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Did you know there are 35 women’s colleges in the US, with 4 located in Georgia?
In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to take some time to identify what makes each of these schools GRAND!
Geography
Location: Decatur, GA
Size: 981 undergraduate students
61% of students come from the state of Georgia, and 3.4% are international.
63.2% identify as a student of color, 41.3% are Pell-eligible, and 33% are first-generation college students.
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Admission Information: Agnes Scott has four decision plans: Early Decision, Early Action 1, Early Action 2, and Regular Decision. Students must apply via the Common Application and complete the Agnes Scott Supplement, which has a few short answer questions. Students must also submit their official high school transcript, a teacher evaluation form, a secondary school report, and a midyear report. Agnes Scott is test optional and offers students to complete a virtual or in-person interview. The regular decision is March 15, so you still have time to apply!
Agnes Scott offers 30 undergraduate majors, with the most popular being Public Health, Neuroscience, Business Administration, and Psychology. Students can earn a Dual Degree in Computer Science or Nursing with Emory University and one in Engineering with Georgia Tech, and students can cross-register up to 2 courses per term at one of the ARCHE member institutions. Agnes Scott also offers 4+1 programs, where students can earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just 5 years. Programs include Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Data Analysis and Communication, Education, Health Communication, Social Innovation, Technology Leadership and Management; and Writing and Digital Communication.
SUMMIT: Agnes Scott’s signature four-year program focuses on five elements: leadership development, global learning, professional success, your board of advisors, and digital literacy.
Ranked the #1 Most Innovative Liberal Arts College by US News for the third year in a row.
Activities
Sports: A member of the USA South Athletic Conference (D3), and Scotties compete in Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball
Clubs/Organizations: Agnes Scott desires for all students to find at least one cause in which they are passionate. Whether it’s through an academic passion, a student-run publication, service, performing arts, or one of the many identity organizations on campus, there are countless opportunities to get involved on campus. Students can check out the Center for Student Involvement for more information.
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Agnes Scott is a residential campus, and students are expected to live on campus all four years. There are 2 housing options for first-year students and 4 housing options for upperclassmen. Additionally, there are several living-learning communities for students to choose from.
Unique Traditions: One of the oldest traditions is known as “Black Cat,” which is a weeklong event welcoming in the new class of students. There are parties for each class, a field day, bonfire, community picnic, and more, and each class decorates campus in their class colors and mascots.
Women who attend Agnes Scott “think deeply, live honorably, and engage in the intellectual and social challenges of their times.”
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Cost of Attendance: As of March 2023, tuition, fees, room, and board are $61,725 for the 2022-2023 school year. Find your price using the Net Price Calculator.
Scholarships & Financial Aid: all admitted students receive a merit scholarship of at least $23,000/year; additional competitive awards require a separate application; need-based aid is also available, and students must complete the FAFSA for consideration.
Geography
Location: Gainesville, GA (Brenau Women’s College); additional campuses in August, Norcross, Fairburn, and Jacksonville, FL
Size: 1,754 undergraduates
86% of students are from Georgia, and 2% are international.
44% of undergraduate students are over the age of 25, and Brenau has a strong veteran population.
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Admissions information: Brenau offers rolling admission decisions. Students who apply will hear back within two weeks after their admissions file is complete. Brenau is on the Common Application, but students can submit the school-specific application; while there is no preference, you should only submit one. Brenau is test-optional, so students do not need to submit the SAT/ACT scores, and the institution places emphasis on the high school transcript (grades and rigor within the context of your high school).
There are 38 Bachelor’s programs on the Gainesville campus, and some of the most popular are Health Professions, Business Management, Marketing, Visual and Performing Arts, and Psychology. The Theatre department puts on 8 shows a year in partnership with the University of North Georgia, and students must audition to be accepted. The Fashion Merchandising program is growing, and there is a strong emphasis on the business aspect. Health Science and Nursing students benefit from internship opportunities at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center across the street, and Art majors have access to guaranteed internships at the High Museum in Atlanta.
Brenau also offers graduate degrees through their College of Business Communication, College of Education, College of Fine Arts & Humanities, and the Ivester College of Health Sciences.
The GOLD program is Brenau’s signature experience. Each year focuses on a different theme, each of which aligns with Brenau’s values: Women Empowerment, Personal Responsibility, and Civic Engagement, Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders, and Global Citizenship. All students will complete a digital portfolio to help them be successful in the workplace or graduate school.
Activities
Sports: Brenau is a member of the NAIA and the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The Golden Tigers compete in Basketball, Competitive Cheerleading, Competitive Dance Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming/Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, and Volleyball. 25% of students participate in an NAIA sport.
Greek life is extremely popular, and Brenau has 8 chapters (6 members of the NC and 2 Members of the NPHC). It is one of the oldest Greek systems in the nation, and Brenau is the only Women’s college with Greek houses.
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Residential Life: About 50% of first-year students live on campus since many traditional students come from the local area. All residence halls are suite-style, and Greek housing is available on campus. Since Brenau is located in the heart of downtown Gainesville, there are options for off-campus housing that are still close by. Juniors and Seniors can apply to be a part of the IDEAL Collective, a living-learning community focused on leadership and project-based learning.
Unique Traditions: May Day is like a homecoming for Brenau. Alumnae return to campus and see old friends and meet the new students. There is a May Court and student vote for Prince, Princess, and May Day Queen.
Brenau students want to become well-rounded women and do so through their liberal arts curriculum. They are passionate, driven, and ready to make a positive difference in the world.
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Cost of Attendance: Tuition, fees, room, and board for the 2022-2023 school year are $45,185. You can find your Net Price here.
Scholarships & Financial Aid: Students are automatically considered for merit scholarships when they apply, ranging from $4,300-$12,2500/year. There are four tiers of awards, including the Brenau Scholars Program, which is by invitation only. Students must have a completed application on file by February 1 to be invited to this competition. Test scores are required for the Brenau Scholars Program (minimum 1270 SAT/27ACT) and the Trustees and Faculty Excellence Scholarships (1000 SAT/21ACT). Students who do not meet the minimum test scores are still eligible for the Brenau Achievement and Opportunity grants. Need-based aid is also available.
Geography
Location: Atlanta, GA
Size: 2,097
America’s oldest HBCU for women
28% of students come from Georgia; 1% are international
Rigor
Admissions: Spelman has three decision plans for fall: Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision. Students may also apply for Spring enrollment. Students must apply via the Common Application and complete the Spelman Supplement. Students must also submit their official high school transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, and secondary school report. Spelman was test-optional for Fall 2023, but it has not made a decision about Fall 2024 yet. Stay tuned for more information!
There are 35 Bachelor’s programs and 35 minors on campus and some of the most popular are Psychology, Biology, Political Science, Economics, and English. Spelman women can also cross-register at one of the 19 Atlanta area colleges & universities through ARCHE, and students can participate in the 3+2 Dual Degree Engineering program, where they earn a BS in Science from Spelman and one of 13 Engineering disciplines from one of 15 partnering Engineering schools, including Georgia Tech.
The Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM focuses on research, academic advancement, and leadership & professional development. Spelman is also a leader in the Health Professions and consistently has the highest number of medical school applicants from Black Applicants (#1 Liberal Arts college and #1 single-gender institution). There’s also an Early Acceptance program for Medical, Dental, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Optometry School with several partnering institutions around the country.
A value of Spelman is to engage the many cultures of the world, and the Gordon-Zeto Center for Global Education helps facilitate. Students can also serve or intern abroad or participate in international symposiums. Spelman is among the 40 colleges sending the most students abroad and requires all students to participate in a cultural orientation program before they depart.
Activities
While Spelman doesn’t participate in varsity sports, there are 85 student organizations for students to join. There are four sororities on campus, and they have a small but mighty presence on campus. Service is emphasized, and students must complete at least 24 hours to graduate. Additionally, the Spelpreneur program, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, encourages students to think entrepreneurially through a 10-day start-up competition.
Spelman offers ROTC programs in Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. College sophomores and juniors can also participate in the Coast Guard’s CSPI program, where students receive a guaranteed position at officer candidate school training.
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Residential Life: Spelman is a residential college, and there are 11 housing options on campus. There are 2 first-year residence halls: The Bonner Scholars and the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program. Upperclassmen can live in The Suites or traditional residence halls, or participate in the Johnetta Betsch Cole Living-Learning Center, The Bessie Strong WISDOM Center, or the Social Justice Fellows Program.
Unique Traditions: Like many Women’s Colleges and HBCUs, Spelman is steeped in tradition. Alumnae is extremely important, and the Granddaughters Club is evidence of that. The White Attire Tradition is one of the oldest traditions, where all first-year students dress up for The New Student Orientation Induction Ceremony and Founders Day Convocation; seniors wear this under their academic regalia for Founders Day, Class Day, Baccalaureate, and Commencement.
Spelman students are change-makers, and they want to make a difference in the world. They are competitive, creative, and enthusiastic about their future.
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Cost of Attendance: Tuition, Fees, Room, and Board are $44,551 for the year. You can find your Net Price here.
Scholarships & Financial Aid: Scholarships are competitive in nature and go to the top 20% of the applicant pool. The average GPA for scholarship recipients in Fall 2022 was a 4.1 weighted GPA. Test scores are not required, but will be considered, as well as high school engagement, community service, and leadership. Qualified students will be automatically notified at the time of admission. Additional awards are available, and some are based on financial need. Last year, 85% of students received some form of financial aid.
Spelman is part of the Bonner Foundation Network, a competitive service organization for low-income students focused on transforming students, communities, and campuses. Students must complete 140 hours of community service each semester, several leadership programs, full-time service programs during two of their summers, and a capstone project during junior and senior years, among other requirements. 20 students are admitted to each class and will receive tuition assistance.
Geography
Location: Macon, GA
Size: 700 students
40% women of color and 15% international students
Wesleyan College was the first in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.
Rigor
Admissions: Wesleyan offers a rolling admission plan, and students can apply via the institutional application or via the Common Application. Students must also submit their official high school transcript and can submit up to 2 letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Wesleyan is test-optional, but students must submit test scores to be eligible for the premier scholarship. Wesleyan releases decisions on a rolling basis, and there is no fee to apply.
Wesleyan offers 23 majors, 30 minors, and 8 pre-professional programs. Unique programs include Applied Data Analysis, Arts Management, Neuroscience, and Religion, Philosophy & Social Change. Wesleyan offers a guaranteed acceptance program for Nursing and a BFA in Art. Students can also participate in the 3+3 JD program with neighboring Mercer University.
Like all schools on this list, Wesleyan is a liberal arts college, dedicated to creating “leaders, communicators, and persuaders who speak up and speak out.” The From Here to Career program focuses on personal and professional development. Students develop their own strategic action plan, and students will have a minimum of 4 career development interactions by graduation.
WIS Program: Wesleyan First-Year Experience focusing on the transition to college. It helps women learn to find their voice to be difference-makers in the world. Through a partnership with the Interactivity Foundation, students meet in smaller groups to discuss how to be a community of learners.
Activities
Sports: The Wesleyan Wolves are a member of the NCAA Division 3 USA South Athletic Conference. There are six teams, including the award-winning ISHA equestrian team, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, and Volleyball.
As for clubs and organizations, many students participate in activism and advocacy. Organizations like GLBAL, Disability Advocacy Club, Black Student Alliance, and Voz Latina give voice to traditionally marginalized populations. Also, community service is extremely important, and 75% of students actively engage in service on a regular basis.
Since Wesleyan is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, religious life is popular (but not required) among students. The Office of Campus Ministry holds events throughout the year, including pilgrimage weekends and retreats, and students are apple to attend services and Bible studies throughout the week.
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Residential Life: Wesleyan is a traditional residential college, and students live in one of 5 residence halls or on-campus apartments. All halls, except Banks, offer suite-style rooms, and residence halls offer study lounges. Some have kitchens, and most have laundry on-site.
Unique Traditions: STUNT is an annual tradition where each of the four classes creates and performs their own skit, and the winner receives the STUNT Cup. The community is invited to attend and proceeds benefit academic scholarships. Before students graduate, each woman participates in a candle lighting ceremony and are welcomed into the Alumnae Association.
Wesleyan women are passionate, caring, and hold strong convictions. They desire to be a part of a close-knit community and are optimistic and open-minded.
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Cost of Attendance: Tuition, fees, room, and board for the 2022-2023 school year are $38,646. Find your Net Price here.
Scholarships & Financial Aid: Wesleyan has several premier scholarship programs which award full tuition (and sometimes room & board) to various majors. Other scholarships include Art, Music, and Theatre, which all require an audition or portfolio, Legacy, students of Latin American descent, and awards for students affiliated with the United Methodist Church. 99% of students receive some sort of financial aid, and students must complete the FAFSA for consideration.
Do you want to learn more about these Women's Colleges? Do you have questions about the college admissions process? Contact Allison or visit Grand Fit Educational Consulting.