Spalding University
- Graduation Rate
- 54% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,438 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $25,491 D
- 49% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 99% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $11.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,068,817.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 21% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $11.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Spalding University Matters
Spalding University is a private university in Louisville, KY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 583
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Spalding University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 99% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 875–1038. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,491 a year after grants and scholarships — 49% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,438 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $25,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.38 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 99%, Spalding University in Louisville, KY, is a welcoming option for students seeking a supportive environment. This school is a good fit for those interested in health professions, business, psychology, education, and the arts. The small enrollment of 583 allows for a more personalized educational experience, which can be especially beneficial for students who thrive with individual attention and mentorship.
Looking at what happens after graduation, students can expect to earn around $49,438 within ten years of completing their degree. While the graduation rate is 54%, which suggests that not everyone finishes, those who do often find their way into careers that can sustain them financially. The affordability factor is significant here, as many students qualify for Pell Grants, which can help offset costs.
In terms of the financial bottom line, the net price after aid stands at about $25,491, with a median debt of $25,250 for graduates. This means that while the costs can be manageable, students should be aware of their borrowing. Those who tend to thrive at Spalding are likely those who seek a close-knit community and are passionate about their fields of study, ready to engage deeply with the resources available to them.
Rankings
- #12 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Kentucky
- #13 Best Nursing Colleges in Kentucky
- #22 Best Business Colleges in Kentucky
- #23 Best Psychology Colleges in Kentucky
- #25 Best Colleges in Kentucky
- #25 Best Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
- #25 Best Master's Programs in Kentucky
- #30 Colleges With the Highest Acceptance Rates
Can I Get In?
How selective Spalding University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Spalding University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Louisville, Kentucky, Spalding University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 99%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 977. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 99%
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- SAT Average
- 977
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- SAT Range
- 875–1038
- ACT Range
- 15–22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 55%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,066
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.57
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 720
- Admitted
- 703
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Spalding University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Spalding University is $29,200, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,491. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,509 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $29,200
- Out-of-State
- $29,200
- Avg Net Price
- $25,491
- Median Debt
- $25,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 59%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $20,509
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $22,475
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $24,378
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,278
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Spalding University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Spalding University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Spalding University earn a median of $49,438, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,870
- 8 Years
- $48,021
- 10 Years
- $49,438
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.51x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (58)
- 34%
- 100% (58)
- 34%
- 100% (58)
- 34%
- 100% (58)
- 34%
How Spalding Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Spalding University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Spalding University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,491/year ($101,964 total). Graduates earn $49,438 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,170,781 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,068,817 (11.5× your investment). The median debt is $25,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $101,964
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,170,781
- Net Return
- $1,068,817
- ROI Multiple
- 11.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $25,491
- Median Debt
- $25,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,752,937
- Investment Income
- $240,229
Top Programs
The fields Spalding University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 32% $71,252 early-career
- Business & Marketing 25% $46,612 early-career
- Psychology 14% $34,491 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Education 3% $70,251 early-career
- Communications 2%
- English & Literature 1% $41,658 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 1% $22,167 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Spalding University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Spalding University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Louisville, Kentucky, Spalding University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 99%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 977. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Spalding University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Spalding University is $29,200, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,491. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,509 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,250 in federal student loans.
Is Spalding University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Spalding University earn a median of $49,438, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Spalding University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Spalding University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Spalding University.
- Corban UniversitySalem, OR · Close peer61% grad $48,917 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- North Central UniversityMinneapolis, MN · Close peer65% grad $45,064 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Midwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryKansas City, MO · Close peer59% grad $50,535 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Eastern Mennonite UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · Close peer57% grad $54,869 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bethel College-North NewtonNorth Newton, KS · Close peer42% grad $49,898 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Thomas CollegeWaterville, ME · Close peer53% grad $44,991 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Spalding University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Spalding University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note