Spelman College is a powerhouse in terms of changing the lives of young Black women and contributing to society. The historically Black, liberal arts college boasts a 91 percent retention rate and a six-year graduation rate of 76 percent, which is well above the national average of 63 percent. What is even more impressive about Spelman’s accomplishments is the fact that 44 percent of its students are Pell Grant recipients. Most colleges and universities with high numbers of Pell Grant-eligible students are not able to hit these retention and graduate levels because low-income students typically take longer to graduate given their lack of resources.
