Spelman College

Atlanta, GA · founded 1881 · 2,100 students · hbcu

Known for: Spelman College is a prestigious historically Black liberal arts college for women, celebrated for its academic excellence, leadership development, and commitment to social justice and community service.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #39
Forbes: #194

Top programmes

Biology
Psychology
Political Science
Economics
English
Fine Arts

Notable alumni

Alice Walker — Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'The Color Purple'
Stacey Abrams — Politician, voting rights activist, and author
Keshia Knight Pulliam — Actress known for 'The Cosby Show'
Bernice King — CEO of The King Center and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr.
Rosalind Brewer — Former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance

Traditions

Founders Day
Spelman-Morehouse Classic
Spelman Independent Scholars Symposium
Spelman Day of Service

If Spelman College were…

As a food: Grandma’s peach cobbler with a twist of cayenne — Like this soulful yet bold dessert, Spelman blends tradition with fiery innovation—nurturing but never passive, sweet with a kick of rebellion.
As an athlete: Serena Williams — Powerful, graceful, and unapologetically dominant—Spelman women, like Serena, redefine excellence on their own terms, smashing ceilings with every serve.
As a person alive today: Ava DuVernay — Visionary, culturally rooted, and narrative-shifting—DuVernay’s artistry mirrors Spelman’s mission to elevate Black women’s voices and rewrite history.
As a historical figure: Ida B. Wells — Fearless, intellectual, and activist-driven—Wells’ crusade for justice echoes Spelman’s legacy of educating women who challenge systems and lead change.
As a movie or TV show: Hidden Figures — Celebrates brilliant Black women rewriting history behind the scenes—much like Spelman’s quiet but monumental impact on science, arts, and civil rights.
As a US president: Barack Obama — Eloquent, barrier-breaking, and strategically idealistic—Obama’s rise reflects Spelman’s blend of polished excellence and transformative leadership.
As a city: New Orleans — Deeply cultural, resilient, and rhythmically alive—like Spelman, where tradition fuels innovation and every corner pulses with history and soul.
As an element: Gold — Precious, timeless, and unconquerable—Spelman, like gold, represents enduring value, brilliance, and the unyielding strength of refined legacy.
As a car: 1995 Lexus LS 400 — Spelman embodies timeless excellence and quiet power—a vehicle that redefined luxury through meticulous engineering and grace, much like this HBCU has cultivated generations of Black women leaders with unshakeable dignit

Campus life

Spelman fosters a supportive, empowering environment centered on academic achievement, sisterhood, and cultural enrichment. The campus is vibrant with intellectual discussions, artistic performances, and community service initiatives.