Spelman College has received more than 11,000 applications for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle despite the disruptions caused by the global pandemic.
This is the highest application pool in the College’s 140-year history and a 20 percent increase over last year.
“The increased interest in Spelman is a testament to the College’s reputation of graduating Black women with a competitive edge who rise to leadership roles across industries and impact positive change in their communities,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. “Our admissions team has done an excellent job of sharing our stellar outcomes with prospective students from across the nation. We are excited that these bright young minds are seizing the opportunity to experience our unique liberal arts education by applying to Spelman.”
The college’s impressive The college’s alumnae include Children’s Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman, Starbucks Group President and COO Rosalind Brewer, political leader and activist Stacey Abrams, former Acting Surgeon General and Spelman’s first alumna president Audrey Forbes Manley.
Chelsea Holley, interim director of admissions, attributes the spike in applications to an “urgency around supporting HBCUs,” that is resonating with prospective students, said
“From founding inaugural Black student organizations at their high schools to advocating for voters’ rights in the 2020 presidential election, this applicant pool has been civically engaged, committed to leadership and dedicated to the very mission of Spelman College,” said Holley.
The overall academic profile of applicants to Spelman includes an average GPA of a 3.8 and an average SAT score of 1203 for those that chose to have their scores reviewed.
Spelman was recently crowned by U.S. News & World Report as the No.1 HBCU in the nation.
“Students are drawn to Spelman because of its strong programs and its legacy of producing inspirational leaders. The story of Spelman is one that invokes pride, belonging and historical significance,” said Holley. “We have been intentional about sharing the rich tradition and legacy of Spelman, while also highlighting our ability to produce the next generation of leaders in a tech-forward society. We have consistently evolved and managed to remain a pace setter in the education and professional development of women of African descent.”
