount $10,839 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
76.0%
Average amount $5,707 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
5.0%
Average amount $13,717 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
2,417
Men 0.0% Women 100.0% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 76.0% |
International students | 9.5% | 0.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,242 | 1,401 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Georgia Maryland Texas California New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.6% | 76.2% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 9.2% |
Transferred out | 7.5% | 13.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
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