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Spelman is ranked tied for 54th best among national liberal arts colleges and 1st among historically black colleges in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for 2021; additionally, it ranked Spelman 4th in “Social Mobility”, 5th “Most Innovative”, tied for 19th “Best Undergraduate Teaching”, and 100th for “Best Value” among liberal arts colleges.

Spelman leads the nation in enrolling the highest percentage of Gates Millennium Scholars. Spelman ranked first among baccalaureate origin institutions of African-American women who earned science, engineering, and mathematics doctoral degrees. Spelman ranked among the top 50 four-year colleges and universities for producing Fulbright and Gilman Scholars and ranked the second-largest producer of African-American college graduates who attend medical school. The Princeton Review ranked Spelman among the Best 373 Colleges and Universities in America in 2017.

Spelman is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Spelman is a member of the Coalition of Women’s Colleges, National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, The College Fund/UNCF, National Association for College Admissions Counseling, and State of Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC). Spelman offers bachelor’s degrees in over 30 academic majors. In addition, Spelman has strategic partnerships with over 30 accredited universities to help students more efficiently complete degree programs.

The Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program is a selective four-year comprehensive academic program available to students who meet the highly rigorous requirements. Spelman houses several pre-professional and research programs primarily designed to make students more competitive for admissions into reputable graduate school programs. Approximately two-thirds of Spelman graduates have earned advanced degrees. Spelman has well-established domestic exchange and study abroad programs.

Spelman has the highest graduation rate among HBCUs, with a graduation rate of 76% after six years. It also has a student: faculty ratio of 9:1.Registered academic honor societies include Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Sigma Lambda, Beta Kappa Chi, Golden Key International Honour Society, Kappa Delta Epsilon, Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Pi Sigma Alpha, Psi Chi, Sigma Tau Delta, and the Upsilon Pi Epsilon. Spelman is a selective institution with an acceptance rate of 40%. Spelman evaluates all applicants holistically which includes vetting their community service involvement, recommendation letters, personal statement, extracurricular activities, academic transcripts, and standardized test scores.

The students are all women and predominantly African-American. Approximately 30% come from Georgia, 69% from the rest of the United States, and 1% are international. 85% of Spelman students receive financial aid, the average financial package for a first-year student adds up to $22,000.Spelman offers organized and informal activities. Spelman’s over 80 student organizations include community service organizations, special interest groups, honors societies, Morehouse cheerleaders, choral groups, music ensembles, dance groups, theater, marching band, intramural sports, and student government.

Spelman’s gated campus near downtown Atlanta consists of over 25 buildings on 39 acres.