Spelman College Distributed $27 Million to Over 2,300 Students Last Year

Spelman strengthens its commitment to student access and social mobility through record scholarship funding.

Spelman College is proud to share that 2,324 student scholars received a total of $27 million in institutional scholarships during the 2024-2025 school year. The funds included a combination of endowed and annual scholarships, along with merit and need-based aid. 

Each year, Spelman’s Financial Aid Office matches students to scholarships through the Spelman Scholarship Application Portal, a matching system that maximizes opportunities for students and is designed to help students connect to as many scholarship opportunities as possible.

The remarkable level of institutional scholarship funding each year proves Spelman's strong commitment to making academic excellence accessible to students,” said Director of Financial Aid Lisa Berrien. “Thanks to the exceptional work of our Financial Aid Office, we are proud to connect deserving scholars to vital scholarship funds that allow them to thrive.”

In total, Spelman College distributed $96 million in federal, state and institutional funding to students, a task undertaken by the Financial Aid Office. Last year, more than 90 percent of Spelman students received some form of financial assistance to support their enrollment and success. The achievement aligns directly with Goal 2 of Spelman's Strategic Plan, which prioritizes expanding student access through increased scholarships.

The Spelman Office of Financial Aid works year-round to assist students in financing their college education. Most of the funds administered come from federal and state sources, in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study and student loans. In addition to state and federal funds and stewardship efforts by the Office of Institutional Advancement, the College invests from its own resources in support of financial aid programs to increase student access and opportunity. 

“The small, dedicated scholarship team within the Financial Aid Office works relentlessly to match thousands of students to the perfect scholarship from over 200 funding sources,” said Berrien. “Our Spelman scholars are highly competitive. While our office cannot provide for every deserving student who applies, our team’s diligence ensures that we maximize every scholarship dollar, turning the hope of financial aid into the tangible reality of a Spelman education for those we can assist.”

Here is a look at the impact of Spelman’s institutional scholarships:

• 2024–25: Over $27 million disbursed to 2,324 students
• 2023–24: Over $24 million disbursed to 2,200 students
• 2022–23: Over $21 million disbursed to 2,006 students

The scholarship application opens each year in March for returning students. To learn more about scholarships at Spelman, click here.