Spalding University

Admission to Spalding University is open to virtually every applicant who applies, though relatively few admitted students choose to attend. In the 2025 admissions cycle, the school recorded an acceptance rate of 99.4%, which is higher than 99% of peer schools among all private comprehensive universities. Only 4 applicants were denied admission that year. However, the university draws in a modest share of its admitted pool, posting a yield rate of 15.6%. In national standings from U.S. News & World Report, the university moved from rank 230 in 2019 to rank 299 in 2022, with no rank published for 2027. For prospective applicants, gaining admission presents practically no barrier, but the school's low yield rate and sliding rank show it is rarely the final destination for admitted students comparing their choices.

Spalding University operates under a test-optional admissions policy, where standardized test scores are considered if submitted. For 2025, the middle range of enrolled students scored between 15 and 22 on the ACT composite, reflecting an accessible admissions standard for prospective undergraduate applicants. Among those presenting SAT results, the university recorded a median SAT score of 965, a level higher than 2% of peer schools among private comprehensive universities. While the admissions office evaluates either test, a significant majority of submitting applicants provided ACT results rather than SAT exams. Individual subscores in mathematics and reading follow similarly modest distributions. For high school students planning an application, these figures demonstrate that the university accommodates applicants from diverse academic baselines. Students holding modest standardized testing marks, as well as those presenting solid classroom records through the test-optional pathway, can approach the evaluation process with confidence.

Degrees awarded at Spalding University are concentrated heavily in healthcare, business, and social services. In 2025, the top three undergraduate majors accounted for 54.1% of all bachelor's degrees conferred, demonstrating high program concentration. The largest undergraduate program was general business and commerce with 27 graduates, followed closely by registered nursing. However, the university's largest undergraduate majors are not its highest-ranked offerings; the school's standout nationally recognized program is at the graduate level, where occupational therapy was ranked 84 by U.S. News & World Report in 2026. At the undergraduate level, post-graduation earnings vary sharply by profession. According to 2023 earnings data, graduates in registered nursing earned a median salary of $77,405 one year after graduation, whereas business graduates earned a median of $42,625. For applicants, this means Spalding serves primarily as a specialized training ground where health-related credentials deliver the clearest professional and financial returns.

Spalding University enrolls a total of 1,553 students as of 2025, with more than half of the campus population pursuing advanced degrees. Graduate students form the largest segment with 835 enrollees, giving the campus a professionally focused environment. Within this student body, representation of Asian and international students remains very limited. Asian students account for 35 graduate students, representing 4.2% of the graduate cohort, and appear in single digits across undergraduate cohorts. International representation is similarly slight, including only 7 graduate students alongside a handful of undergraduate degree seekers. White and African American students constitute the substantial majority of the campus. For prospective students, these demographics reflect a regional university environment serving primarily local domestic students rather than a globally varied peer community.

The student body at Spalding University exhibits a clear generational divide between its undergraduate and graduate divisions. In 2025, undergraduate classrooms were dominated by traditional college-age individuals, with students aged 18 to 19 making up 27.7% of undergraduates and those aged 20 to 21 accounting for 26.7%. In contrast, the graduate division draws adult learners across a broad spectrum of career stages. Students aged 25 to 29 form the largest graduate segment at 23.5%, while mature professionals in their forties also represent a substantial presence. This dual structure creates a campus atmosphere where daytime undergraduate life centers on traditional young adults, while graduate programs accommodate working adults balancing professional careers and higher education.

Spalding University enrolls a very small proportion of international students across both undergraduate and graduate divisions, though both sectors have seen slight upward growth over the past decade. In 2025, international students made up 0.8% of the undergraduate student body, a share higher than only 12% of peer private research universities. At the graduate level, the international share also reached 0.8% in 2025, rising gradually from earlier years. Looking at degree completions in 2025, international students accounted for 1.5% of bachelor's degree recipients, with these graduates concentrating primarily in Psychology, General, while other leading undergraduate majors like Business and Registered Nursing graduated no international students. At the master's level, international degree recipients were found in areas such as Social Work, Curriculum and Instruction, and Educational Leadership and Administration, General. For international applicants, these patterns show that while the campus community is predominantly domestic, international students complete degrees across selected disciplines in education, psychology, and social services.

Applicants considering Spalding University can explore several other higher education options within the surrounding region. Located just 1.8 kilometers away in the same city, the University of Louisville is a large public research institution ranked 179 among National Universities in 2027. For students open to traveling farther in Kentucky, Centre College is situated 67.4 kilometers away and ranked 54 among National Liberal Arts Colleges, while the University of Kentucky is located 69.5 kilometers from campus and ranked 148 among National Universities. Just across the state line in Indiana, Indiana University-Bloomington is situated 76.1 kilometers away and holds a rank of 73 among National Universities. These institutions offer diverse learning environments, ranging from regional research hubs to selective liberal arts settings.

Campus safety records at Spalding University indicate that vehicle-related property offenses represent the university's primary security challenge. In 2025, the campus recorded a crime rate per 1,000 students of 9.7, reflecting an increase from earlier reporting years. Over the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, motor vehicle theft was by far the most frequent incident category, accounting for 34 incidents. By comparison, interpersonal offenses and infractions were reported in minimal numbers across the same three-year window, with 2 aggravated assaults alongside isolated reports of stalking and drug arrests. These figures indicate that personal violence on campus remains rare, but vehicle security is an ongoing concern on this downtown property. Prospective students and campus residents should recognize that crime prevention at Spalding focuses largely on protecting vehicles and personal property rather than managing widespread violent crime.